r/bayarea

Maybe it’s everyone deciding to RTO before the long weekend or everyone chose today to leave for their vacation, but I noticed a lot more drivers on the road this morning.

Leave earlier and save your sanity!

Morning commuters.

There is a serious incident on the Bay Bridge just past the metering lights and merge. Looked like 2 full lanes closed on the North side. I counted at least 10 cop cars. If you have options, today is a good day to skip the Bridge friends. Happy Thursday.

What’s it like not being able to talk about investments because you don’t make enough money to invest. You barely make enough to make ends meet.

What’s it like worrying about your landlord raising the rent outside of what you’re capable of paying rather than if you should live in a $10,000/m apartment in SF or $6,000/m apartment in Palo Alto?

Whats it like worrying about being laid off because you don’t have a cushy portfolio to support you?

What’s it like changing your grocery store because the one you used to go to got too expensive?

What’s it like knowing you can’t leave because the pay here is still crap but better than everywhere else? Because you have a hard time imagining leaving your life here.

What’s it like making less than six figures in one of the most expensive areas in the country?

I know that people with six figure salaries still have their own worries and whatnots; they still worry about layoffs and the cost of living, etc. But the way they approach it is very different than so many other people. And I’m not just talking about recent grads/ people in their 20s. This affects people of all ages and walks of life.

It blew my mind to hear my friend (mid 20s, software engineer) have an investment portfolio. Meanwhile, at that time, in a month I made less than what she paid in rent. :)

Back in 2019, I installed solar panels plus three Tesla Powerwalls, expecting my PG&E bills to go down significantly.

Instead, my electricity costs have exploded.

Before solar, my annual electricity costs were around $1500/year. Now I’m paying roughly $2000 throughout the year PLUS another ~$1500 true-up bill on top of that. And this year is shaping up to be even worse - I’m seeing monthly bills of $600-$800 despite having solar + batteries.

At this point I’m seriously wondering what the point of solar even is in California anymore.

I’m honestly considering disconnecting from PG&E entirely and investing that money into additional battery storage instead. Not necessarily Tesla, given recent events, but I’d rather spend money increasing energy independence than paying endlessly rising PG&E bills.

Has anyone else here had a similar experience with solar/NEM/Powerwalls in the Bay Area?

Anyone actually living mostly off-grid around here?

So just moved here to the bay area and didn't realize how many apartments don't come with mounted AC units or central AC. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can buy specifically that can help cool the house down?

**something other than a fan that doesn't just recirculate hot air**

Regular commuter, I was going with the flow of traffic on 101 and didn’t notice I was speeding because I was looking ahead at the cars. I was coming back home from work just completely exhausted. I know this is a poor excuse.

Officer pulls me over and says I was going 83 but gives me a break for 73. I said I was pacing and he said no you were catching up, and I on my ticket it shows he used Lidar to catch me.

So 73 in a 65, should I contest it? Or will it backfire entirely?

I am proud to announce that I, a 33 year old single male is moving to San Leandro! I will be paying around $1900 for a small studio, but it's so worth it. I put the deposit down this July!

I am so excited for this new chapter in my life. I'll be transferring my job to SFO as a wheelchair agent. And boy oh boy am I excited for friendly and kind people. I sure hope people are as kind as in Kansas.

I love San Francisco! Can't wait to date a beautiful woman and take her to see a beautiful sunrise.

Wonderful Oakland too. :) :) :) 😀 yipeee!

I'll keep this short and not say what I do or where I do it, but I have the opportunity to speak to a lot of people and hear their complaints about a lot of things, usually the ADU being built next door to them.

Two different neighbors came to complain about the same ADU being built next door to their houses. Both older white boomers.

1. Furious that the ADU was going to be two-story and would shade his vegetable garden. Looked up his house and he doesn't even live there full-time. He's short-term renting it out for six month stints at over $6,000/month.

2. Again, angry that the new ADU is going to be two-story and it's "changing the character of the neighborhood." How dare someone move into the neighborhood that I have lived in for 50 years and build a new housing unit? Was tired of the construction noise (he's got a heart problem) and is going to go live in one of his EIGHT OTHER HOUSES (specifically the one in Diamond Head) until it's done.

Literally INSANE.

Transplant here, been in the Bay a little over three years now. I was on the 880-80 ramp to the Bay bridge at the worst possible time of the morning today. By choice 🤦🏻‍♂️. I was sitting in the left lane right next to the HOV. Dude almost no cars had 3+. I read those signs every time I use that lane during off peak to make sure I'm not gonna get fined. Am I missing something or do people just not care? Funny that of all the shenanigans I've seen here this is what compelled me to post on Reddit lol