I worked in San Leandro and lived in Hayward for just over a year, 2016-2017. Personally, I felt like a stranger in a strange land for the most part. I did meet a few really great people and I thoroughly enjoyed doing tourist stuff like Alcatraz, Napa and a sunset cruise on the bay when friends of mine came to visit.
But I would never have felt at home there.
What’s funny is that I went to kindergarten there (San Lorenzo) and my parents had very fond memories of the area. (We were a Navy family.) But that was a long time ago.
Heck I was born in the old presidio.
I’ve been back to sf a number of times in the last 15 years.
When I return I remember a california identity character and destiny that I had when I was young that is much different from my eastern identity character and destiny.
like the difference between driving in a convertible with either the top up or the top down.
which coast do you think would be the top up. which the top down?