patrick.net

Honestly, just rent as close to work as possible. Highway 101 is a steaming pile of shit, morning or afternoon, either direction. While some parts of the peninsula have some appeal to me, the commute alone ruled out the possibility of settling there.

If you are into the outdoors, there is a LOT to do up on Skyline Blvd / Hwy 35. It is reasonably easy to get up there if you live down in the valley. In the summer, I regularly drive up there to do trail runs, climb and hike after work. Kayaking on the bay is also an option, although you do need some experience to handle the wind and chop in the afternoon. You also need to be careful of shoulder-deep mud muck along the shore. Outrigger paddling is a GREAT sport, the people are wonderful, and there are a few teams along the peninsula that you could check out.

Demographics...the peninsula is largely Asian and white. It is becoming increasingly Asian at a pretty quick rate. There are a LOT of foreign nationals buying RE along it, and either being absentee owners or sending their kids here for education. The white folks...plenty of nice people, and if you don't mind people that just look for "D" on election ballots and drive Priuses you'll be fine. The Hispanic population is mostly in East Palo Alto, and black people don't seem to have any real presence there.

I have lived in Mountain View for the last 5 years and it has been nice. However, I would NOT want to commute to Foster City every day from here, or Palo Alto. If I was renting and single, I would move to Foster City and leave when I took another job elsewhere. There really is not much to "do" along the peninsula other than hike, eat out and drive to SF if partying is your thing. If you were a software developer then I'd say that there are things to get involved in.

I like Foster City. A nice area if you don't mind living on top of land fill (so the locals told me). I spent a couple months in a extended stay hotel before finding a house to rent in the Millbrae area.

Want to see something crazy, crazy to me anyway. These are new condo's in San Mateo. Built right next to 101. Who lives right next to a major Highway? The noise must be terrible.

http://www.zillow.com/community/arbor-rose/2116144881_zpid/

Hate to disappoint, but nightlife anywhere on the peninsula (not counting SF) is a letdown. Take it from a guy who up until about a year and a half ago was single.

My former supervisor and our VP owned homes in Foster City. Both complaines of the constant ant problems. The groundwater level is also quite high so pools can come out of the ground if left unfilled too long. God knows what will happen to some of those places should a major earthquake strike.

Would Caltrain be an option for you?

I'd either stay where you are, or just get a cheapish place in San Mateo or Foster City and drive for your nightlife. You aren't going to get much of that in the Peninsula.

BayArea says

I'm outgoing, enjoy the outdoors and being around like minded professionals in the ballpark of my age.

Long long walks on the beach; candle light dinners home...lovely times...

I say quit and move to Adelanto. The Days Inn on 395 is looking to hire a full time computer technician.

JodyChunder says

move to Adelanto.

Why do the places with reasonably priced housing tend to have the worst political representation?

The Professor says

I am probably not the only one who wonders what a full time computer tech does at the Days Inn.

I'm not sure they're looking to hire, exactly; they were advertising a Vacancy.

as a native Californian, SV tech worker for the past 30 years and homeowner, the perception of homes has changed. But certainly focus on career and keep your expenses low. when i was 1-9 years out of college it was about work and getting out on the weekends. Many of us were from the area and few if any came from outside so we were not trapped in needing to live next to some down town coffee shop. Frankly, our thinking too much like a New Yorker.