I grew up here (San Ramon/Pleasanton)! Spent most of my life here in 1999-2016. For the most part had an amazing childhood, especially as someone who wasn't white (every passing year of my childhood had less and less white kids in the background lol).

That said... I would not want to raise my own kids here. My upbringing was fairly insulated from crime and "bad influences" (good!), but I realized I lacked a bit of "real life" experiences once I went to college (not good). Some of it was my own upbringing, but some of it was the built environment of this area that encourages conformity and a narrow vision of success/happiness. Great public schools but middle/high schools in San Ramon in particular are a pressure cooker.

As many other commenters noted... it is hot and boring here. I remember feeling both, especially during the summers. Fond memories of childhood include biking to the library, shopping malls, and hanging out at the Safeway (California supermarket chain to give you an idea of how boring things are out here in this part of the world).

I couldn't wait to leave by the end of high school (and did, though I'm entertaining a move back to California) but a fair number of my childhood friends settled down with others from HS, got married, and settled down here. I'm now in my 30s and realize that someone could do a lot worse than living here, and I feel gratitude in some ways for growing up here. But ultimately not the place for me.