Comparisons

Now that I've been an SF resident for over a month, I've definitely accumulated a multitude of musings; ideas that cross my mind on a daily basis and make me stop and think. Lots of these thoughts, naturally, have been ones of comparison: my new home versus my old home.

In San Francisco...

• ...I shop at Safeway or small farmer's markets, not at Kroger or HEB. (Also, Walgreens instead of CVS.)
• ...Summer nights require a sweater.
• ...Mexican food is actually DELICIOUS! I'm not missing TexMex quite yet. I love living in the Mission.
• ...actually, ALL food is delicious. There hasn't been a restaurant I've been to that has even had "Average" food. Easily "Above Average" or "Excellent", always.
• ...thrift stores appear at every block. (There's even a Buffalo Exchange near my apartment!)
• ...it's true, people aren't as nice as those in the South. Walking through a crowded Safeway, sidewalk, or pathway, you won't hear many "excuse me's", let alone see many smiles.
• ...the sports teams > Houston sports teams. (Doesn't mean I like them more; just saying.)
• ...superb music taste (aka, my music taste) isn't uncommon in random people you meet.  People know what's up.
• ...I feel like there are music festivals monthly. ACL will always have my heart, but man, I'm really looking forward to all of these SF fests.
• ...nobody says "y'all". I kind of knew this coming in, however, I was pleased to know that nobody gives you a weird look if you DO choose to say it. They just personally don't say it themselves.
• ...fashion styles usually consist of darker, more demure colors and patterns. My wardrobe definitely stands out at times.
• ...Asians are the Mexicans of Texas.
• ...everything is organic. You don't even need to ask. Actually, if you DO ask, people may look at you weird as to why you were even questioning it.
• ...the hills are always MUCH steeper than you presume them to be.
• ...the fog > the smog of Houston.
• ...my hair doesn't frizz. It's pretty fantastic!
• ...I don't sweat the moment I leave my apartment. In fact, I don't even have a/c, and our electricity bill is about $10/person each month. Yeahhh budddyyy!
• ...so many people have dogs! Super random breeds, too. Dogs are also welcome pretty much everywhere (even at work!!)
• ...rent is double, if not triple the rent of Austin and Houston.
• ...taxes suck.
• ...local wines and beers are pretty amazing, and surprisingly cheap!
• ...Sierra Nevada is the Shiner of Texas.  However, it always brightens my day (or, night...) when I see some Shiner at a bar! :)
• ...the tech industry = oil & gas industry in Houston.
• ...the age distribution seems to be older than Austin (thanks to UT's population), but younger than Houston. Not many married folk in the city.
• ...the tolerance for marijuana is equivalent to Austin City Limits Festival...but every day.

Overall, the I'm very satisfied with how life is here in SF. While I do miss home (Houston, for the family, and Austin, for the friends and atmosphere), I don't think I could have chosen a better place to start my new chapter.

(...the perfect place to continue the hipster evolution. I can't wait until I'm back home and demanding organic foods, wearing second-hand clothes, complaining of the heat, and thinking the ground is too flat. Man, I miss those shin splints!)