Figuring things out
Jul. 25th, 2002 07:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
danaerisSo some of you may or may not know that I've been debating where to live in September. I'm torn between Boston and San Francisco Bay Area, and really haven't made up my mind yet. This is my 'figuring things out' post.
There are many axes I could measure the two cities on. It is tempting to measure it on existing friends, lovers, and SOs, but that is silly. In the grand scheme of things, though I don't want to, I must admit that what matters the most is not the present state, but the POTENTIAL of a city. So. I am measuring things on a relative scale. Potential values within a category are 1,2, and 3. If both have 2, they are approx. equal. If there is a 1 and a 3, then the 3 is WAY better than the 1. If there is a 1 and a 2, or a 2 and a 3, there is a small difference. If you have any input into any of these categories which may sway the score, let me know.
If I missed any important categories, also, please let me know.
Next to each category title is its Importance Multiplier. The score will be multiplied by this before the totals are made.
Job Potential * 15
------------
Right now SF looks like it has much more potential than Boston. While I've job searched more in SF, that is in part because the jobs I've seen in this area have been much more encouraging. On the other hand, the economy here sucks worse than the one in Boston, if that's possible. In the short term, I will rate the two locations equally, until and if I land a job in one of the cities. Then the ratings will be adjusted accordingly.
Long term ratings: SF-2, B-1
Short term ratings: SF-2, B-2
Friend Potential * 13
--------------
This one is pretty easy. There be geeks, there be lbgt, kinky, gothy, pagany gamer, whatever folks in both cities. Still, there's a lot MORE here in SF. But not enough to give an edge...
SF-2, B-2
Lover Potential * 12
--------------
This one is a lot harder, but I'll say this much. Since I got here, almost everyone I've met has been bisexual and poly. A lot of them have been into BDSM. There's just a lot more of everything sexual here.
SF-3, B-2
High Social Potential * 8
-------------------
This one is a total no-brainer. There are so many house parties, clubs, etc. going on every night of the week here. Boston, there's ManRay and that's it. There's about 5 or so goth clubs in SF alone, and on top of that a party every weekend at *someone's* house. Boston has house parties, but not as many, and not quite the same flavour. And that's good for a change but.. yeah.
SF-3, B-1
Look of the city * 4
--------------
San Francisco looks like a giant ghetto except in some neat portions. There are only a few ugly/scary looking parts of Boston.
SF-1, B-3
Feel of the city * 4
-------------
SF has a much nicer, accepting atmosphere to it. There isn't a puritan feeling to everything. BDSM is not underground. There are publicly advertised play parties. It's great. There's just a much more open feeling to everything here.
SF-3, B-1
Weather * 5
-------
This is a tough one. You see, I'm not sure if I'm going to miss the snow. But I hate the humidity and the rain.
SF-2.5, B-2
Comfort/Clean Slate * 6
------------------
On the one hand, I'm more comfortable in Boston. I know my way around Boston pretty darn well. I'm much more plugged into the city. On the other hand, I have enemies there and a substantial number of people who have a low opinion of me because of things they saw me do when I was just getting to where I was aiming for. Here, people seem to have a lot of respect for me. I'm an adult, I'm treated like I'm very stable and safe and responsible. I even feel like people view me as being somewhat wise in some ways, especially when it comes to relationships. I think these even out. I do feel like the clean slate means a lot to me.
SF-2.5, B-2
Locomotion---current state * 3
-------------------------
I have no driver's license. It would be a helluva bitch to get one before I need a car. Doable, but a bitch.
SF-1, B-3
Locomotion---future state * 1
------------------------
There are some things I'm planning on doing with my life in the Not So Distant future which may require wheels. Driving in Boston sux. Parking in Boston sux. And living in Boston may encourage me to neglect getting wheels and thus put off those aspects of my life.
SF-2, B-1
Housing * 1
--------
I have spiffy housing set up in Boston already that I'm pretty happy with. I've even found people who could take my place in it if I decided to stay here. Here, I've got one housing option already, depending on where I find a job, if I do. The housing markets suck equally cost wise. But I haven't even looked and a housing option already fell into my lap. So I'm not too worried...
SF-2.5, B-3
Spiritual Potential * 14
----------------
This is a tough one, a rating I'm not sure I can give. I want to find pagans to train with. This is something that is a BIG priority for me. Yet I have no clue whether Boston or SFBay area has more covens etc. This one is in flux, as I'm putting out feelers right now to find out more about potential in different areas. Currently, I'm rating Boston slightly higher because I know more people there, and it is near Salem. But this may change...
SF-2, B-2.5
I'm almost certain about the ratings, except in the spiritual and job categories (ironically, the two most important categories). I'm not sure about the Importance Multipliers, but I did my best to figure them out.
What I get is:
SF-194, B-174
Given a job I like in either location, I will go there. That I decided a while ago. But if no job manifests, the only variable is really the spirituality category, unless I look at this tomorrow and decide I need to rethink the ratings and IMs.
Now, if information comes to light that indicates that Boston is way better than SF for spiritual purposes, then the scores would become: 180 vs. 181
I think in that case, I will go with Boston. Which means that the key thing for me right now is to (1) Find a job, and (2) figure out what the pagan/btw situation is on each coast. If I don't know a week from now any differently on either of these fronts, I will begin making arrangements to stay here.
There will be sanity checking in a later entry.
...I'm scared of making the wrong decision...
There are many axes I could measure the two cities on. It is tempting to measure it on existing friends, lovers, and SOs, but that is silly. In the grand scheme of things, though I don't want to, I must admit that what matters the most is not the present state, but the POTENTIAL of a city. So. I am measuring things on a relative scale. Potential values within a category are 1,2, and 3. If both have 2, they are approx. equal. If there is a 1 and a 3, then the 3 is WAY better than the 1. If there is a 1 and a 2, or a 2 and a 3, there is a small difference. If you have any input into any of these categories which may sway the score, let me know.
If I missed any important categories, also, please let me know.
Next to each category title is its Importance Multiplier. The score will be multiplied by this before the totals are made.
Job Potential * 15
------------
Right now SF looks like it has much more potential than Boston. While I've job searched more in SF, that is in part because the jobs I've seen in this area have been much more encouraging. On the other hand, the economy here sucks worse than the one in Boston, if that's possible. In the short term, I will rate the two locations equally, until and if I land a job in one of the cities. Then the ratings will be adjusted accordingly.
Long term ratings: SF-2, B-1
Short term ratings: SF-2, B-2
Friend Potential * 13
--------------
This one is pretty easy. There be geeks, there be lbgt, kinky, gothy, pagany gamer, whatever folks in both cities. Still, there's a lot MORE here in SF. But not enough to give an edge...
SF-2, B-2
Lover Potential * 12
--------------
This one is a lot harder, but I'll say this much. Since I got here, almost everyone I've met has been bisexual and poly. A lot of them have been into BDSM. There's just a lot more of everything sexual here.
SF-3, B-2
High Social Potential * 8
-------------------
This one is a total no-brainer. There are so many house parties, clubs, etc. going on every night of the week here. Boston, there's ManRay and that's it. There's about 5 or so goth clubs in SF alone, and on top of that a party every weekend at *someone's* house. Boston has house parties, but not as many, and not quite the same flavour. And that's good for a change but.. yeah.
SF-3, B-1
Look of the city * 4
--------------
San Francisco looks like a giant ghetto except in some neat portions. There are only a few ugly/scary looking parts of Boston.
SF-1, B-3
Feel of the city * 4
-------------
SF has a much nicer, accepting atmosphere to it. There isn't a puritan feeling to everything. BDSM is not underground. There are publicly advertised play parties. It's great. There's just a much more open feeling to everything here.
SF-3, B-1
Weather * 5
-------
This is a tough one. You see, I'm not sure if I'm going to miss the snow. But I hate the humidity and the rain.
SF-2.5, B-2
Comfort/Clean Slate * 6
------------------
On the one hand, I'm more comfortable in Boston. I know my way around Boston pretty darn well. I'm much more plugged into the city. On the other hand, I have enemies there and a substantial number of people who have a low opinion of me because of things they saw me do when I was just getting to where I was aiming for. Here, people seem to have a lot of respect for me. I'm an adult, I'm treated like I'm very stable and safe and responsible. I even feel like people view me as being somewhat wise in some ways, especially when it comes to relationships. I think these even out. I do feel like the clean slate means a lot to me.
SF-2.5, B-2
Locomotion---current state * 3
-------------------------
I have no driver's license. It would be a helluva bitch to get one before I need a car. Doable, but a bitch.
SF-1, B-3
Locomotion---future state * 1
------------------------
There are some things I'm planning on doing with my life in the Not So Distant future which may require wheels. Driving in Boston sux. Parking in Boston sux. And living in Boston may encourage me to neglect getting wheels and thus put off those aspects of my life.
SF-2, B-1
Housing * 1
--------
I have spiffy housing set up in Boston already that I'm pretty happy with. I've even found people who could take my place in it if I decided to stay here. Here, I've got one housing option already, depending on where I find a job, if I do. The housing markets suck equally cost wise. But I haven't even looked and a housing option already fell into my lap. So I'm not too worried...
SF-2.5, B-3
Spiritual Potential * 14
----------------
This is a tough one, a rating I'm not sure I can give. I want to find pagans to train with. This is something that is a BIG priority for me. Yet I have no clue whether Boston or SFBay area has more covens etc. This one is in flux, as I'm putting out feelers right now to find out more about potential in different areas. Currently, I'm rating Boston slightly higher because I know more people there, and it is near Salem. But this may change...
SF-2, B-2.5
I'm almost certain about the ratings, except in the spiritual and job categories (ironically, the two most important categories). I'm not sure about the Importance Multipliers, but I did my best to figure them out.
What I get is:
SF-194, B-174
Given a job I like in either location, I will go there. That I decided a while ago. But if no job manifests, the only variable is really the spirituality category, unless I look at this tomorrow and decide I need to rethink the ratings and IMs.
Now, if information comes to light that indicates that Boston is way better than SF for spiritual purposes, then the scores would become: 180 vs. 181
I think in that case, I will go with Boston. Which means that the key thing for me right now is to (1) Find a job, and (2) figure out what the pagan/btw situation is on each coast. If I don't know a week from now any differently on either of these fronts, I will begin making arrangements to stay here.
There will be sanity checking in a later entry.
...I'm scared of making the wrong decision...
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no subject
Date: 2002-07-25 10:20 pm (UTC)*giggle* well it is San Fransico. That's the first thing I think about when i think of SF!
about the goth clubs... i have not been, but i really really believe there are non-manray goth clubs. actually, no, i did go to a concert recently at a place over by fenway that was, well, a club full of goths.
as for the parties, i would think that has a lot to do with what social group you have. i am sure there are parties in boston. but if you've found a social group in SF that has the parties you want, then dude. i don't know if i could handle parties every night. :-) (thouhg i am sure you just have the potential for 24/7 partying, not the time)
remember: nothing is permanent.
i think the clean slate thing might be very very good for you. though, you've made a lot of non-mit friends in boston. did you feel like you had a clean slate with them?
it sucks that my new place will nto have enough room to have parties.
no subject
I can always move back to Boston.
I'm sure you could have little socials at your place. And it is well located! :)