Ask HN: What are the drawbacks of living outside the bay area?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2081666

by borski • 16 years ago

5 6 16 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

If moving to Silicon Valley, what are the drawbacks, if any, of living in, say, Half Moon Bay or somewhere similar? Is the traffic bad? Is it a drag on nightlife, etc.?

mechanical_fish2• 16 years ago

I always liked visiting Half Moon Bay, but it is at least 40 minutes from everything.

40 minutes to Cupertino with no traffic on I-280.

37 minutes to Palo Alto Square.

A mere 30 minutes (no traffic) to El Camino in Redwood City, but does Redwood City even count as Silicon Valley? It's certainly on the edge.

40 minutes to Mission Street in SF.

All these numbers are Google's estimates and are subject to going way up when traffic is happening.

Though I've never looked, my hypothesis is that Half Moon Bay is not substantially cheaper for rent than either SF or the Valley. There are fewer people, but there is also a smaller supply of housing, and the relative size of the rental market is smaller.

And, in the absence of a tremendous bargain on rent or an irrepressible love of daily walks along foggy Pacific beaches, I'd rather live right next door to something. Live next door to the night life, or live next door to work, but don't commute 40 minutes to everything.

borski• 16 years ago

The problem, for me, is an irrepressible love of water. Are there other places to live that are "on the water," so to speak?

chaithsc• 16 years ago

you could try redwood shores or foster city. If you are planning to live in SF, the marina has some great water views

mechanical_fish2• 16 years ago

Technically, SF Bay is full of water. Though the bits I lived near were mostly salt ponds, which are not exactly a gorgeous view - though it might be a matter of taste; I rather enjoyed the wildlife refuge on the east end of the Dumbarton bridge. And the bay is flat with no waves and few points of interest. But you could kayak in it.

If you want water to look at SF offers many pretty vistas and has the virtue of being the local nightlife. Commute to Silicon Valley is nasty but you'll at least have lots of company.

If I thought I loved Half Moon Bay so much that I wanted to try living there, here is what I would do: Rent some temp housing next door to work. Then, every day after work, drive to Half Moon Bay. Spend a few hours picnicing, admiring the water, etc and then drive home. That experience will be just like living there, except you'll only fight rush hour once instead of twice per day and your kitchen and bed will be on the wrong side of the mountains. After a month of that, plus some local research and side trips, you'll be able to answer your own question.

zackattack• 16 years ago

I love Half Moon Bay. What are your favorite spots?

jtchang• 16 years ago

You actually might like San Mateo. Really easy to get to half moon bay using 92. Traffic isn't so bad going up to the city. Going down to mountain view / san jose it can get bad though.

If you want better nightlife options you can live in millbrae and take bart up to the city. It is unfortunate but BART doesn't go all the way to san mateo.

Ask HN: What are the drawbacks of living outside the bay area?

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