Palo Alto, CA

[Capt Caveman]

Sent you a pm too.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: brikis98

Originally posted by: Lithium381
for fun, depends on what you like to do? lots of sports places, a few small casinos, etc.

Hm, I guess I forgot to mention that in my first post. My interests are really varied: I spend a lot of time these days doing Crossfit and am looking to get into some kind of martial arts (jujitsu, krav maga). I also play all sorts of sports with friends, including hockey, tennis, basketball, football, and baseball. I love walking/biking/rollerblading wherever the scenery is nice as well as hiking. I'm an avid movie watcher, and am always on the lookout for good restaurants and good wines. I enjoy going to all kinds of museums (art, history, science, whatever), zoos and other "touristy" things. I prefer quieter bars where you can actually talk, as well as occasionally playing some pool, bowling and various bar games. In short, the more variety there is, the better.

Then you'd love PA and the surrounding towns/cities. The weather in NorCal kills the crappy weather in Boston, especially for all the outdoor activities you like to do.

The area has a much cleaner appearance the the Boston Area also.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: brikis98
* What can you do for fun in the area? How is the night life? Just for reference, we're both 24.
* How much more expensive is it to live there? Rent, food, entertainment?

there's always Maverick's.

http://www.mavsurfer.com/

and there's a swimming pool at the corner of Embarcadero & Middlefield.

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

you're competing for housing with some of the wealthiest people in the world. they like to live there because PA has good schools.

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

a bicycle + money for a taxi in case it's raining

* 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.

as good as anywhere.

* How's the weather?

it usually doesn't get below 50 or above 90 (degrees F).

 

[brikis98]

Thanks for all the useful replies everyone, including those of you who took the time to write really helpful PM's. Lots of good info there for me to think about as I make this decision. Right now, I'm leaning towards doing it, but as a first step, will begin updating my resume, brushing up on my interview skills and scoping out jobs in the area.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

how much is "high paying job" paying?

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
how much is "high paying job" paying?

I wonder why you ask, but my current salary (not including benefits + stock options) is just over the 6 figure mark.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

this seems more like an L&R issue than anything else. if you are going to stay with her, none of this crap matters.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
this seems more like an L&R issue than anything else. if you are going to stay with her, none of this crap matters.

I already discussed this. The L&R portion of this decision I'm handling on my own and have no interest in discussing it on a message board. However, the rest of this "crap" does matter, even if it's to a lesser extent. If I can't get a job, can't afford to live in the area, or if I'd honestly be miserable away from my family, then it wouldn't make sense for me to move there. Now, I don't think any of those will actually be an issue, but the more info I have, the better I am prepared to make a decision.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: brikis98

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
how much is "high paying job" paying?

I wonder why you ask, but my current salary (not including benefits + stock options) is just over the 6 figure mark.

inner. resting.
6 figure job, masters degree, and lots of software engineering experience at the ripe age of 24.
the typical AT'er, eh.

pics of hot model gf?

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: dr150

* For those that have also lived near Boston, how does it compare?
San Francisco is the most desired urban center in the USA. Nuff said.

That's a really smug and pretentious statement. Considering that NY has a much higher population I think you could make the case that more people find that desirable.

yes, the comment is smug, but your interpretation of population density is completely inaccurate. You have to consider land space (far, far greater in NY city, even in Manhattan alone), and building code.

You can't build real skycrapers in the SF due to restrictions making a skyline similar to Manhattan's cost prohibitive. Apartment buildings are much smaller in comparison, and thus self-limiting in terms of potential population. The Bay area itself is HUGE, but such restrictions apply throughout.

I assume you haven't been to SF and thus have no concept of the type of terrain we are talking about and available land space?

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: brikis98

Originally posted by: Lithium381
for fun, depends on what you like to do? lots of sports places, a few small casinos, etc.

Hm, I guess I forgot to mention that in my first post. My interests are really varied: I spend a lot of time these days doing Crossfit and am looking to get into some kind of martial arts (jujitsu, krav maga). I also play all sorts of sports with friends, including hockey, tennis, basketball, football, and baseball. I love walking/biking/rollerblading wherever the scenery is nice as well as hiking. I'm an avid movie watcher, and am always on the lookout for good restaurants and good wines. I enjoy going to all kinds of museums (art, history, science, whatever), zoos and other "touristy" things. I prefer quieter bars where you can actually talk, as well as occasionally playing some pool, bowling and various bar games. In short, the more variety there is, the better.

Then you'd love PA and the surrounding towns/cities. The weather in NorCal kills the crappy weather in Boston, especially for all the outdoor activities you like to do.

The area has a much cleaner appearance the the Boston Area also.

Oh, indeed. You are just shy of 2 hours away from the top two wine regions in the country, and their is nothing shabby about Napa and Sonoma compared to the major European regions. (I love wines from the Chianti region, Borgogne, Malbecs, whatever, but to think that those out of Napa/Sonoma can't equal the quality is ludicrous)

That, and the outdoor potential is simply mind-blowing. You would indeed be doing yourself a disservice by moving out here without a car, as it would limit you from the excellent hiking, biking trails and overall badass nature that abounds in the area.