US News: SF-Oakland Metro Area ranks 7th Best Place to Live (San Diego: campgrounds, restaurants)
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Some people don't drink wine, I'm one of them so your reason of desirability being close to Napa only applies to some people.
In all the years I lived in the Bay Area which were many more than you, I've only known a few people to go wine tasting in Napa that were locals. Even then it might be only every few years to take out of town visitors who were doing the tourist thing. With that much frequency having Napa that close simply wasn't a thing that made the area desirable. It would be to someone like you who is new to the area and hasn't gotten over the novelty.
It's like someone saying how great it is to live next to Disneyland because they go there all the time. They don't.
Other people can save so much money living elsewhere cheaper with a higher ranking than 7 like where you live that they don't have to limit themselves to Napa, they have money to go elsewhere instead of seeing the same area over and over.
Once again you sound so butt hurt that someone disagrees with you and points out the facts that you think it's all criticism. Be careful you don't choke on that cork in Napa
Wrong. The beauty of the region (and wineries/towns) create just as much desirability in many ways as the Bay. It never gets ‘old’, particularly if one regularly enjoys the escape from the City (which I do) - though as I mentioned I prefer Sonoma County over Napa (which I never go to). Both counties are part of the Bay Area so it is very much a part of the discussion. Sonoma is very accessible (and usually an enjoyable drive once past the GG) on the weekends; so is Sausalito and Mill Valley. You don’t have to be a tourist or new to the area to appreciate wine, beauty, bay views, sailing, or meandering drives to various wineries on a semi-regular basis (even if you don’t drink wine). It belongs in any discussion about the desirability (or the COL) of SF and the Bay Area. That said, if you don’t like the COL, no one is forcing you to live here (and I get it’s a negative, but there are reasons for it, its desirability being one of those reasons).
Last edited by CorporateCowboy; 04-22-2019 at 05:36 PM..
Wish we were that fortunate. We sold the 30K SF house for 79K a few years later when DH took a position in NY.
When we returned to Bay area a couple of years later, we bought in Oakland. That place we sold for 6x its price and that enabled us to pay cash for our coastal home in NC.
So we did okay, no complaints...
But had we stayed in place, we'd be millionaires -- on paper! Could never move from the original home though--the prop taxes would have done us in!
Prop 13 can be transferred for downsizing within the same county and other counties with reciprocal agreements...
I know seniors that have done just that... they had had lived in a high value homes in Orinda and Alamo and downsized to Rossmoor without losing their low property tax bases...
Some people don't drink wine, I'm one of them so your reason of desirability being close to Napa only applies to some people.
In all the years I lived in the Bay Area which were many more than you, I've only known a few people to go wine tasting in Napa that were locals. Even then it might be only every few years to take out of town visitors who were doing the tourist thing. With that much frequency having Napa that close simply wasn't a thing that made the area desirable. It would be to someone like you who is new to the area and hasn't gotten over the novelty.
It's like someone saying how great it is to live next to Disneyland because they go there all the time. They don't.
Other people can save so much money living elsewhere cheaper with a higher ranking than 7 like where you live that they don't have to limit themselves to Napa, they have money to go elsewhere instead of seeing the same area over and over.
Once again you sound so butt hurt that someone disagrees with you and points out the facts that you think it's all criticism. Be careful you don't choke on that cork in Napa
I get that you two are having some kind of beef and you're making a point here. I'm not trying to get in the middle, but may I offer a counterpoint?
While I am a wine enthusiast, Napa and the rest of Wine Country is so much more than you are making it out to be--definitely worth many visits per year, even for non-wine-drinkers. Some of the best restaurants, sights and attractions in the world are spread out across these valleys.
There are also the areas around Marin that are more than worthy stopovers on your way to and from Wine Country, such as hiking trails through redwoods, rocky coastlines around historic sites and more. The funky rural towns near Pt. Reyes are home to artisan cheesemakers, farms and general stores. There's boutique shopping in every little town square from Mill Valley to Petaluma, and west to the ocean. Live music venues around San Rafael, Petaluma, Fairfax and others are fantastic. They lean toward classic rock and acoustic, but also feature jazz, folk and a varied calendar. There's a hippie vibe that still exists in the little towns off the freeway in the valleys here. And the entire area from the base to the top and all around Mt. Tam is an incredible outdoor recreation area--this is where mountain biking was invented.
"Wine Country" which is the hundreds of square miles beyond just Napa has towns like St. Helena, Sonoma, Calistoga, Healdsburg, Yountville, Gurneville, Sebastapol and many others--all full of quaint, interesting shops, food stands, galleries, high end boutiques, dives, world famous restaurants, etc.
Camping, rafting and kayaking on the Russian River is fun. The rocky coastline around Jenner, at the Russian River's mouth is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Racing at Sonoma Raceway draws an eclectic crowd and features both Gran Prix and NASCAR events. There are ballon and train rides in Napa. 1st Street is even developing into a kind of hip resort hotel and restaurant strip with more of a Wine Country take on nightlife. Napa also has some good live music and hosts the Bottle Rock music festival every year, too.
And if beer, rather than wine is your jam, you'll find some of the best breweries in the country from Marin, up to Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sebastapol, Calistoga and beyond. There are hundreds and they are fun to find. There are a couple of large casinos up that way too, if gaming and golf is your thing.
I like the sightseeing, discovering hidden wineries and trying unusual paired tastings--some of which rank with fine dining experiences--and meeting the people from all over the world drawn to Wine Country for its famous wines. I've witnessed many a non-wine-lover get into the spirit and develop a real enthusiasm for the area after just a couple of tastings.
When it's so close, you don't have to plan it! I love waking up on Sunday morning and heading across the bridge on a spur-of-the-moment trip every chance I get.
How often do you go to the wineries in Napa? Please don't avoid the subject.
To the wineries? Wineries, depends on whether I’m meeting up with anyone who likes wine ... not often.
To Napa and Sonoma and Mendocino districts / counties ... parks, restaurants, campgrounds, marinas? Probably a good 8 times a year now I’ve moved south to Central Coast and San Diego. Before that (4 years ago), when I lived in SF and Bay Area ... probably at least a couple dozen times a year.
I get that you two are having some kind of beef and you're making a point here. I'm not trying to get in the middle, but may I offer a counterpoint?
While I am a wine enthusiast, Napa and the rest of Wine Country is so much more than you are making it out to be--definitely worth many visits per year, even for non-wine-drinkers. Some of the best restaurants, sights and attractions in the world are spread out across these valleys.
There are also the areas around Marin that are more than worthy stopovers on your way to and from Wine Country, such as hiking trails through redwoods, rocky coastlines around historic sites and more. The funky rural towns near Pt. Reyes are home to artisan cheesemakers, farms and general stores. There's boutique shopping in every little town square from Mill Valley to Petaluma, and west to the ocean. Live music venues around San Rafael, Petaluma, Fairfax and others are fantastic. They lean toward classic rock and acoustic, but also feature jazz, folk and a varied calendar. There's a hippie vibe that still exists in the little towns off the freeway in the valleys here. And the entire area from the base to the top and all around Mt. Tam is an incredible outdoor recreation area--this is where mountain biking was invented.
"Wine Country" which is the hundreds of square miles beyond just Napa has towns like St. Helena, Sonoma, Calistoga, Healdsburg, Yountville, Gurneville, Sebastapol and many others--all full of quaint, interesting shops, food stands, galleries, high end boutiques, dives, world famous restaurants, etc.
Camping, rafting and kayaking on the Russian River is fun. The rocky coastline around Jenner, at the Russian River's mouth is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Racing at Sonoma Raceway draws an eclectic crowd and features both Gran Prix and NASCAR events. There are ballon and train rides in Napa. 1st Street is even developing into a kind of hip resort hotel and restaurant strip with more of a Wine Country take on nightlife. Napa also has some good live music and hosts the Bottle Rock music festival every year, too.
And if beer, rather than wine is your jam, you'll find some of the best breweries in the country from Marin, up to Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sebastapol, Calistoga and beyond. There are hundreds and they are fun to find. There are a couple of large casinos up that way too, if gaming and golf is your thing.
I like the sightseeing, discovering hidden wineries and trying unusual paired tastings--some of which rank with fine dining experiences--and meeting the people from all over the world drawn to Wine Country for its famous wines. I've witnessed many a non-wine-lover get into the spirit and develop a real enthusiasm for the area after just a couple of tastings.
When it's so close, you don't have to plan it! I love waking up on Sunday morning and heading across the bridge on a spur-of-the-moment trip every chance I get.
I get that you two are having some kind of beef and you're making a point here. I'm not trying to get in the middle, but may I offer a counterpoint?
While I am a wine enthusiast, Napa and the rest of Wine Country is so much more than you are making it out to be--definitely worth many visits per year, even for non-wine-drinkers.
Anyone who has ever lived here does not refer to wine country as ‘Napa’ (my point to a previous poster); other than that, you essentially made some of the same points I did (only with much more superfluous personal detail which I don’t tend to read, and I suspect other people don’t care about for the purpose of this thread either). The point is - one must include it in any discussion of desirability (or COL) of the area despite some people believing ‘it doesn’t count’.
Anyone who has ever lived here does not refer to wine country as ‘Napa’ (my point to a previous poster); other than that, you essentially made some of the same points I did (only with much more superfluous personal detail which I don’t tend to read, and I suspect other people don’t care about for the purpose of this thread either). The point is - one must include it in any discussion of desirability (or COL) of the area despite some people believing ‘it doesn’t count’.
As my post was not directed toward you, I don’t care whether you read it or not.
And I don’t care if you guys care for each other’s posts either ... but I am amused you’d snark at each other when what you both were writing was essentially supporting the same point ... heh
This report says tech employees make up more than 50% of home buyers in San Francisco followed by finance with around 9%. Most buyers are from google ,Facebook and sales force.
When the next round of IPOs come out uber ,slack ,lyft,Pinterest employees are going to be looking in the same neighborhoods.
40% over asking all cash offers happen now. I can't believe it can get worse.
I'm just sharing some info don't shoot the messenger
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