As a 28
year old war veteran and amputee I decided to move to the city by the bay at
the end of last year. I had visited San Francisco many years ago and always
said to myself that if I begin a life somewhere else, San Francisco would be my
top choice. My handicap made me rethink my decision a lot more than a normal
person due to the hills and cost of living in California (especially in San
Francisco) but I noticed many disabled people who wrote and said wonders of
this city. Despite having experience living in a major US city, I noticed San
Francisco is quite different from Boston and I’ve been running into quite a lot
of surprises (still do). Don’t get me wrong, if you’re considering a move up
here it’s a great place to live but here are 10 things I wished someone had
told me before I moved.
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| San Francisco Wheelchair Van Rentals |
You are where you live (?)
When
telling someone what neighborhood you’re part of, people tend to take it very
seriously to the point of actually knowing things about you just because of
where you live. Each neighborhood offers something and you can even tell what
neighborhood someone comes from because of the bike they ride (almost everyone
has a bike-(cycle)). Like any stereotype it’s not an exact science but chances
are, you will find a lot of hipsters in the Mission, bros in the Marina and
families in Noe Valley.
Cold Weather will Strike down upon you after 4pm
Just
because you’re from the Northeast don’t think it doesn’t get cold in California
at nighttime. In the northeast regardless of the season if it’s cold in the
morning, chances are it will be cold during the day as well, same goes for warmer
weather. Here we get haphazard weather to the point that it fog can alter the
temperature 10 degrees or so, so be prepared to dress in layers.
Cost of Living
Living in Boston I was used to saving a
good percentage of my paycheck but here it’s a different story due to
skyrocketing rent and taxes. Finding a decent apartment is quite difficult and
finding one that is within your means might take a good amount of time of
research before you even move here.
It is more Accessible than I thought
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| Santa Rosa Wheelchair Van Rentals |
Upon moving here I needed to get around
and I saw California the way I hadn’t before with a wheelchair van rental
company called Wheelers Van Rentals. Their SanFrancisco Wheelchair Van Rentals service allowed me to take in the sights
before I moved and I saw that there are always fun activities for everyone. There
are always random festivals, concerts and cultural events going on. It’s
impossible to not get drawn to something you didn’t expect and major props to
the city for how often they lend the streets to impromptu performances.
Home to a Significant Number of Crackheads
There are definitely bad parts in San
Francisco and although they show you a very culturally diverse city with a lot
of emphasis on change there are some ugly parts as well. The sectors with crime
are tenderloin and civic center which happen to be right in the middle of the
city. Market Street and Union Square are right on the border of the rough areas
which is normal for you to run into a crackhead or two asking you for money on your
way to work.
Learn about MUNI
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| San Diego Wheelchair Van Rentals |
MUNI is the bus system utilized in San
Francisco that most San Franciscans have strained relationships with on a daily
basis. Keep these tips in mind to avoid mishaps in the future. Also, the
trolleys aren’t all wheelchair friendly.
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Don’t listen to
Google Maps when they indicate ETAs of busses. I’m not telling you to drop
Google Maps altogether but just don’t depend on it to tell you what time your
bus will arrive because you’re going to have a bad time.
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Add time to your trip
if you know your bus will be heading through Chinatown. San Francisco’s
Chinatown is one of the biggest in the United States and going by here
indicates numerous stops and people cramming to get in or out.
If you love food, you’ve come to the right place
Rumor has it that San Francisco has enough
restaurants so that everyone in the entire city can be eating at one and be
seated simultaneously.
Sports aren’t as big as they are in the Northeast
When I first moved here being a huge Red
Sox fan I assumed that I was never going to hear the end of it be the locals
but such is not the case. The weather her allows there to be a ton of things to
do all day everyday so sports aren’t the center of attention.
Learn More about Wheelers Van Rentals and their wide array of Services
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