Palo Alto, Anyone?

[kuscotopia]

I landed a job offer from a firm in Silicon Valley and I was wondering if anyone had any advice/guidance on neighborhoods in/around the Palo Alto area in California.

It seems like the closer you get to San Jose the lower the standard of living. Are places like Sunnyvale (short of the whole Hellmouth issue) or Cupertino fine places to live? Any areas to avoid?

Any input is appreciated. I am from the Midwest and a little baffled by how expensive it all is.

[AusGre]

Good luck at your new job and hopefully you find a nice place to live! If I knew anything about the area I would help you. Wish I could move to cauliflower.

[kuscotopia]

Thanks!

The weather out there is certainly tempting...

[cmosier]

Ahhh... The Bay Area. Find Oakland. Circle it and stay as far away from there as possible. The good news. You'll be able to join me at DunDraCon in San Ramone next year. Let it be so.

[Kitsunestume]

I landed a job offer from a firm in Silicon Valley and I was wondering if anyone had any advice/guidance on neighborhoods in/around the Palo Alto area in California.

It seems like the closer you get to San Jose the lower the standard of living. Are places like Sunnyvale (short of the whole Hellmouth issue) or Cupertino fine places to live? Any areas to avoid?

Any input is appreciated. I am from the Midwest and a little baffled by how expensive it all is.

(>.>) (<.<) (o.o)/
I might know something of the area.

Yes, Sunnyvale and Cupertino are good, though Sunnyvale is a bit cheaper as you head towards the bay. Buying a prefab is oodles cheaper than a true house, and can actually be really comparative - there are quite a few options of location in northern Sunnyvale, all pretty close to the 101. If you have any concern for your pocketbook, stay out of Palo Alto as a residential option. Be cautious in general; this area has the highest BAH in the country - the US government's measure of cost-of-living. I might be a tad jaded after living here so long as to consider them 'normal'.

Feel free to poke me if you want to have a more in-depth discussion.

Cheers,
Kit

[Valhalla]

I'm a Californian and my brother actually just moved down to Half Moon Bay for work in San Mateo, so I'm vaguely familiar with the area. As Cmos said, stay the hell away from Oakland if you value your life and property. Sunnyvale and Cupertino are both quite nice, and the area between San Mateo and San Jose is really pretty nice and the further out of town you get, the less shady things are (so I've heard anyway!).

If you don't mind a monster commute (45-1 hr. at least), both Pacifica and Half Moon Bay are gorgeous little towns right on the beach. They're generally quite safe and very homey feeling - even if you don't wind up looking at them for living they're awesome places to visit.

Protip: BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is generally faster and cheaper than driving if a BART station goes anywhere near your work. Traffic is awful in California in general (compared to the Mid-west at least), but the Bay Area is renowned even here. The few people I know in the Bay Area usually drive to the nearest BART station, then take the train to work.

Also parking in San Fran in particular but all the major towns in the Bay Area can be pretty pricey, another reason why a lot of people BART it up.

Edit: Aha! A real bay-arean! Do your thing Kit.


Edit AGAIN: Oh and always feel free to drive up to Sacramento if you need a dose of normal. We're a boring town (especially for a state capital) with not much in the way of tourist attractions (unless you like trains), but I've spent some time out east and Sacramento feels much more like that than it does like the Bay Area. Gotta plug the hometown!

[cmosier]

There are some things to get used to. For example... When you use your turn signal in California to change lanes, it informs the guy(or gal) in said lane that you are trying to steal his road. Even though he is over a mile back, he (or she) will proceed to speed up until he is inches from your bumper and give you a look like he just walked in on you banging his sister.

[zypherman]

As a Californian in San Jose, I can confirm, turn signal = you are stealing my lane.

[Valhalla]

For example... When you use your turn signal in California to change lanes, it informs the guy(or gal) in said lane that you are trying to steal his road.

LOL.

Oh man, that wouldn't be half as funny if it wasn't true. I've found people in California are a lot less polite as a whole than folks out east. About more things than just driving.

[ManUtd4Ever]

Buy a Elio and live outside the Valley to the tune of 45 to 60 mins.

[wangxiuming]

There are some things to get used to. For example... When you use your turn signal in California to change lanes, it informs the guy(or gal) in said lane that you are trying to steal his road. Even though he is over a mile back, he (or she) will proceed to speed up until he is inches from your bumper and give you a look like he just walked in on you banging his sister.

Quoted for truth!

[greypawn]

As a midwestern (Chicagoan) who lived in the bay area for a short amount of time, it is a bit of a different culture. The poor out there are a completely different breed. More woman, elderly, and teenagers, more coke problems, less violent gang focused (though I'm sure they have them). You have A LOT more people who actually choose being homeless as a lifestyle. The motorcycle laws are a bit different as people will drive on the yellow line to pass cars, and this is considered something completely legal and sane (I mean, they are wearing helmets because its a law). Every season is motorcycle season too. The driving is comparable to the aggressive Chicago driving style but its faster pace, less bumper to bumper, and the streets make less sense because of the terrain they are designed around. Expect more hills and mountains as you are saying goodbye to those pretty midwestern plains, and make sure your car is ready for it. Don't park your car infront of a house for too long less you know that person as they'll call the police and have it towed. Food options is less comfort and greasy delicious and more about healthy options even when you go out. You can find a lot of amazing Asian food out there if you like that, also amazing wine and beer culture if thats your thing. Besides that, if you like camping its pretty awesome out there. I'd advise anybody to go and find a camping ground near the ocean. Spray your dogs so they don't get ticks, go check out some of the sweet forest preserves and their ancient trees. I want to say Sunnyvale has one of the better table top communities in the bay area but I'm not 100% on that. Where are you coming from? St.Louis? Expect people to be just as friendly but less sincere about it. Nobody wears their heart on their sleeve like us midwesterners, for better and worst. Also, San Fran isn't full of Californians. A good chunk of people are what they call transplants and are from a different part of the states or even world. So even if the California people rub you the wrong way, you should be able to find plenty of people from New York and the such.

[cmosier]

The culture is definitely different and takes some getting used to. I'm more of a "good ole boy" from the South East. Personally, I don't think losing out on deep fried butter is a bad thing. I wouldn't mind finding more than one brand of grits occasionally. You won't see them on the menu... damn communists.

[Fury]

I wouldn't mind finding more than one brand of grits occasionally. You won't see them on the menu... damn communists.

Welp, Fuck California.

[MyNameIsDave]

Uhhggg. Grits. That shit is the bane of my existence when I go back east to visit relatives. However, now that your in California you better start enjoying avocado.

Got a Burger? Put avocado on it and suddenly its a California Burger.
Got a Omelet? Avaocado. Bam! California Omelet.
We put that shit on everything.