Hey, does anyone live in Oakland? We are considering an initial move there (cause... cheaper and looks to be pretty well connected by the transportation system.) Thoughts? Pros? Cons? Perkins and PC, do you live in the East Bay?
I love Oakland! Because it is indeed cheaper, and it's easy to BART into the city when necessary. Truth be told, I haven't really figured out what Happens in the East Bay, since most of the concerts and theatre and whatnot I go to are in SF, but I like living away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. My area is pretty nice too, since I'm right by College and Piedmont, both of which have lots of nice eateries and bookstores. Consuela lives closer to Lake Merritt, which is also a good area. This is so exciting!! Oakland is good times, and it positions you better for the rest of the East Bay, whereas San Francisco positions you better for the South Bay, which can seem much farther from Oakland (places like Belmont and Mountain View and Palo Alto).
And didn't Suzi just move from there?
Suzi was in Alameda. Which is a quieter part of the East Bay and on an island and I don't really know what's really...there besides houses. And a naval base.
Nora - I lived in Alameda, which was right next to Oakland. Alameda is a fantastic place to live in the Bay Area. Small town feel but with easy access to everything.
With Oakland, it really depends on what neighborhood you end up in. Some parts are fantastic, others are extremely sketchy. Javachik or Consuela would probably have clearer advice to offer.
So should I move West too? What's the job market like?
I have to say, I feel like I live in a picture postcard here in Colorado. The views are spectacular. And I've been extremely impressed with the school system. I think the job market here is better than California, though I don't have any statistics to back that up.
Some neighborhoods I love include Lakeshore, Glenview, Piedmont Ave, and Temescal.
Good to know- I had head (um, from this one website I looked at) that Ridgerock was nice as well?
Are you looking to buy or rent?
Rent, definitely
The city is broke and increasing their revenue any way they can - extending meters to 8 and handing out parking tickets like candy. If you won't have a car that won't be an issue.
Sounds like the same as around here- especially in Somerville, where we lived before hauling up to Salem.
The school issue shouldn't be a factor as far as I'm planning.
I had head (um, from this one website I looked at) that Ridgerock was nice as well?
Rockridge. Yeah, that's right by where I live. I'm on the border of Rockridge and Temescal. It's a very nice area.
Rockridge? Rockridge? Splendid.
/Blazing Saddles reference
I'm on the border of Rockridge and Temescal. It's a very nice area.
oh, good to know! Thanks!
Oakland (and now, Alameda) are attractive because although hopefully we'll be out of debt before we attempt this move (knock wood) we don't know how the job sitch will go. I'm hopeful that a software developer/engineer person will be able to find SOMETHING, and hopefully I'd be able to score something at a college or university or something. But, rife with uncertainty and lower rent for something not the size of a closet would be preferable.
Rockridge. Yeah, that's right by where I live. I'm on the border of Rockridge and Temescal. It's a very nice area.
Great area! And there are a fair number of rentals available and a BART station.
Now I'm hungry for a fried chicken sandwich.
