patrick.net

Redefining "best?" We're left with a short trip during Jul-Sept?

We probably have a different understanding of "best" but, indeed, I've watched several best friends move away just in the time I've been in San Francisco. Now that so many friends are procreating, I expect to see more go.

Portland is a really great city in many ways. I miss it. I enjoy visits. Although, my family there is considering leaving. Greener grass is everywhere.

I think hrhjuliet's definition of best is, "politically moderate and not willing to mortgage themselves to the max". That's my wild, totally arbitrary guess anyway.

Portland is a nice place. Free trams in downtown. Good food. No sales tax. Perhsps living in Vancouver, WA is even better. No state income tax too!

bmwman91 says

I think hrhjuliet's definition of best is, "politically moderate and not willing to mortgage themselves to the max". That's my wild, totally arbitrary guess anyway.

Makes sense, but I'm thinking hrhjuliet uses social and intuitive, less data-driven definitions, that might lead a person to just think, 'I like that person."

BTW, my BMW reference wasn't picking on just that car. They're great cars and I know you're a hobbyist! Cool! Sounds fun. i was really meaning "expensive cars bought to show socioeconomic status" which could be the entire range of cars depending on context.

bmwman91 says

I think hrhjuliet's definition of best is, "politically moderate and not willing to mortgage themselves to the max". That's my wild, totally arbitrary guess anyway.

Definitely qualities on my list. Good guess.

FunTime says

Makes sense, but I'm thinking hrhjuliet uses social and intuitive, less data-driven definitions, that might lead a person to just think, 'I like that person."

Yes, I also mean people that are easy to like. People that enhance their community by volunteering and making where they live more aesthetic, safe and clean. People that are genuine and do their best to not live selfish lives diseased with "affluenza" and materialism. People you can trust; trust what they say, and trust them not to hurt you or your property. People that would rather have health and happiness for everyone around them, instead of people who think it's okay to climb over every person in their way so they can have more and more stuff and comfort. I have a feeling Portland is going to get better and better, and the Bay Area is going to get more crime, gangs and McMansions and a lot of hurting people in between.

hrhjuliet says

Yes, I also mean people that are easy to like. People that enhance their community by volunteering and making where they live more aesthetic, safe and clean. People that are genuine and do their best to not live selfish lives diseased with "affluenza" and materialism. People you can trust; trust what they say, and trust them not to hurt you or your property. People that would rather have health and happiness for everyone around them, instead of people who think it's okay to climb over every person in their way so they can have more and more stuff and comfort.

I think that place is called "Canada."

FunTime says

BTW, my BMW reference wasn't picking on just that car. They're great cars and I know you're a hobbyist! Cool! Sounds fun. i was really meaning "expensive cars bought to show socioeconomic status" which could be the entire range of cars depending on context.

I agree 100%. Cars are popular status symbols. And most BMW drivers are douche bags anyway lol, don't worry about offending me. My '91 "doesn't count" as a BMW to the snobs. Then again, a big reason that I still drive the old one is the community. The old BMW enthusiast community is really solid.hrhjuliet says

Yes, I also mean people that are easy to like. People that enhance their community by volunteering and making where they live more aesthetic, safe and clean. People that are genuine and do their best to not live selfish lives diseased with "affluenza" and materialism. People you can trust; trust what they say, and trust them not to hurt you or your property. People that would rather have health and happiness for everyone around them, instead of people who think it's okay to climb over every person in their way so they can have more and more stuff and comfort. I have a feeling Portland is going to get better and better, and the Bay Area is going to get more crime, gangs and McMansions and a lot of hurting people in between.

Great description. This sums up many of my frustrations with the SFBA. I stick around mainly because 80% of my family is here. Being an avid hiker/climber/runner/biker also kicks ass with the total lack of weather we have here, too. Beyond that though, this place makes me cringe almost daily as I look around.

bmwman91 says

this place makes me cringe almost daily as I look around

Haha. Well, I haven't found a way to be around a bunch of people and not end up cringing. I'm sure I must induce cringes too. I think you'd both like my block in the city. Sure, there's cringe induction, but there's also people who want to know their neighbors and live safely. Who knows, I might like a couple people building towers on my block too, if they ever look in my direction or make eye contact. ; )

bmwman91 says

Being an avid hiker/climber/runner/biker also kicks ass with the total lack of weather we have here, too. Beyond that though, this place makes me cringe almost daily as I look around.

You could try Reno, NV. Just avoid all of those "chain-link and Rottweiler" neighborhoods (as seen on Reno 9-1-1).

FunTime says

Haha. Well, I haven't found a way to be around a bunch of people and not end up cringing. I'm sure I must induce cringes too. I think you'd both like my block in the city. Sure, there's cringe induction, but there's also people who want to know their neighbors and live safely. Who knows, I might like a couple people building towers on my block too, if they ever look in my direction or make eye contact. ; )

Yeah, as easy as it is to be totally cynical, I know that most people are decent and probably little-to-no different than me, overall. The shitty individuals are just so...noticeable!

freak80 says

You could try Reno, NV. Just avoid all of those "chain-link and Rottweiler" neighborhoods (as seen on Reno 9-1-1).

Hey, I could just walk down the street to "invest" rather than use the stock market!

bmwman91 says

Great description. This sums up many of my frustrations with the SFBA. I stick around mainly because 80% of my family is here. Being an avid hiker/climber/runner/biker also kicks ass with the total lack of weather we have here, too. Beyond that though, this place makes me cringe almost daily as I look around.

Exactly how we feel.

hrhjuliet says

Exactly how we feel.

Reno it is!

freak80 says

Reno it is!

...or Canada. Maybe even Portland? (:

Yeah, too bad I can't force all of my family to move. ):

hrhjuliet says

...or Canada. Maybe even Portland? (:

I've heard Portland has high housing costs too because of their draconian land-use laws.

Then again, relative to SF it's probably cheap.

freak80 says

I've heard Portland has high housing costs too because of their draconian land-use laws.

Then again, relative to SF it's probably cheap.

I'm sure Portland is higher than Reno, but I don't drink, don't gamble and don't own a Rottweiler. (;

Portland made it to the top ten for overall happiness in the USA, and they have a lot of bike trials and a well attended ballet company, so I think my survival rate might be a little higher in Portland. (:

La dee daH

I've been to Portland. Not my thing. It rains A LOT there. The whole area was totally soggy and you could tell it probably stays that way. It was overcast the entire time we were there. As someone who really like the sun, that to me would get realllll old, real quick.

What about Northern Florida? No state tax and good weather

Suyog says

What about Northern Florida? No state tax and good weather

I spent a summer in Vernon in '82 hunting turkey. Miserable humidity.

Portland is where all the bikers used to congregate. Good beer.

Indianapolis is home to the best looking women.

Downtown Victorville is where Jody lives. Nuff said.

How do you go from paying $2100 a month in rent to willing to pay almost $700k for a place with an exterior that looks like a storage rental unit?!? I've heard of apartments being converted into condo's but a storage unit into a house...

Get out before the umbrella virus takes over and infects you completely and before you become one of the zombie mob that are trying tooth and nail to claw your way into a house (where fresh brains are waiting I guess). Forget about trying to predict where the prices are headed and when to buy. If the water stinks, don't drink, if prices are too high, don't buy a Sty!

There's nothing wrong with the PNW. I spent 3 years in Seattle and I think it's prettier than SF, although I concede that it's subjective.

It doesn't rain a large AMOUNT per se, although it is constant drizzle mostly. The place is absolutely gorgeous and you can't beat it in the summer.

There is definitely a better sense of community and the whole rat-race isn't as espoused.

Plus, you can grow lots of yams.

edvard2 says

I've been to Portland. Not my thing. It rains A LOT there. The whole area was totally soggy and you could tell it probably stays that way. It was overcast the entire time we were there. As someone who really like the sun, that to me would get realllll old, real quick.

Try living where I live! ;-)

Our summers are nice though. And thanks to global warming, we didn't even have winter last year!

Peter P says

Portland is a nice place. Free trams in downtown. Good food. No sales tax. Perhsps living in Vancouver, WA is even better. No state income tax too!

Yes Portland is lovely. But one must learn to love the rain, cloud and lack of sunshine-save a very few months.

Facebooksux says

It doesn't rain a large AMOUNT per se, although it is constant drizzle mostly.

I lived up there almost ten years and never understand why people make this point. What's the difference? Isn't the constant, dark, drizzle worse on your mood? Your point is made well here, though.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/04/seattle-doesnt-get-that-much-rain/

Anyway, it rains there more days than almost anywhere else. I've ended up showing people this kind of data several times and used to carry printouts in a bag, because people were so set on thinking things like, "It rains in San Francisco almost as much as it does in Portland and Seattle."

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USWA0395
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USOR0275
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0987

Recently I made an offer on tiny condo down of south bay.
There were only two offers, mine 72K cash and from another investor offered 95K cash.
Comps were 69-78K. He won, but how smart is it???... 23K over. LOL

lostand confused says

Peter P says

Portland is a nice place. Free trams in downtown. Good food. No sales tax. Perhsps living in Vancouver, WA is even better. No state income tax too!

Yes Portland is lovely. But one must learn to love the rain, cloud and lack of sunshine-save a very few months.

I hate sunshine. But I don't like downpour either.

REpro says

He won, but how smart is it???... 23K over. LOL

not very smart.. he "paid himself" for several years of income returns.

There are some things, like arguments with the spouse or "Moore's Law" race to the bottom, even if you win, you lose.

thomaswong.1986 says

not very smart.. he "paid himself" for several years of income returns

In this case, 4 years of net cash flow to the drain.
We call it panic syndrome.

What somebody paid or what is listed for doesn’t matter.
In business cash/cash return, net ROI or IRR is what stimulate purchase price. If one area cannot produce satisfy numbers, move to another area. This is why manufacturing was moved from US to China.

REpro says

We call it panic syndrome.

yep! didnt do the numbers.. as your further comments on ROI.IRR states..

It’s better to submit 30 calculated offers (cost nothing), than take one shark bite wondering what a hell I just swallowed. IMO

hrhjuliet says

If you can get out of the Bay Area, get out. All the sane people are leaving, which can only make this area worse. We can't, but if we could we'd be flying out tomorrow. That's my heart felt advice.

One should preach what he practices :) , otherwise people call you a hypocrite

hrhjuliet says

All the best people seem to be moving to Portland. ):

More power to em'. All I know is that I've been to portland 3 times and its definitely not my favorite place. Its sort of boring, small, and the rain is relentless. It feels like one big wet sponge.

Foster City? Isn't that area built on land fill? Will all those overpriced houses fall when we have the next big quake?

peninsulabuyer says

Tiered of getting overbid in all my offers

Think of it this way... Every time you are outbid, it's some fool preventing you from overpaying.

Dan8267 says

peninsulabuyer says

Tiered of getting overbid in all my offers

Think of it this way... Every time you are outbid, it's some fool preventing you from overpaying.

... And you forcing a fool to pay more.
Thanks for the good work!