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Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

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31–40 of 101 posts

Re: Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

#31

From 2005-2010 the city had a very positive vibe: we're the most European city in America, we love good food, we have a balance of artists and people who support the arts. Now it's overcrowded, overvalued and overcapitalized. Rather than being welcomed, you will be resented and perceived as pushing other people out. Oakland has a more friendly and creative feel these days, if you can deal with the pervasive criminal…

> we're the most European city in America

New York?

Re: Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

#32

From 2005-2010 the city had a very positive vibe: we're the most European city in America, we love good food, we have a balance of artists and people who support the arts. Now it's overcrowded, overvalued and overcapitalized. Rather than being welcomed, you will be resented and perceived as pushing other people out. Oakland has a more friendly and creative feel these days, if you can deal with the pervasive criminal…

As much as I appreciate the sentiment, Boston is probably the most European city in America stemming from the fact that it was originally built as one.

Re: Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

#33

From 2005-2010 the city had a very positive vibe: we're the most European city in America, we love good food, we have a balance of artists and people who support the arts. Now it's overcrowded, overvalued and overcapitalized. Rather than being welcomed, you will be resented and perceived as pushing other people out. Oakland has a more friendly and creative feel these days, if you can deal with the pervasive criminal…

As much as I appreciate the sentiment, Boston is probably the most European city in America stemming from the fact that it was originally built as one.

I’m european and have been to both cities. I agree with this statement.

Re: Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

#35
post #31

From 2005-2010 the city had a very positive vibe: we're the most European city in America, we love good food, we have a balance of artists and people who support the arts. Now it's overcrowded, overvalued and overcapitalized. Rather than being welcomed, you will be resented and perceived as pushing other people out. Oakland has a more friendly and creative feel these days, if you can deal with the pervasive criminal…

> we're the most European city in America New York?

Montreal?

Re: Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

#37
post #31

From 2005-2010 the city had a very positive vibe: we're the most European city in America, we love good food, we have a balance of artists and people who support the arts. Now it's overcrowded, overvalued and overcapitalized. Rather than being welcomed, you will be resented and perceived as pushing other people out. Oakland has a more friendly and creative feel these days, if you can deal with the pervasive criminal…

> we're the most European city in America New York?

As a European who has been a few times to both NY and SF, SF seems a lot more European to me. But couldn't tell you why exactly. I guess SF is more relaxed in many ways and NY is way too intense (which I love, but it's not something one finds in Europe).

Re: Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

#38
post #31

From 2005-2010 the city had a very positive vibe: we're the most European city in America, we love good food, we have a balance of artists and people who support the arts. Now it's overcrowded, overvalued and overcapitalized. Rather than being welcomed, you will be resented and perceived as pushing other people out. Oakland has a more friendly and creative feel these days, if you can deal with the pervasive criminal…

> we're the most European city in America New York?

The fairly obvious difference with New York and European cities is the grid system. There's Canary Wharf in London that is a bit similar to NY, but Canary Wharf isn't really like the rest of London.

Re: Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

#39
post #25
post #5

There are many different neighborhoods with pretty different feels, but generally speaking I would say this: The city is dirty, there are many homeless people, public infrastructure is not great (bad roads, questionable public transit), and it is the most expensive rent in the world. Culturally, it is much less "gay" and "hippie" nowadays, and almost entirely "tech," at least in my own experiences. If you're a softwa…

> If you're a software engineer, there are plenty of jobs and you will never have issue finding work. Even over 40? I am genuinely curious.

I'm not there yet, myself, but articles seem to indicate that it's tougher. I would imagine that the problem is possibly even exaggerated here, though, where tech is as much of a trend and culture as it is a job, and people feel like they need to be on the cutting edge, new, and cool.

Re: Ask HN: What's it like to live in San Francisco?

#40
post #9

I used to live there between '98 to '02, so my view is outdated. It's interesting to read current outlooks. I'm not American. Back then I found the city to be very European and very accepting. I was part of a fairly large music scene there so although I was in tech, the crowd I hang with was more music people. There was a LOT of tech back then and it was expensive. I remember if you wanted to rent a flat, you'd be th…

Reading all of these replies is making me nostalgic for my youth in California. I spent a lot of time in Santa Cruz between '95 and '98 and used to head to SF pretty regularly. As a young art student before any real involvement in tech, I loved the vibe of the city. Great food and bars, welcoming people. Nice climate. At the time I did notice lots of homeless people but they didn't seem that threatening. Out of all t…

Someone once told me the reason for all the homelessness is a mental institution closing during the Reagan era in the 80s and many patients were just left out in the streets. I've never found them intimidating as well. They were 'just there'.
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