Should I Live in San Francisco?

Very Haight-Ashbury! by Alaskan Dude on FlckrCC

Travel Perspectives: Should I Live in San Francisco?

A lot of people ask me if I plan to eventually return to the USA to ‘settle down’ and establish a home.

In reply, I wrote a post entitled Would I Ever Live in the United States? I explained that, for many many reasons I actually have no intentions of ever living Stateside again. However, if I were to ever change my mind, the only place I could possibly consider living would be Florida, and most likely in St Petersburg.

But come to think of it, there is one other place I’d consider living in the US, if only the weather was more co-operative: San Francisco. That fun city is famed around the world for its alternative lifestyles that kicked off in the1960s hippies movement and have continued & expanded ever since.

Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco in the distance

Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco by mnapoleon on FlckrCC

San Fran is also rightly famed for its stunning natural setting and its iconic landmarks: Golden Gate Bridge, Castro District, Haight Ashbury with its ‘Victorean Ladies’ and Alcatraz Island, among others.

As for it’s unbeatable location, San Fran is close to the ocean, mountains, rivers, lakes, forests and several major national & state parks. The outskirts of the city lie along the gorgeous Pacific Coast. Inland is stunning San Francisco Bay. Within a few hours of the city are Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe and Point Reyes National Seashore. San Francisco is literally surrounded by outdoor lovers’ paradise.

It’s also very close to the annual Burning Man Festival. I’ve missed that amazing event every year because I’m not in the area, despite pleas from friends who live there. I’ve lost count of how many sudden emails I’ve received from travel acquaintances declaring, “Lash, I just went to Burning Man, which made me think of you. YOU NEED TO come here!”

For anyone who didn’t already know, alternative lifestyles, abundant nature, interesting neighborhoods and great architecture are right up my alley!

To date, I’ve visited San Francisco three times, for 1-2 weeks each visit. It lived up to all its purported glories.

During those visits I explored nearly every nook & cranny of that city by bicycle and on foot. I discovered eclectic neighborhoods with amazing clothing boutiques, unique cafes, unusual boutique hotels and authentic food from around the world. I wandered through the city’s large Chinatown and it’s upscale hilltop neighborhoods full of gorgeous historic houses

I cycled along San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Coast, across the Golden Gate Bridge, around eclectic neighborhoods and through amazing Golden Gate Park, which I still vote as one of the world’s best city parks.

one of many trails in Golden Gate Park – by Angela N on FlckrCC

At night I’ve enjoyed some of the most decadent and unusual nightclubs, parties and crazy theatrical performances of my entire life. As far as I’m concerned, San Fran has the best clubbing, party, performance and night life scenes in the USA. I’ve attended parties with fire spinners blowing flames out of their mouths, sultry belly dancers shimmying their hips, secret parties in forests & parks, outrageous drag shows and other unmentionables.

I have several good friends living in SF (No surprise there). Friends who are very active in the performance, fashion, clubbing & cafe scenes. I’d love living in the same city with them and all the city has to offer.

In fact, last time I was there en route to Thailand, I did actually pause to consider whether I’d rather not just settled down in SF to share my life with compatriots rather than continue traveling the world. My final decision is obvious. But San Francisco did make me pause, and there aren’t many places or people who’ve ever made me even flicker for an instant about spending my life traveling the world.

foggy San Francisco – photo by mdalmuld on FlckrCC

It’s just too damn bad the weather is so chilly, foggy, unpredictable & constantly changing. Every time I’ve visited SF, I’ve had to continually change my clothes throughout each and every day as the weather varied from hot & sunny to chilly & cloudy to rainy or foggy then back again. What a hassle it was carrying around clothes for every eventuality!

Besides that, I don’t like cold one bit. And I especially loathe that wet & cold combo. More accurately, I should say that my body hates wet and cold. I seem to rapidly get sick in those conditions, no matter how carefully I cover up and prepare.

Here I am, sleeveless, at Swayambunath Temple – Kathmandu – Nepal

But there might be hope on that count… In the past year or so my body seems to be making a massive change in temperature preferences! I don’t seem to enjoy tropical 30C-35C heat nearly as much as I used to. I’ve been finding myself avoiding midday tropical weather with more & more regularity.

I even find myself not minding a/c quite as much as I used to. In fact, at the moment here in Nepal, my body seems perfectly happy at only 20C, much to my astonishment.

I put it all down to having gained 10 kg / 20 lbs since I started travel blogging 2 years ago. (way too much sitting at a computer and way too little exercise!) But I’ve lost half that weight so far and am still enjoying cooler weather. So who knows what my body’s up to?!

The way things are going, maybe by the time I visit the US again, I might actually prefer San Francisco’s weather. Who knows. Stranger things have happened. (Like me suddenly deciding I loved pink after loathing it my entire life)

More over, from what I’ve read and heard since I last visited back in 2002, SF has added even more interesting attractions, architecture and activities.

San Francisco – Fisherman’s Wharf “Pier 39 Sealions” – by the-o on FlckrCC

There’s the Aquarium of the Bay at San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf, whose mission is to conserve San Francisco Bay. This year the new Bay Bridge East opened, complete with two cycling lanes. The Design District, full of home furnishings and design products, has expanded greatly since I was there. I also know from friends that the city’s clubbing, party and performance scenes are still going stronger than ever. And there’s Burning Man calling my name.

I really ought to pay another long visit to lovely ole SF to catch up with friends, cycle new city trails, get back into some outrageous nightlife and take a deeper look at whether San Fran should become my future home.

QUESTIONS:

Have you ever been to San Francisco? If so, what do you think of it?

What city would you most like to live in?

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Would I Ever Live in the USA Again?

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