(no subject)

[exsequar]

SO.

I just found out that I'm moving to San Francisco!

I'M MOVING TO SAN FRANCISCO.

Whaaat? *flail* My boss took a job at UCSF and the lab is moving there. I am definitely going to go, and probably most of the lab is too. He just dropped the bomb on us out of the blue today, then took us all out for lunch (and beer) as a sort of - apology? Heh. Some people are taking it much worse than others. I personally am getting to a quite okay place with it, mostly because I'm already far along in my PhD and will only be in SF for 1.5 years, and I was planning on making a big move from Ann Arbor after grad school anyway, so this just accelerates the timeline.

Still, it's a pretty big shock. The worst part is that I'll be moving away from my dad, and it's been so wonderful being in the same city with him again. I never got a chance to tell him today and I'm kind of dreading it. But I think he'll be excited for me too, because it really is a special opportunity.

SO. FLIST. Whoever is still out there. Who knows anything about San Francisco or California? General advice on moving out there? Thoughts, warnings, anything? I know I haven't been around at all but I still consider you a great source of advice and comfort.

I'M MOVING TO SAN FRANCISCO HOLY SHIT!

Comments

[summertea.livejournal.com]

oh man i am so jealous!!! all my college friends are in sf. :(

first and foremost: how much do you like sunlight? how much do you mind commuting to campus? b/c sunlight & not commuting are mutually exclusive... ucsf is in the sunset aka my old roommate jokes slightly despairingly that she moved from pittsburgh to the area of sf that is just like pittsburgh! (she goes to ucsf for pharmacy.)

if you want to talk to people who knows sf, lemme know. i can hook you up w/ my rl friends who live there. :)

[deirdre-c.livejournal.com]

How exciting!!! You are going to LOVE SF!! Let's definitely plan to get together for lunch before you leave, y/y??!

[theaeblackthorn.livejournal.com]

woooo, exciting!!!

[feuervogel]

I have a lot of friends who live there, one couple in the Mission in SF proper (one of them works for Google), the rest out in the East Bay (Oakland, San Leandro) because they can't afford to live in SF proper on non-Google salaries. (When they moved out there 10+ years ago, they lived 6 people in a 3-bedroom, 1-bath duplex (one floor!) in Berkeley, and their rent was 3k/month. It's fucking obscene.) Getting housing is also ridiculous, apparently, and requires applications and being there first and shit. No idea if dorms are an option. (Driving out there is madness, and BART doesn't run on grad student schedules, so cheaper digs may not really be cheaper.)

The weather is probably more to your liking, though, it's very British. Doesn't really get hot, always foggy, etc. (If you go down to San Jose, you get sun.) UCSF looks like it's in a good part of the city though! There are 3 bus stops right there.

[pau494.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about San Francisco or California, obviously, but THIS IS HUGE. What a bomb to drop on you guys. And awesome? I'm going with awesome!

[maleyka.livejournal.com]

SAN FRANCISCO

STAY LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO COME VISIT YOU

... erm, I mean, what an exciting opportunity for you!

[caithream.livejournal.com]

SO awesome, but yeah, wow, sudden! I'd be as conflicted as you are. But ooooomg I've always wanted to visit North California, especially San Fran and the Big Sur and everything. I can't wait to hear about all the details as you know more!

[foreverseenstar.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm in love with SF. I've been trying to move out there myself, deadline being November this year. Finding a job is a little... er, v challenging. So congrats on awesomeness! And yay for lack of disgusting summer heat and wretched snow! Seasons booo.

[why-me-why-not.livejournal.com]

I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR YOU!

[ghostrunner7.livejournal.com]

The cost of living is high and I suggest you soak up all the sunshine you need before you come, but SF is AWESOME. Of course, I've lived here all my life so I'm contractually obligated to say that.

[beerbad.livejournal.com]

Yay California!!! All I can add is that once you live here you will never want to leave. Although we will be NorCal-SoCal rivals. ;)

[insunshine.livejournal.com]

My sister and I drove from LA to San Francisco in 2009 and it was one of the most fun trips of my life! It's such a beautiful, funky area. I'm sure you'll have a great time and I can wait to read all about it!

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

I hope San Fran is working out wonderfully for you, and that you had a wonderfully birthday yesterday!