The Bay Area is a funny place to live. Would you move here?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220311)
Walnut Creek, California
November 17, 2023 2:36pm CST
The Bay Area is an odd place to live. We have the Pacific Ocean, redwood forests, live oak forests, Mt. Diablo, Golden Gate Park, and Tilden Park. You can fish, kayak, hike, and swim here. All in the same day if you're so inclined.
But you can also get shot if you're driving from Point A to Point B. I have driven by several murder scenes here. I have never driven by a murder scene in Iowa, Illinois, Montana, or Indiana, other places I've lived.
My friends and I jokingly call Highway 4, which I drive to Antioch where my music buddy Mike lives, Murder Alley. I have driven by two drive-by murder scenes on that route alone and I drive there less than once a week.
I would be seriously miffed if I got shot while driving from one place to another. If they got my spine, and I couldn't play guitar or piano anymore, I admit that I might even be angry.
This poor lady was just driving a bit slow and got shot for it. She will be OK, but shooting someone for driving sensibly is just plain rude to me. It's not just rude. It's inconsiderate.
Would you want to live in the Bay Area?
Photo is of an "older" building I took in Golden Gate Park with my brother on Monday.
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20 people like this
19 responses
@much2say (56117)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Nov 23
I actually love the Bay Area. I'm in L.A. as you know - both our cities have their huge share of issues but at the same time, the good parts are actually pretty great. Hey, are store/mall closures affecting life out there (just curious, as this is what I hear).
4 people like this
@much2say (56117)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Nov 23
@spiderdust I heard that Westfield was pulling out - which surprised me as I know they are super wealthy - and I thought the Bay Area store businesses would be doing well. It is a shame if part of it is because of those smash and grab crimes . . . we know them too well here too. It's sad to see malls not being able to thrive anymore.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220311)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Nov 23
@spiderdust The mall phenomenon was something I watched but did not really participate in. My friends and I watched Fast Times at Ridgemont High a few weeks ago. It was a funny movie.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38768)
•
18 Nov 23
San Francisco is very unique, special, and a lovely place to visit. Also one of the most expensive cities I have ever visited. I honestly felt there was so much 'keeping up with the Jones's ' there, even if I wanted to iive there, I wouldn't. It's hard to explain, but I saw so much entitlement there--and yes, I've been there many times as I have some family there. Some of my family members that did live there, have left for other places, so now I have not been there for awhile.
I know you have the property in Montana. If I were you, I would leave, but only you know what you want to do.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38768)
•
18 Nov 23
@TheHorse
I have to agree with you on New York. It has a feel all it's own somehow.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (69063)
• United States
18 Nov 23
NO!
Too expensive. Plus, you get earthquakes so frequently that they, unlike the ones in Iceland right now, don’t even make the news.
I’d love to visit, though.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (100607)
• India
18 Nov 23
Tell him when you will visit him, he will plan a vacation to Montana. Evil Grin.
He does owe me a $10 meal in some Indian restaurant out there..take away or whatever. Problem is, I will be spending around 10000 USD to travel to his place (if not more if I consider all beautification and wardrobe issues), then another 10000 or so to locate where he lives...then another 10000 to live in some hotel and eat, and then another 10000 back...I lost count..is that more than $10? I think so. I might be bad in calculating.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100607)
• India
18 Nov 23
@FourWalls Pony said nothing about inflation...and he said Indian meal. So I think he owes me that. Whether he brings it down from California or whether I fly to California..net effect is the same. LOL
3 people like this
@FourWalls (69063)
• United States
18 Nov 23
@vandana7 — the way inflation is going, you’ll only get a glass of tea for ten bucks. Especially in San Francisco.
2 people like this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
18 Nov 23
You already know my answer. 
I grew up on the other coast and came out here in 1996.
I grew up on the other coast and came out here in 1996.3 people like this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
19 Nov 23
@TheHorse I miss the lushness, although the humidity isn't something I ever enjoyed. I can drive up to Oregon and experience it all again, but it isn't quite the same.
@AmbiePam (94001)
• United States
17 Nov 23
I like the picture of the building. You already know California is too liberal for me. My dad and I were talking about when we lived there when I was a child. It sure was pretty, but it’s just not for us. Every state but Texas is soft on crime, but California, Colorado, and New York go to nutty levels of soft. Well, one more state goes to nutty levels, but a very beloved mylotter lives in that one, and I don’t want to offend her. I know I’m not offending you.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (94001)
• United States
18 Nov 23
@TheHorse Texas goes harder on criminals than any other state. Although, a guy did walk in on his wife and another guy cheating, shot and killed the guy, and he walked. But that was 20 years ago, and back then most people applauded him.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220311)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Nov 23
Is Texas not soft on crime? I was more afraid, when I worked in Oakland, of being being put in prison if I defended myself against a mugging (as I was able to do successfully, without harming anyone, in Chicago when I was growing up) than I was of actually getting shot.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41753)
• United States
18 Nov 23
Absolutely not. Too much homelessness and crime.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• United States
17 Nov 23
As pretty as California is I don't think I'd want to live there
Shootings are happening so frequently these days it's scary to think you could be risking your life driving from one point to another
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (104231)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Nov 23
My late dad wanted to live in the Bay Area when we moved from Panama to New Orleans. Because the cost of living in the Bay Area is too expensive.
My relatives decided to live in Louisiana due to the trade between Louisiana and Panama was good for us to call home.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (104231)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Nov 23
@TheHorse New Orleans has a similar than Central America.
1 person likes this
@Chellezhere (5742)
• United States
17 Nov 23
Because of my allergy to palm trees, I could only live in northernmost California, and the state is too progressively democratic for me anyway, so I would have to say no.
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (5742)
• United States
18 Nov 23
@TheHorse Yes, many states are over-regulated, and California is one that is hit the most.
@LindaOHio (181931)
• United States
18 Nov 23
Love the building. I don't think I'd want to live in a dangerous area. I'd rather live in the Keys and take my chances. Have a great weekend.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100607)
• India
18 Nov 23
@LindaOHio That looks like a gator to me!!!
I have never seen any out in wild, and hope will never see one.
Wild life...I will give it a pass..I am quite timid person in real life, except with humans.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181931)
• United States
18 Nov 23
@vandana7 In Florida. They are a chain of islands connected by bridges. It's beautiful down there and there's lots of wildlife. Here's a picture.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160994)
• United States
18 Nov 23
I would not live there, or anywhere else in California. The entire state is full of beauty, and danger, and I am just a midwestern girl at heart.
@snowy22315 (182284)
• United States
18 Nov 23
I was there visiting in the 80's and it was very fun to visit. However, I think it would be far too expensive for me to consider living there. We went to Muir Woods, San Fran, Monterey. Carmel, Yosemite and drove down highway 1 to Big Sur. Big Sur is likely the most lovely place I have seen..and those giant Redwoods in Muir Woods were kind of like a peak life experience. It was very magical. Not cheap in Northern Calif by any stretch though.
@celticeagle (168369)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Nov 23
I have visited San Francisco a couple of times I love the redwoods and would love to live in a small town near or in them.I hope the redwoods weren't badly burned and that they are getting back to normal. I get emails from an organization that is in that area.
