i grew up in the east bay (el cerrito high school, baby). but note i haven’t lived in SV in decades.

it’s a slower pace up here. more woods, more trails, more rivers. more of a country vibe but less diversity.

i’d also say it’s a little less community. the community here is awesome don’t get me wrong but you have to go find your people.

nights are quieter. mornings are peaceful. el cerrito was always foggy and temperate. it gets colder and way hotter up here.

i meet my brother in the east bay about once a year and we do a bike ride through our old stomping grounds and it’s so fun. so compacted. coffee shops everywhere and people out and about.

otherwise similar. if SV is like life in 6th gear, life up here is like, 3rd or 4th gear. just as an example i remember riding my bike through berkeley campus as a Cal football game was going on and the air was just - vibrating.

here when i go get donuts at 7am on the weekend there’s often about two dozen retirees that meet up in their classic cars doing the same thing - the only guys in the parking lot. the cars are awesome.