4 ms·

this is very cool! I came to the area recently and settled in Berkeley based on a PG essay, and I think it deserves the good review that it gets on the map. I

by elangoc 15y ago

this is very cool! I came to the area recently and settled in Berkeley based on a PG essay, and I think it deserves the good review that it gets on the map. I thought being in the Gourmet Ghetto area would be too far away from the bustling student-y area with cheap food, but it's nice to see it got mentioned. Travel to SV via public transit is a 2-2.5 hr trip door-to-door (maybe a little more, depending where, and if you need to walk). If commuting is only a once in a while thing, it's not too painful with a Clipper Card but maybe expensive.

5vforest 15y ago
Yeah, best part about commuting to SV by transit is that you can pretty much work the entire way -- driving might be quicker, but if I work on the train it's like I'm not even losing any time.
reneherse 15y ago
Totally agree with the vibe of Berkeley that PG talks about in "Cities and Ambition"; it's all about quality of life. I lived there for a couple years and loved it (though I wasn't in tech at the time), and now I'm considering relocating there again. For me the greatest advantage of Berkeley is the opportunity for amazing outdoor recreation, which is a boon if you enjoy nature and want to keep in shape while avoiding the gym. You can live literally minutes away from trail heads into the hills for hiking or biking. Lunchtime trail running? Not a problem. Also at Berkeley Marina you have one of the best locations for sailing in the Bay Area. Access to healthy food is also a huge plus. I've never seen a wider selection of reasonably priced vegetables than at the produce section of the Berkeley Bowl. And, there's far more sunshine than anywhere else on the Peninsula north of Millbrae. Lastly, I agree with your comments and disagree with the author's regarding the commute to SV. An occasional commute to SV is very doable by BART and Caltrain, but a ridiculously stressful waste by car. Just bring your earplugs for those acoustically torturous minutes in the Transbay Tunnel.

by elangoc 15y ago

5vforest 15y ago

Yeah, best part about commuting to SV by transit is that you can pretty much work the entire way -- driving might be quicker, but if I work on the train it's like I'm not even losing any time.

reneherse 15y ago

Totally agree with the vibe of Berkeley that PG talks about in "Cities and Ambition"; it's all about quality of life. I lived there for a couple years and loved it (though I wasn't in tech at the time), and now I'm considering relocating there again. For me the greatest advantage of Berkeley is the opportunity for amazing outdoor recreation, which is a boon if you enjoy nature and want to keep in shape while avoiding the gym. You can live literally minutes away from trail heads into the hills for hiking or biking. Lunchtime trail running? Not a problem. Also at Berkeley Marina you have one of the best locations for sailing in the Bay Area. Access to healthy food is also a huge plus. I've never seen a wider selection of reasonably priced vegetables than at the produce section of the Berkeley Bowl. And, there's far more sunshine than anywhere else on the Peninsula north of Millbrae. Lastly, I agree with your comments and disagree with the author's regarding the commute to SV. An occasional commute to SV is very doable by BART and Caltrain, but a ridiculously stressful waste by car. Just bring your earplugs for those acoustically torturous minutes in the Transbay Tunnel.