Is it still possible to drive in san Francisco and the Bay Area?

Be honest: Which would I like more, Greater L.A. or S.F. Bay Area?

• Here's the schpiel: I now live in the Bay Area, on the peninsula. I feel like I picked a good place to live. While some of the snobby attitudes can be a little annoying, I find the people to be far more down to Earth and friendly in comparison to people in San Francisco proper, the Outer East Bay (i.e.: Dublin, San Ramon, Walnut Creek), and South Marin. I have a good life here, although I don't make a lot of money and it's expensive, but welcome to metropolitan California. I enjoy the culture in the nice little suburban communities along the peninsula. I like having Stanford, Silicon Valley and the entrepreneurial climate of the startups at my fingertips. I love Half Moon Bay and that nice drive along PCH which makes you easily forget you're so close to San Francisco! Weekend trips to Stinson Beach and Point Reyes in Marin are nice. In other words, the perks of the Bay Area, to me, don't all include SF and Oakland which is/are what many transplants move out for, anyway. However, I am what you call a "whole metropolis" kinda guy, not a city guy. I find San Francisco to be a place where I would feel confined, like a rat in a maze. I love my car, albeit with high mileage, and don't want to give it up. I find the Outer East Bay, South Marin and even San Francisco to have the most aloof, stuck up, stick-up-the-**** people I think I've met anywhere in the United States--although I hate West L.A./West Hollywood/Santa Monica/Beverly Hills for the same reason. L.A., on the other hand, seems like a bazaar jigsaw puzzle. It is the ultimate, quintessential urban experience because it ISN'T. Its population is extremely dense, but it's not a dense urban core surrounded by suburbs and Oakland (and who cares about Oakland?!) like SF. 85 neighborhoods in search for a metropolis, or something like that. And, quite honestly, away from that whole Hollywood scene north of the 10 and west of the 5, many Angelenos and area natives I've met have been rather down to Earth. In fact, moreso than the average Bay Area resident. I have met especially friendly people from the Inland Empire and North Orange County. The Bay has a high quality of life and can be a spectacularly beautiful place to live, but I believe that L.A. is more of what you call a "world class city." Thoughts? And discuss. I look forward to reading your responses.

• Answer:

  I personally have felt like people are nicer and more genuine in the bay area. However, the people you interact with vary by what type of environment you are in. I'm an outdoor enthusiast and have found that the bay area is one of the best places to live in with regards to outdoor activities. There are a plethora of things to do within a 2 to 3 hour drive. Let's face it, there isn't a comparable Lake Tahoe in SoCal. Your decision is tough because both areas are broken up into many segments which are all different from each other. I think you should base your decision on your lifestyle and your future plans ie; are you married? Have a family? kids? What kinds of things do you see being important for yourself in the next ten, twenty years? Good schools? Expenses? Weekend getaways? Diversity? Cuisine? Bars/clubs? Universities? Job Industries? I wonder where you live on the peninsula.. I actually really am surprised to hear what you think about people of the bay area because it is the first time I have heard that. Most people I have met, whether they are originally from here or so cal seem to say they like the bay area more. The only thing they miss about so cal is the beach. Either way California is amazing and diverse... enjoy it!