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Post by ryanjl on Jan 8, 2016 7:34:07 GMT -8
Hello my fellow backpackers!
I have just accepted a job at UC Berkeley in the Bay area and will be moving out there mid-February!
I am from Delaware and I am currently trying to sell my home here. Because it has not yet sold, my wife will be staying back in Delaware until it does since we can't afford an apartment to rent AND mortgage at the same time.
So, I am looking for a room to rent - does anyone have one or know of someone that does? I won't have a car, but it looks like most areas have good public transportation to take...being close to the BART would be ideal.
I have been searching Craigslist and will continue, but I thought that it wouldn't hurt to ask the Backpacker community, as I have always gotten great advice from my fellow hikers here.
Little about me - I am a male, 29, married, easy going and friendly, and avid backpacker. I've backpacker the High Sierra Trail, Grand Tetons, and Zion as my last three major trips (40-70 miles). Looking forward to being in an area with WAY more opportunities than the east coast and certainly Delaware (where there is no backpacking allowed...or places you would want to, anyways).
I am totally willing to rough it somewhere, so a furnished room isn't important. I'll bring my sleeping pad and very bare minimal belongs until my house sells and we can move everything out in an apartment.
I'll be in the Bay area briefly next week, Jan 13-15. If anyone knows someone with a room, or has a room, please email me directly at ryanjohnlawrence@gmail.com so that we can discuss further.
Thanks for any help or guidance!
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Post by cahiker on Jan 8, 2016 11:43:16 GMT -8
Good luck with the move - As you know Bay Area housing has been insane for the last couple of years and I always wonder how new people are able to move in... Once you're here you'll find it's fantastic for outdoor activities - Not only the Sierra, but closer to home as well. I'm still ticking off backpacking camps on my Bay Area list - Pt Reyes, Ohlone Wilderness, Skyline-to-Sea, Pescadero Creek, Portola Redwoods, Butano, Marin Headlands, Morgan Territory, Henry Coe and many more. Day hiking is endless.
Sorry I don't have any suggestions for your actual inquiry, but I'm an hour from Berkeley at the other end of the Bay (and the hour is of course only at times that are well out of rush hour...)
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 10, 2016 10:17:45 GMT -8
Good luck with that search! Housing in the area is insane, and people are really struggling. Is Cal offering any help? Are you open to being anywhere in the area, or hoping hard for something in the east Bay?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2016 21:00:43 GMT -8
Are you open to being anywhere in the area, or hoping hard for something in the east Bay? I would say the Bay Bridge is a good thing to avoid and it's a bit cheaper in the east considering SF is about as expensive as the USA gets for renting or buying. Bart can help a lot to avoid the bridge most of the time. But closer to a Bart station anywhere jacks up the prices a lot too. Much higher demand near BART stations. Warning: The link below can be a big shock to those who don't live in the SF Bay Area!
And it's been that way for a while. See here for home prices and renting rates in San Francisco. The farther you can go east from SF, usually the more reasonable prices. But not by a lot. Bad parts of Oakland & Vallejo might be an exception and be a lot cheaper, but only if you value your money more than your life. -Don- Reno, NV |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2016 21:19:41 GMT -8
I have just accepted a job at UC Berkeley in the Bay area and will be moving out there mid-February! A woman doctor I knew who lived in Louisiana got a high paying new job offer in a hospital in San Francisco. She was all excited about it until she came out to the Bay Area planning to buy a nice home like she owned in Louisiana. To make the long story short, she didn't take the Job offer and went back to Louisiana. I hope it works out for you, but expect to be disappointed when you check out the Bay Area. Not just expense, but the traffic too. And I do NOT mean only during the rush hours. I lived there for most of my life. There are many good points too, however, such as the mild weather. Seems to me the winter weather is often warmer than summer (fog is common in July, etc). -Don- Reno, NV |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 10, 2016 22:12:48 GMT -8
Leaving aside the sales prices Don lists, I had a friend who was looking for a rental last fall...expect to pay $3000+/month for a 2-bedroom apartment.
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Post by ryanjl on Jan 20, 2016 13:59:04 GMT -8
Hey! Sorry for the delay - I was actually visiting the Bay Area for a few days and then traveling on the east coast to visit some friends!
I will just be out there renting initially... and probably forever! It's very expensive, though small apartments seem reasonable and within my price range. What's nice is my wife and I wanted to downsize anyways - we realized we were collecting so much junk in our house and so many things that we don't need.
Cal is helping with the move, but not with a place to stay - so I am really open to any areas, as I just need temporary housing until my house in Delaware sells and I can rent my own place. I just can't afford mortgage and rent at the same time. So, if anyone has a room - or a couch - or knows anyone, I am open to anything!
Thanks again for all the responses - this community is always so helpful!
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 20, 2016 14:29:45 GMT -8
Talk to the relocation office at Berkeley (it's too big not to have one), assisting employees with relocation is their job. The other resource would be your department or institute: local knowledge specific to there is always key while irrelevant whining about Marin or where ever is entertaining but won't get you set up in relation to where you'll actually be. ETA: ofew.berkeley.edu/new-facultyThat's one of the older UC campuses so they've been doing this sort of thing for a while so no need to reinvent wheels. Their housing office: housing2.berkeley.edu/scholarand housing2.berkeley.edu/calrentals/For someone unfamiliar with the area I expect you'll find the neighborhood descriptions at cal rentals,. "berkeley neighborhoods & nearby east bay communities", alone worth a look, plus their description of the transit options like the $34 a month AC Transit Pass.... Back when I always found UC San Diego's housing office to be a great resource, a lot of pre-screening so the floundering was kept to a minimum. For various transit options: transit.511.org/schedules/index.aspx?#m1=A&m2=bus |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2016 17:04:56 GMT -8
I'll be in the Bay area briefly next week, Jan 13-15. And how did all that work out? -Don- SSF, CA |
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Post by ryanjl on Feb 2, 2016 10:04:41 GMT -8
Loved our visit out there! What a great area to be in. We will be so close to so much amazing hiking and backpacking opportunities.
I was able to find a room to rent that is fairly affordable as well, so that's a relief. Sadly, no bites on selling our house, so it's going to be really tough leaving my wife in Delaware until the house sells and we can afford our own place out west.
I'll be looking to join some social groups out there, especially hiking/backpacking ones - if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2016 17:09:04 GMT -8
Loved our visit out there! What a great area to be in. I am glad you liked it, & found a reasonable place to rent (I didn't think that was even possible!) It's hard to beat the mild weather there, as you probably discovered. But I also know many people who hate the Bay Area. Many of such live around here in the snow and such. Yes, there are many local hiking areas near there as where as the real mountains just 150 miles away. Enough to last a lifetime of hiking and still not see it all. So if you don't mind the crowded & busy area, it seems you will be happy in that part of CA. It's fairly easy to get away from the crowd. -Don- Cold Springs Valley, NV |
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Post by ryanjl on Feb 4, 2016 9:47:35 GMT -8
Thanks, Don! My wife and I backpacked the High Sierra Trail a few years ago and it was my favorite hike ever. Looking forward to exploring the Sierras some more!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 10:29:32 GMT -8
My wife and I backpacked the High Sierra Trail a few years ago and it was my favorite hike ever. Looking forward to exploring the Sierras some more! We have not been in that area since 1975, when Tom & I (we're a gay couple) did a short hike up to Moro Rock. We also visited Crystal Cave, which we found interesting. Have you been to those places, during your visit? Anyway, it was all shorter day type stuff we did, never been on the High Sierra Trail. But I have been on many 10 or so day backpacking trips in various places of the west. -Don- Reno, NV |
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Post by ryanjl on Feb 21, 2016 11:08:04 GMT -8
Hey Don - no, I haven't been to either of those places. I will have to check them both out. My visit was very quick, so didn't get to see much outside of Berkeley.
I have now been officially in California for 8 days. I am loving it so far. Joined Meetup and trying to plan some hikes for next weekend. Have just been exploring some of Oakland now.
If anyone ever wants to meet up for a hike, just let me know! Email me at ryanjohnlawrence@gmail.com. I don't have a car, but willing to carpool or see what kind of public transportation I can take!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2016 19:28:30 GMT -8
I have now been officially in California for 8 days. I am loving it so far. Joined Meetup and trying to plan some hikes for next weekend. Have just been exploring some of Oakland now. I bet you're enjoying the nice weather here today. I try to go on a short hike almost every day. We (all three of us, including the doggy) went up on Mt. Davidson today. In the summer, I usually go for a week or so long backpacking trip in the high Sierras, often the Tahoe National Forest. Surprisingly, parts of Oakland are quite nice with some good regional parks, such as Redwood Regional Park. We expect to be in CA for at least several weeks, just across the bay from you. -Don- SSF, CA DonTom3@aol.com |
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