https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:03:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-815697 Wed, 29 May 2013 14:07:01 +0000 LaineysMom 815697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I have a love LOVE relationship with the south bay! That being said, I'm totally biased since I grew up here (San Jose). I have also lived in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Tokyo.</p> <p>Pros:<br /> **The weather is so nice! The south bay is completely different than SF even though SF is only 45 min. away. It's generally 10 - 15 degrees warmer in the south bay, and it's sunny most of the year.<br /> **It's well connected by freeways and highways. In SJ I can get to pretty much anywhere I need to go in 10 - 15 min. The traffic isn't bad at all if you're driving around the south bay. If you go north, or significantly south you can hit bottle necks.<br /> **Great public schools (if you live in the right neighborhood).<br /> **Great food and SHOPPING!<br /> **Very diverse area.<br /> **Clean (especially compared to Philly..)<br /> **Not too many homeless people<br /> **Safe<br /> **Lots of activities!</p> <p>Cons:<br /> **High cost of living.. not just housing, but state income tax is HUGE (9+%), sales tax is ridiculous (9+% added onto EVERYTHING except groceries), services are more expensive because everyone needs to make a living.<br /> **You need to pay 10 cents for a bag.. even at the mall.. Carrying around $$$ of clothes in a reusable bag is lame. </p> <p>Even though it's expensive I always say that you pay to live in the bay.. it's that nice. :)</p> <p>Btw, if you have any questions about the South Bay message me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814507 Wed, 29 May 2013 02:40:16 +0000 luckypenny 814507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm totally exhausted but will write a post in the AM. We live in San Mateo &amp; DH works in Cupertino. Like most I have a love/hate relationship and only thing in the "hate" column is housing cost. Be prepared to pay $600k for a 2 bdr/2 ba condo that needs some updating and may be near the train and probably only 1200sq ft. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814483 Wed, 29 May 2013 00:30:55 +0000 SproutBee 814483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I currently live in SF, but we moved here from Seattle. </p> <p>Advantages to SF:<br /> - Hands down, the weather. I mean, come on... :P<br /> - Better job opportunities for tech. If you're into that sorta thing... my husband works in tech, which is what brought us down here in the first place.<br /> - "Better" food, but also pricier and less accessible. Any fancier restaurant in SF will need at least a 2 week advance reservation. </p> <p>Advantages to Seattle:<br /> - Better traffic. Seattle traffic can suck, but Bay Area traffic sucks way more. :P I commute for at least an hour each way for work. While many people do live close to work, A LOT of people commute 1 hr or more as well. My husband works in SF, so he has a great commute, but since our work places are so far apart, one of us will always get screwed. Also, since I drive so much during the week, I'm too sick of the car to drive much on the weekends. And while the Bay Area has the beach, wine country, etc... it's still a decent drive, especially with weekend traveler traffic. I thought Seattle's perks (the lakes, hiking, skiing) were far more accessible.<br /> - Better housing! Bay Area prices are double Seattle prices, easy. And half as nice.<br /> - Prettier! Depends on your personal preference, but I'll take lakes, snow-capped mountains, and greenery over fog, smog, and dried out hills any day. </p> <p>We're actually thinking of moving back to Seattle or elsewhere in the next few years. We have a little one on the way in August, and while you CAN raise kids here, it's not ideal. We eventually want a nice house with a yard, and that's just not gonna happen here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814372 Tue, 28 May 2013 21:29:32 +0000 deerylou 814372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in Los Angeles, but moved up north when I was nine. I went to a big university in the east bay, and then moved to a beach town in the south bay. </p> <p>Overall, I would say the culture is great, the vibe is vibrant and diverse, and the weather can be awesome (but mild, which I appreciate). However, it costs an arm and a leg to live here, and the job market is relatively tough. Honestly, we're leaving in five years to relocate and purchase our forever home in Austin, Texas. California is so-so-so great, but it's no longer worth it for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814361 Tue, 28 May 2013 21:25:36 +0000 fert 814361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raindrop: Yes, our family qualifies for low income in Millbrae because as a couple, we make less than $105k. Yes, this isn't for all condos but for the one we found, which was designated as low income housing. Which is why its fair market value is more than double. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814352 Tue, 28 May 2013 21:20:40 +0000 Raindrop 814352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fert: Also I could be wrong about this but I think only certain houses/condos/townhouses are slated for low income families. </p> <p>Which means there are limited amounts and they were designed for a low income family.</p> <p>I believe when you sell it you also have to sell it to a low income family at the low income family market price. There are of course rules around this... I believe a place is only labled low income only for a certian amount of years so if you happen to live in that place when that low income label expires you can sell it for actual market price which was a good deal for you! ^_^ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814337 Tue, 28 May 2013 21:15:07 +0000 fert 814337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raindrop: Yep. Sorry I wasn't clear. But the number I quoted is considered low income for the Millbrae area. For a couple. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814331 Tue, 28 May 2013 21:12:30 +0000 Raindrop 814331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@woodentulip: @fert: I could be wrong, but I think low income depends on what city you live in. </p> <p>Also I think it depends if you are a couple or single.</p> <p>105k/yr might be considered low income for Millbrae if you are a couple but it could be a different number for another city in the bay area. :)</p> <p>Again I could be wrong about this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814327 Tue, 28 May 2013 21:09:49 +0000 Raindrop 814327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi Sunny,</p> <p>We are actually pretty "lucky" my mom takes care of LO while we work. Though she lives in Hayward and we live in San Jose so it's tough.</p> <p>DH works in Redwood City and he drops off/picks up the baby from Hayward which is about an 1.5 hr drive each way. When he doesn't have to drop off/pick up baby than it's about a 45-60 minute commute each way.</p> <p>I work in Sunnyvale and it takes me about 15-25 minutes to go to work each way. I hate commutes and when I pick up the baby (which is rare) it's about 1.5 hrs for me too because I have to do a little bit of back tracking.</p> <p>I will say I don't think the commute is bad at all. I have coworkers that live in Pleasanton which is far north east bay area and some that live in SF and they are fine with the commute.</p> <p>There is definitely good commuting options like BART if you are in the east bay or CalTrains if you are in the peninsula but they are slow and sometimes trains run once every 15 minutes which means if you just miss one you will have to wait 15 minutes for the next.</p> <p>I have some friends that went into day care centers the application process is pretty straight forward with filling out a few pieces of paper.</p> <p>There are a lot of good day care centers in Campbell but that's a pricy city to live in. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814311 Tue, 28 May 2013 20:56:55 +0000 fert 814311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@woodentulip: Both those numbers are correct. To qualify for the 'low income housing' a couple needs to make less than that and seriously, if we had jobs in the Bay Area, I'd have put an offer in for that condo (for purchase). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814235 Tue, 28 May 2013 20:15:46 +0000 woodentulip 814235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fert: Don't answer if this is none of my business, but in saying that low income is under 105K and that you could get a condo for 389--is that to actually purchase it? cause wow! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814227 Tue, 28 May 2013 20:12:24 +0000 woodentulip 814227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: Toronto ain't cheap, that's for sure, but we would have been Canadians moving to the States--lots of additional issues surrounding the cost of living (like no credit history in the US, no ability to get a mortgage, etc)!<br /> One day...maybe! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814208 Tue, 28 May 2013 19:59:58 +0000 fert 814208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: Well you can't really go wrong in life in either Seattle or SF area. I've always described Seattle as San Francisco's little sister. I find that Seattle needs not answer to the greater world as much for the random quirky things there. SF is more aware of its stature in the world and sometimes gets defensive. Though a friend in Seattle was looked down upon by others in her mother's group about not breastfeeding, it's worse in SF. My most tiger-mom friends are all in the Bay Area, too. "What?!? Your child doesn't speak fluent Mandarin and play the piano?!?" There's also more keeping up with the Joneses happening in SF (no place like Santana Row. Though that can be a good thing, too, because that means more things are available. Food is definitely better (and cheaper, though that might be because I shop at Asian markets and there are more Asian markets in the Bay Area), stores and products are launched first more often there (like Uniqlo), and when I go to Target, the stuff I want is actually stocked (I used to go to Northgate Target and it often had bare, naked-as-a-newborn shelves where the stuff I wanted used to be). </p> <p>If you're moving to MtView area, it's more like Woodinville/Bothell area. Residential, some cool places, easy freeway access to other places. If you're not familiar with the architect Eichler, just know that the dimensions of some of his architecture mean many commercial products (like curtains) don't fit well. There are special Eichler stores if one is looking for perfection.</p> <p>Biggest difference: weather. It's more like you live on the other side of Steven's Pass if you live in MtView/Sunnyvale. </p> <p>What I miss of Seattle: again, walkability. I lived between Fremont/Wallingford so I was spoiled. San Juan Islands. There's less random interaction between humans and nature in SF (i.e. I used to see bald eagles hunting all the time in Seattle). I've always felt that eternity could be defined by four Seattle drivers at a 4-way stop (oh, no, you go... oh please after you... you first... eternity). I miss being the arsewipe Cali driver who would go 'don't mind if I do!' Since California has state income tax, that's an extra 10% of your income gone (though they pave the freeways more often and no bridges collapse... without earthquakes). </p> <p>Hope that helps. Don't mind answering questions and stuff :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814113 Tue, 28 May 2013 19:03:46 +0000 sunny 814113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fert: Just saw your response too... thanks!! I'm actually currently in Seattle (Eastside) so I'd love your perspective on what you think the biggest differences are between the two areas? Anything you would miss about Seattle living in the Bay Area? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814109 Tue, 28 May 2013 19:00:52 +0000 sunny 814109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LittleGBee: @keiki_mama: @Raindrop: Thanks for your responses! </p> <p>Can you offer any perspective on how hard it is to get into daycares/pre-schools/schools? Is there a huge application and testing process like I've heard for pre-schools &amp; schools in NYC? </p> <p>How is traffic? Do most people commute 1hr+ to work, or is a shorter 20-30 min commute common? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-814096 Tue, 28 May 2013 18:43:57 +0000 fert 814096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I were a guy, I'd give my left nut to live in the Bay Area again. I went to college in the East Bay and worked in SF for a couple years afterward, many of my college friends were from South Bay (and still live there), and I love the Bay Area. Great weather for the most part, outdoor stuff to do, big city that's relatively close, some of the best food in the country (though we currently live in NYC and the food here is significantly better IMHO), people are nice without being too creepy-friendly, and I miss going to visit friends at Googleplex for the best friggin' free (for me) food ever. Nearby, there's Santa Cruz for beachy goodness, Tahoe for skiing, Marin for booze and camping. </p> <p>As for housing costs, DH and I qualify for low income since we're under $105k/year. We found a 2 bd/2 ba condo in Millbrae that was $389k for low income. $800k fair market value (Midwesterners, are you sputtering in disbelief that a condo could be that much?) Also, I kinda hate Eichler homes which happen a lot in Sunnyview area. </p> <p>Other than the fact that I'd have to sell some internal organs to afford to live there, what I don't like is that it's not really walking-friendly compared to NYC and Seattle (current and most recent cities). Driving is a must and the traffic can be pretty bad. And as an Asian woman, I don't think it's too racist to admit that there are a lot of people who just can't farkin' drive well in NorCal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813953 Tue, 28 May 2013 17:18:36 +0000 Raindrop 813953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi Sunny, </p> <p>I have lived here all my life except for college (lived in central CA during college years). I lived in Hayward (east bay area) till I was 18, than from 22-27 I was in Sunnyvale, and then when I was 27+ I lived in San Jose/Milpitas (San Jose is huge so I wanted to say we live close to Milpitas part of the San Jose, pretty much one street over from Milpitas southern boarder).</p> <p>I have a love and hate relationship with the bay area. One of my main reasons of being here after college is my family. :)</p> <p>Everyone seems nice here but at the same time closed off. It's really hard to make friends that you didn't grow up with. I have been trying to make new friends since I started working here after college (8 years ago) but I always seem to fall back on my high school/middle school friends because it's just easier to hang out with them and get them together since we have those school day bond and I know a lot of people are not that lucky. I am hoping when LO is older we can make some friends with other parents but I'm not holding my breath... so hard to make new friends!</p> <p>Housing is a big minus. DH and I are big savers, we barely spent anything outside of rent while we were single and were only able to buy a house by combining both our savings 3 years ago (I was 27 (4 years of savings for me) and he was 33 (10 years of savings for him)). We were able to put 20% down on a townhouse with our savings. So it is possible to buy something from savings but you have to save quite a while and be good about not spending but it's hard because there is so much fun stuff to do here!</p> <p>That is the big plus - the culture, there is everything you would ever want and need right here. There is no reason to ever say you are bored here. There is just always something to try and do if you keep your eyes open. There is always something to do with LO and most of the time free or fairly cheap. There is always new foods and experiences to have.</p> <p>As much as I joke with DH about moving somewhere else I really do think I'll miss it here if we ever did leave. :)</p> <p>If you have any questions please feel free to ask. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813951 Tue, 28 May 2013 17:17:03 +0000 keiki_mama 813951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really love living in the bay area (East Bay, not too familiar with the South Bay)</p> <p>PROS<br /> -weather: it doesn't get too cold or too warm. We're bathed in sunshine and warmth during the summer<br /> -beaches are easily accesible<br /> -great quality produce, organic foods are easily accesible<br /> -There are so many activities!! Hiking, biking, museums, walkable paths, and fairs and festivities!<br /> -So many good restaurants of all price points! Asian food is awesome in the bay area and easy to come by<br /> -I guess this applies to my town, but it's so family friendly!!!<br /> -Pet friendly... organic dog treats anyone?<br /> -There's a certain hustle and bustle in the bay area that can't be replicated from where I'm originally from.<br /> -We were able to live without a car for a good 7 years. Public transportation is awesome (depending on what town you're in) and City Carshare and Zipcar are easily accessible.</p> <p>Cons:<br /> -cost of living!<br /> -cost of housing! Most people I know in the bay area do not live in 4K sq. ft houses with 3 car garages.<br /> -food is more expensive out here... I cringe when I see $8/lb cherries--who's buying this stuff?!<br /> -When I lived in San Francisco a parking spot in my neighborhood ran me $400 a month. It sucked.</p> <p>All in all, I really do love the bay area and I'm so grateful I'm able to call it home.</p> <p>ETA: warmth to be is low 70s high 80s =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813915 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:52:06 +0000 LittleGBee 813915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I have a love/hate relationship with the Bay. I've lived here for nearly 12 years now, and I totally consider it home. I love the diversity, the abundance of opportunities that my kiddos will have to experience a wide variety of cultures, and it's undeniably beautiful! I was stuck in traffic the other day looking out over the bay and the Golden Gate. How could life be so bad with a view like that? I grew up in Southern CA, so I very much miss having an actual summer though. So much of your life depends on the neighborhood where you end up though. Each spot has its benefits and drawbacks. </p> <p>Housing sometimes seems overwhelming, but it really depends on your life circumstances now. Most companies offer more to their employees who live in the bay because they know it will cost more. Do I think it's an easy place to raise a family? No, not really. But people make it work. Though, if I hadn't lived my entire adult life here, I'm not sure I could swallow the cost of living increase. </p> <p>We're in escrow for our first house, but only thanks to a gift/loan from my husbands parents, which is how most people who don't have a small personal fortune get into the real-estate market. Well, either that or they wait until they're 40-something. (I think 36 is still the average age of a first time home-buyer around these parts)</p> <p>I'm not super familiar with the South Bay, but if you have specific questions about neighborhoods in the East Bay (or deep east), ask away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813901 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:42:30 +0000 sunny 813901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: Thank you Sandy! That would be awesome! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813869 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:31:20 +0000 sandy 813869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: my friend moved from the Bay Area to Seattle (about 2 years ago) bc it was too expensive to raise a family there. I'll put you in touch with her so you can chat (she just went back for a visit a few weeks ago). She was in the Greenlake area and just bought a house on the eastside </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813836 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:12:35 +0000 sunny 813836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@woodentulip: IMHO Toronto is just as bad housing wise!! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813827 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:08:19 +0000 woodentulip 813827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We almost moved last year. But chickened out at the cost of living. Well, that and we were offered a gig here in Toronto that we accepted instead :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813764 Tue, 28 May 2013 15:46:56 +0000 T-Mom 813764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any personal experience to offer, but we have also considered moving to the area. The high cost of living is a major deterrent. I have friends in the bay area who are actually contemplating a move to Austin for that reason alone! But in the tech sector, there is really no better place for job prospects... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bay-area-bees-what-do-you-love-and-hate-about-living-there#post-813408 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:58:45 +0000 sunny 813408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are considering a move to the Bay Area, most likely to either Sunnyvale or Mountain View. The high housing cost is obviously a concern. </p> <p>What do you love and hate about living there? Did you move from another city/state? How does it compare to your previous city? </p>