For the past two weeks I’ve been commuting between San Francisco and Castro Valley to keep an eye on my uncle’s place while he is vacationing in Asia. I live in the Castro District of San Francisco, and while it shares a similar name to Castro Valley, the two areas couldn’t be more different. Comparison wise, it’s truly apple to orange, black to white, desert to ocean—you get the picture. Castro Valley is considered a bedroom community of the Bay Area —It’s close enough to commute to the city, but still relatively quiet, giving it a small town feel. People actually talk to their neighbors. They ride the same train at the same time every day and usually sit in the same place. The Castro District, on the other hand, is smack in the middle of San Francisco and the hub for LGBT residents, activism and partying events. There is always something going on and it’s usually late at night.
Castro Valley is easily accessible by BART and not a bad drive to the city when traffic is light. My uncle’s house is very comfortable and I actually lived there a few years back when I was in between moves so I’m somewhat familiar with the neighborhood and what is (and isn’t) available to keep myself occupied. I’ve really enjoyed the time in a “real house” and have slept like a baby. There are no loud neighbors, partying sidewalk-goers or police cars to wake me during the night. The sleep is so good, in fact, that I’m now thinking the suburbs are the place to be.
Before I make any rash decisions that I would later regret, I thought a quick comparison would be the best way to make sure I was living in the perfect place for me. After all, several great nights of sleep could make me believe just about anything. I decided the best place to take inventory was yesterday morning on the commute into the city.
Space Castro Valley has plenty of this and from what I can tell, it’s much cheaper than San Francisco. 1 point Castro Valley
Commute Being that I already live in the city, San Francisco wins. However, the creepy padded comfortable seats on BART that are regularly available make this a close race. The longer commute lets you unwind and prepare for your evening, or on the flipside, gives you time to mentally prepare for what’s sure to be a busy day. 1 point Castro
Proximity to Safeway Technically, the Castro Valley Safeway is further, but I drive to them both, so one mile vs. two miles doesn’t really matter. Tie
Coolness Factor I have nothing but love for the East Bay folks, but saying you live in the Castro is cooler than Castro Valley, right? I read in GQ that MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow is originally from Castro Valley, so while that gives it an edge, I’m going with SF on this one. 1 point Castro
Proximity to Outdoor Activities Much like the grocery store, this one is a wash. From my apartment, I can easily walk to Twin Peaks and get one of the prettiest views in the world. Castro Valley is situated in between several canyons which makes the hiking great and the views aren’t so bad either. While technically it’s probably easier to get around in Castro Valley, seeing the Golden Gate on a walk from my apartment keeps these neck-and-neck. Tie
Proximity to Starbucks Uh-oh. This is a big, gating factor and it doesn’t look good. There is a Starbucks four blocks from my apartment and at least five that I can walk to from work. The closest one in Castro Valley is more than two miles away. 1 BIG point Castro
Proximity to Friends While living near my uncle would be groovy, I love my friends and think that I’d see them a lot more if I stayed in the city. While I’m sure I could talk them into making a trip to the ‘burbs, I think my luck is going to be better if I can take a bus or a quick taxi ride to meet up for social engagements. 1 point Castro
Hmmmm. Looks like the Castro wins. Maybe I have Vacation Syndrome? This occurs when I visit somewhere and then have a strong desire to pack up and move my life to said destination—regardless of what I might actually do for work/live/play upon arrival.
Or is it the grass is always greener?
Whatever it is, my uncle isn’t going anywhere, so perhaps (especially in the midst of a recession) I should stop worrying about moving to the suburbs and instead think of it as a free vacation home that I can easily visit anytime the mood strikes.
Anyone free for coffee in the Castro or a hike in Castro Valley? Call me!
