Palo Alto, CA

[Baked]

* What can you do for fun in the area? How is the night life? Just for reference, we're both 24.
- Nothing. There's no night life in Palo Alto.

* How much more expensive is it to live there? Rent, food, entertainment?
- You can't afford it.

* How is the public transportation? Traffic? Can I get by without a car?
- You need a car.

* How is the job market in that area? I'm a software engineer with lots of experience and a bachelors and masters degree from a top tier university.
- Stay the fuck out. Stop stealing our jobs. Nobody gives a shit about your degree and experience.

* How's the weather?
- Better than your shitty bean town weather.

* For those that have also lived near Boston, how does it compare?
- Hundreds of times better. But please, stay the fuck outta Cali, we don't have enough jobs to go around.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Based on the mean-age of this forum's poster base, I can't say I'm surprised at the "How's the night life?" question.

If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not) the OP is questioning if he should move to the other side of the country with his GF. And you're wondering about night life? Trying to get the digits of some ho outside the bathrooms?

If you really loved her, you wouldn't be worried about the nightlife there. AND, oh yeah, AND....if you both were READY for a committed relationship, neither one of you would be worried about "the nightlife." People in committed, adult relationships don't go to meat markets, period. Just to be there (whether you're "shopping" or not) is a bad thing.

What I'm trying to say, in my not so gentle way, is that it's obvious that you're not ready for marriage. Let the relationship run it's course, or break up before she moves to avoid the pain and guilt you both are sure to feel. I.E. mostly YOU feeling the pain b/c she'll be on her back after her second night out on the town there.

Reality sucks. Someday, you'll be old and bitter like me and tired of the single scene and you'll settle down and get married. And then you die. It's the way of the world and the circle of life.

Enjoy your young, single years. You both were 20 when you met; neither of you knew your ass from your elbow back then...3.5 years later, not much has changed. Trust me on this one.

some people do like to go out together even when they are married just thought id point that out

Yeah. I find the nightlife = whoring a rather strange, incomplete, and naive definition. So I assumed the rest of the comment was based on assumptions regarding the OP and his GF.

Not that it's bad advice and isn't something the OP should not be considering; I only assumed that he was considering this....

 

[Leros]

If she's worth it, it doesn't seem ask if you should even be asking this question.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Baked
* What can you do for fun in the area? How is the night life? Just for reference, we're both 24.
- Nothing. There's no night life in Palo Alto.

* How much more expensive is it to live there? Rent, food, entertainment?
- You can't afford it.

* How is the public transportation? Traffic? Can I get by without a car?
- You need a car.

* How is the job market in that area? I'm a software engineer with lots of experience and a bachelors and masters degree from a top tier university.
- Stay the fuck out. Stop stealing our jobs. Nobody gives a shit about your degree and experience.

* How's the weather?
- Better than your shitty bean town weather.

* For those that have also lived near Boston, how does it compare?
- Hundreds of times better. But please, stay the fuck outta Cali, we don't have enough jobs to go around.

and true.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Based on the mean-age of this forum's poster base, I can't say I'm surprised at the "How's the night life?" question.

If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not) the OP is questioning if he should move to the other side of the country with his GF. And you're wondering about night life? Trying to get the digits of some ho outside the bathrooms?

If you really loved her, you wouldn't be worried about the nightlife there. AND, oh yeah, AND....if you both were READY for a committed relationship, neither one of you would be worried about "the nightlife." People in committed, adult relationships don't go to meat markets, period. Just to be there (whether you're "shopping" or not) is a bad thing.

What I'm trying to say, in my not so gentle way, is that it's obvious that you're not ready for marriage. Let the relationship run it's course, or break up before she moves to avoid the pain and guilt you both are sure to feel. I.E. mostly YOU feeling the pain b/c she'll be on her back after her second night out on the town there.

Reality sucks. Someday, you'll be old and bitter like me and tired of the single scene and you'll settle down and get married. And then you die. It's the way of the world and the circle of life.

Enjoy your young, single years. You both were 20 when you met; neither of you knew your ass from your elbow back then...3.5 years later, not much has changed. Trust me on this one.

That's utterly nonsensical. Couples go out dancing, to restaurants and to art shows/opera/plays/whatnot. His question was entirely justifiable - I wouldn't want to move from my relatively culture-rich city to a podunk town either.

 

[DeadByDawn]

Where the F are the pix

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: Baked
* What can you do for fun in the area? How is the night life? Just for reference, we're both 24.
- Nothing. There's no night life in Palo Alto.

* How much more expensive is it to live there? Rent, food, entertainment?
- You can't afford it.

* How is the public transportation? Traffic? Can I get by without a car?
- You need a car.

* How is the job market in that area? I'm a software engineer with lots of experience and a bachelors and masters degree from a top tier university.
- Stay the fuck out. Stop stealing our jobs. Nobody gives a shit about your degree and experience.

* How's the weather?
- Better than your shitty bean town weather.

* For those that have also lived near Boston, how does it compare?
- Hundreds of times better. But please, stay the fuck outta Cali, we don't have enough jobs to go around.

:laugh:

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Based on the mean-age of this forum's poster base, I can't say I'm surprised at the "How's the night life?" question.

If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not) the OP is questioning if he should move to the other side of the country with his GF. And you're wondering about night life? Trying to get the digits of some ho outside the bathrooms?

If you really loved her, you wouldn't be worried about the nightlife there. AND, oh yeah, AND....if you both were READY for a committed relationship, neither one of you would be worried about "the nightlife." People in committed, adult relationships don't go to meat markets, period. Just to be there (whether you're "shopping" or not) is a bad thing.

What I'm trying to say, in my not so gentle way, is that it's obvious that you're not ready for marriage. Let the relationship run it's course, or break up before she moves to avoid the pain and guilt you both are sure to feel. I.E. mostly YOU feeling the pain b/c she'll be on her back after her second night out on the town there.

Reality sucks. Someday, you'll be old and bitter like me and tired of the single scene and you'll settle down and get married. And then you die. It's the way of the world and the circle of life.

Enjoy your young, single years. You both were 20 when you met; neither of you knew your ass from your elbow back then...3.5 years later, not much has changed. Trust me on this one.

I think you misunderstood the question about night life. It was meant as a "is this a fun place for 24 year olds" and NOT as a "is this a place I can pick up tons of chicks". Not everyone goes "out" just to get laid and not every city would be ideal for young, unmarried couples to relax after work.

Beyond that, I understand what you're trying to say - that compared to how we feel about each other and whether we want to stay together, the other details are pretty minor. I agree with you. The question of our relationship is without a doubt the #1 priority. However, that's not a question I'm going to post about on this messageboard. On the other hand, the other issues are can't be totally ignored - such as if I could get a job there, afford the rent, or hate living there - and they are something I can gather more info about here.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: Baked
* What can you do for fun in the area? How is the night life? Just for reference, we're both 24.
- Nothing. There's no night life in Palo Alto.

* How much more expensive is it to live there? Rent, food, entertainment?
- You can't afford it.

* How is the public transportation? Traffic? Can I get by without a car?
- You need a car.

* How is the job market in that area? I'm a software engineer with lots of experience and a bachelors and masters degree from a top tier university.
- Stay the fuck out. Stop stealing our jobs. Nobody gives a shit about your degree and experience.

* How's the weather?
- Better than your shitty bean town weather.

* For those that have also lived near Boston, how does it compare?
- Hundreds of times better. But please, stay the fuck outta Cali, we don't have enough jobs to go around.

Alright, now I'm coming for sure, if only out of spite for you

 

[Analog]

Living near silicon valley should give you some clues as to the job climate and the real climate. You gotta go out there yourself because this is a big decision, especially in this economic climate.

 

[FP]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: Baked
* What can you do for fun in the area? How is the night life? Just for reference, we're both 24.
- Nothing. There's no night life in Palo Alto.

* How much more expensive is it to live there? Rent, food, entertainment?
- You can't afford it.

* How is the public transportation? Traffic? Can I get by without a car?
- You need a car.

* How is the job market in that area? I'm a software engineer with lots of experience and a bachelors and masters degree from a top tier university.
- Stay the fuck out. Stop stealing our jobs. Nobody gives a shit about your degree and experience.

* How's the weather?
- Better than your shitty bean town weather.

* For those that have also lived near Boston, how does it compare?
- Hundreds of times better. But please, stay the fuck outta Cali, we don't have enough jobs to go around.

and true.

I love it, so true.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: yllus
That's utterly nonsensical. Couples go out dancing, to restaurants and to art shows/opera/plays/whatnot. His question was entirely justifiable - I wouldn't want to move from my relatively culture-rich city to a podunk town either.

Tits.

Best leave the bitter, clueless old fuck posts to me, Michael D.

... But the poster who advised delaying your immediate move out there, OP, is really on to something. If your relationship is everything you think it is, it will not only survive a 4-6 months apart, it will flourish.

It will give both of you time to see what life w/o the other is like, and to appreciate what it can be together.

Remember, Absence makes the hardon more fun when you collider.

:laugh:

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: brikis98

Originally posted by: Baked
* What can you do for fun in the area? How is the night life? Just for reference, we're both 24.
- Nothing. There's no night life in Palo Alto.

* How much more expensive is it to live there? Rent, food, entertainment?
- You can't afford it.

* How is the public transportation? Traffic? Can I get by without a car?
- You need a car.

* How is the job market in that area? I'm a software engineer with lots of experience and a bachelors and masters degree from a top tier university.
- Stay the fuck out. Stop stealing our jobs. Nobody gives a shit about your degree and experience.

* How's the weather?
- Better than your shitty bean town weather.

* For those that have also lived near Boston, how does it compare?
- Hundreds of times better. But please, stay the fuck outta Cali, we don't have enough jobs to go around.

Alright, now I'm coming for sure, if only out of spite for you

You've been warned.

Seriously, the market blows chunks right now. My GF and I left our jobs in Chicago and moved out to East Bay back in July/August. I found a job on campus back in December (and earning way less than 6 years in Chicago), she remains unemployed some 120+ applications and 4 interviews later. There are a shitload of overqualified people out here competing for jobs that don't exist right now. San Jose has laid off ~150,000 in the previous month.

Leaving without securing employment in this economy was completely bone-headed.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Analog
Living near silicon valley should give you some clues as to the job climate and the real climate. You gotta go out there yourself because this is a big decision, especially in this economic climate.

that's a lot of climates!

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Here is the thing. You do NOT leave your current job until you have a job lined up out there. Simple as that.

this

 

[JS80]

If I were you and could find a job equal or better I would move.

 

[MichaelD]

OK; I'll admit that my reply was based on personal experience...but most replies in this environment are.

*shimmering flashback sound* Back in 1997 or so I was cohabitating with the love of my life (just the two of us in the apt, no other roomies). We used to go out to the meatmarkets...er, clubs, together 3 nights per week. It was awesome. Get shitfaced and dance until 0200. Hit Jack in The Box on the way home and have drunken, sloppy, upside-down-monkey-sex until sunrise...and then get up for work. Yeah, it was great.

Fast forward a year or so and we were having probs. AND then we started "friend nights." Yeah. We'd both go to the same two clubs with the same old group of friends...but not together. I'd go to Club A, she'd go to Club B. Said "friends" enjoyed watching us rip apart...hell, they even hooked us both up with other people. :roll:

Get my point?

I"m JUST SAYIN' that those same clubs (meat-damn-markets-damn-it!) that are fun now might be hot hell on a platter if things get rough. Just sayin'.

Sure, cost of living and even local allergies will come into play. But you gotta think about the core reason you're going; HER.

Don't take this wrong, but I've personally seen very few couples in their early 20's "make it." Those that did were typical small town, never left, knew everyone in town types. Not college educated, move to the other side of the country folks like you and your SO.

I wish you luck, no matter what path you choose. :beer:

 

[shopbruin]

Ahh.. Palo Alto. I'm there right now (well this part of campus may be considered unincorporated)

* What can you do for fun in the area? How is the night life? Just for reference, we're both 24.

In the immediate area, eat. Lots of it. Downtown PA has some nice but expensive restaurants. When you start branching out to other cities, there's movie theaters and other basic parts of suburban life. If you are looking for more interesting big city type things, you will need to head up to San Francisco.

* How much more expensive is it to live there? Rent, food, entertainment?

Compared to Boston, a lot. Check the cost of living calculators. Rents are coming down in the area though.

I'm semi close-by in Redwood City, and my rent is expensive, but I live in a much nicer building with a washer/dryer that I now refuse to give up. There were some nice complexes that I did see in Mountain View though.

* How is the public transportation? Traffic? Can I get by without a car?

Within the immediate Stanford area, there are shuttles everywhere run by the university, all over the university. CalTrain runs right through Palo Alto, and there are some buses. However, you do not take public transportation unless you have to. Parking is pretty good in the Peninsula/South Bay, and is only a crunch in the city.

You cannot get by without a car. You need it. If you lived in SF, you might be able to get by without a car, but it's hard if you ever wanted to leave the city.

Traffic varies. It is always heavy during rush hour, morning and afternoon, but it always clears out. City streets move most of the time too - I take El Camino to and from work to home.

* How is the job market in that area? I'm a software engineer with lots of experience and a bachelors and masters degree from a top tier university.

So does everyone else out here. I'd look for a job first before moving here, since it may take awhile.

You might want to apply though, with a local address. When I was relocating up here, I got more nibbles once I started using my parents' address.

* How's the weather?

Today it isn't raining, but it is cool, the high is in the mid 50's. Stanford for some bleeping reason, is always 5 degrees colder in the morning than everywhere else! It's probably where the official thermometer is located for the weather forecasts.

It rains here from November to ... April. It's not constant, and you'll get a few days of breaks. It does get cold, but not East Coast cold. I'm wearing a scarf, and I think it's freezing here, as a native Californian.

Two weeks ago, it was nearly 70 degrees and bright and sunny. Today, it's cool, crisp with partly cloudy skies, waiting for the rain to roll back in.

* For those that have also lived near Boston, how does it compare?

I think CA is better, but we're full. Please try again.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
OK; I'll admit that my reply was based on personal experience...but most replies in this environment are.

*shimmering flashback sound* Back in 1997 or so I was cohabitating with the love of my life (just the two of us in the apt, no other roomies). We used to go out to the meatmarkets...er, clubs, together 3 nights per week. It was awesome. Get shitfaced and dance until 0200. Hit Jack in The Box on the way home and have drunken, sloppy, upside-down-monkey-sex until sunrise...and then get up for work. Yeah, it was great.

Fast forward a year or so and we were having probs. AND then we started "friend nights." Yeah. We'd both go to the same two clubs with the same old group of friends...but not together. I'd go to Club A, she'd go to Club B. Said "friends" enjoyed watching us rip apart...hell, they even hooked us both up with other people. :roll:

Get my point?

I"m JUST SAYIN' that those same clubs (meat-damn-markets-damn-it!) that are fun now might be hot hell on a platter if things get rough. Just sayin'.

Sure, cost of living and even local allergies will come into play. But you gotta think about the core reason you're going; HER.

Don't take this wrong, but I've personally seen very few couples in their early 20's "make it." Those that did were typical small town, never left, knew everyone in town types. Not college educated, move to the other side of the country folks like you and your SO.

I wish you luck, no matter what path you choose. :beer:

Man, that tragic and cautionary tale about your local allergies really got to me.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: MichaelD
OK; I'll admit that my reply was based on personal experience...but most replies in this environment are.

*shimmering flashback sound* Back in 1997 or so I was cohabitating with the love of my life (just the two of us in the apt, no other roomies). We used to go out to the meatmarkets...er, clubs, together 3 nights per week. It was awesome. Get shitfaced and dance until 0200. Hit Jack in The Box on the way home and have drunken, sloppy, upside-down-monkey-sex until sunrise...and then get up for work. Yeah, it was great.

Fast forward a year or so and we were having probs. AND then we started "friend nights." Yeah. We'd both go to the same two clubs with the same old group of friends...but not together. I'd go to Club A, she'd go to Club B. Said "friends" enjoyed watching us rip apart...hell, they even hooked us both up with other people. :roll:

Get my point?

I"m JUST SAYIN' that those same clubs (meat-damn-markets-damn-it!) that are fun now might be hot hell on a platter if things get rough. Just sayin'.

Sure, cost of living and even local allergies will come into play. But you gotta think about the core reason you're going; HER.

Don't take this wrong, but I've personally seen very few couples in their early 20's "make it." Those that did were typical small town, never left, knew everyone in town types. Not college educated, move to the other side of the country folks like you and your SO.

I wish you luck, no matter what path you choose. :beer:

Man, that tragic and cautionary tale about your local allergies really got to me.

LOL! I had to read what I wrote again...and I laughed at myself. I was thinking about a serious topic (allergies) when I typed that statement.

I'm allergic to (basically) most plants and animals with fur. That places quite the limitation on where I can go (safely) and do.

I.E. some states have very high Ragweed saturation during peak months; others do not. Going to a high saturation state during peak months could put me in the hospital if I don't medicate first. For example.

But let's not make this about my runny nose and wheezy lungs. Let's focus on the main problem. The penis...er, women.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Let's focus on the main problem. The penis.

:Q

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: IGBT
..I live in SF and I can tell you it's a gawd awful expensive place to live. A

SF IIRC is the most expensive place to live in the US

Boston is #2

it wont be THAT much different

..if he/you don't mind the financial purge, go for it.

 

[AlienCraft]

< cue old guy rant>..... You kids and your gotta have a car mantra...sheeeeiiiiittt....Back in MY day, I worked the Old Waldorf one night and would commute via public transportation to The Keystone Palo alto the next. I saved over $20K in ONE YEAR ('86) not driving and paid cash for a van when I finally needed a vehicle for business.

It can be done, although with some bus line consolidations it is less convenient and I'll admit the various Transportation Districts practically garuantees the transportation system as a whole will suffer.
And it does. I wish we could do it like the Japanese do, but I digress.



I also agree with MichaelD, for what it's worth.
Most young people , still in school and new in career, will not choose wisely when it concerns their "love life".

 

[Shortcut]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Here is the thing. You do NOT leave your current job until you have a job lined up out there. Simple as that.

this

repeated for emphasis. definitely line up a job first. that way, you won't need to worry about it when you relocate (which is pretty stressful on its own, imo).

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
< cue old guy rant>.....

I also agree with MichaelD, for what it's worth.
Most young people , still in school and new in career, will not choose wisely when it concerns their "love life".

"FWIW?" Dayum. /wipes tear

Wow...am I really that low on the "Mentor Food Chain?" I do try, ya'know. I don't intend to offend anyone...unless I'm REALLY trying to offend you...but I try to explain how to NOT fall into the Black Holes Of Life that I fell into, all while trying not to sound like a pissed off, bitter, old guy.

I'm not doing too good, I guess.

/gets out credit card
/Googles for Diesel jeans and cool, college-male type shoes