santa ana vs. San Francisco?? help!!!

[tyler1987]

okay so i've lived in So Cal all my life.....im attending art school next fall so i have the

choice of living close to home[2 hours distance] and attending school in santa

ana.......or .......i could go to the second campus in San Francisco[8 hours away]......and

live far away from my folks =/ i kinda want independence so i know i want to move out

for sure......but all the way to the bay area? In a cultural perspective it would be

awesome to live in SanFrancisco just because it's so different from the envioroment

that i've been raised in.....and i could enjoy the gay scene there.......what do you guys

think? has anyone visited or lives in the san francisco area? how is it? would you

reccommend it? thanks in advance!!!! <3333

 

[bsasfo]

I would encourage you to give SF a try. I moved here from Texas five years ago. It is visually stunning, it is definitely unique with many many wonderful aspects - great arts institutions (museums, performing arts), it is intellectually vibrant, politically active, has a fairly diverse gay scene and Southwest Airlines makes it pretty cheap to fly North to South.

 

[Riverrick]

San Francisco seems the better choice. Have you visited each to help you decide? This is a case where I would really recommend it. These two places are very different from each other.

 

[lonnie1]

I've had an opportunity to travel all over the country and quite a few places internationally. Whenever I come back home to San Francisco, I know I live in the best place available. There's no contest between Santa Ana and SF.

 

[SilverRRCloud]

San Francisco rulez.

The things have changed as they have always been changing.

The cost of living is still pretty high.

But nothing beats San Francisco.

If you can afford to do it -- Just Do It.

SC

 

[SamsDad]

I think that the best idea will be to make your decision based on the schools. Which will offer the best opportunities. Also which will likely offer you the least distraction from what you're really there for.

 

[drhladnjak]

Have you actually been to Santa Ana? I was born there and grew up nearby in west Anaheim. In my mind, there's no question where any self-respecting gay man would want to live--San Francisco. Moreover, part of going to art school is more than just taking classes. In San Francisco, you'd be in the middle of a major art scene where you can meet other artists and build your career. Santa Ana and the surrounding area is mostly just a large suburban wasteland, although there are some galleries down in Laguna Beach and over in LA.

Plus, a 2 hour drive to your family is not really all that close. It's far enough that you won't just drop by for a few hours.

 

[Croynan]

The quality of the school and the art programs they offer should be be the major consideration. But the vibrancy of a city like San Francisco could have a major influence in your field of study.

And besides you can go out to the peninsula, and spend saturdays and or sundays on the campus of San Francisco State University and absorb all the lush greenery and the wonderful cold mist. I wonder what their art program is like? Just a thought.

Homosexual community or not, it is the quality of the education and skills you will develop that should count the most - one can always go to the other location at a later time. Your talents and further development of them and yourself is what is most important now. These you get a pass through usually only, so make the decision you think is the wisest and will be the most rewarding to and for you.

But just in case there are any questions in your mind, Los Angeles has the Los Angeles Opera Co. doing The Rise and Fall of Mahagonny with Audra McDonald and Patty LuPone and a full length Porgy and Bess coming next year. And Whose Afraid of Vigrinia Woolf with Kathleen Turner an Bill Irwin will arrive in Febrauary. Wicked, the musical then comes for a about 6 months. And then there is the
awesome Disney Concert Hall - itself a beauty in desin both within and with out and the magical acoustics - where within a two week period you will have a chance to hear all of the Four Brahms Symphonies Played sequentially. And then there is the concert with Lang Lang, the pianist and the all English concert of music by Britton and Elgar. And to wrap up the symphony season - Esa Peka Salonen will conduct an all Shotakovich concert of music Joseph Stalin denounced him for a second time - music from the operas The Nose and The Lady of Macbeth from Minsky.

Anyway the best in what ever you decision.

​

eM.

 

[Swellegant]

I know next to nothing about SoCal... so I can't compare. But I've lived in the SF Bay Area most of my life and can't imagine living elsewhere... like everyone said, there's a vibrancy, a creativity, an inspiration... it is artistically and culturally alive, in ways that other cities are not.

However, unless you have a pretty cozy trust-fund, Santa Ana might be a better bet, cost-wise. Living in SF is expensive, and living near SF is only slightly less expensive. Artists don't as a rule make enough money to justify the loans you'd have to take out just for your living and/or transportation expenses. And having to work eight-hour days to keep the wolf from the door will dampen your learning experience.

A good friend of mine went to the Academy of Art College and, though he lived at home, he racked up over $75k in loans... you can just about double that if you have to calculate an apartment that is not crawling with roaches and shared (because nobody lives alone in SF) with crackheads.

Something to think about. If you can afford it, go for it; but if you can't, consider other options first.

 

[RationalLunacy]

If you like Rice-a-Roni, go for San Francisco.

If you like winds, Santa Ana would be the better choice.

(PS) I vote for San Francisco -- lived there for 10 years & loved it!

 

[backpacker]

The only choice is Santa Ana! No gay man would ever live in San Francisco!

In all seriousness, I think you have to consider how important it will be to you to go home on weekends. In Santa Ana you could easily go home once or twice a month. Unless you can afford to fly home for the weekend from San Francisco, you would only be able to go home during the breaks. For some people this wouldn't be a big deal, but for others this could be a major factor. Something else to consider, there will be lots of distractions in San Francisco, so you would need to be more disciplined. For an artist, there is no question that San Francisco has so much more to offer than Santa Ana. My step nephew went to art school in San Francisco and loved it (he's straight). As a gay guy, San Francisco has a climate unmatched anywhere else in the US. I know I would choose San Francisco, but I'm not you. One more thought, could you do the first year in Santa Ana, then transfer to San Francisco. That may help easy the transition if you think being so far away from home would be hard at first. Good luck!

 

[Kurn]

Going home from San Francisco is actually an advantage. The in-between destinations are quite remarkable. Palo Alto/San Jose. Santa Cruz, Monterey, Highway 1. Pinnacles. San Luis Obispo. Pismo. Santa Barbara. Ventura.
Ojai. Then there's Yosemite, Sequoia--a little out of the way but way worth it.
A lotta little places. If you've gotta buddie, a lot to explore. Or even just bachin it.

 

[Craiger]

As many have said, San Francisco offers a great deal in artistic options. There are several questions though; a. have you ever lived away from your parents? b. have you ever lived with roommates? c. is money any concern? If any of these things are in question then I think Vettiboi had an interesting alternative. Study your first year in Santa Ana, getting use to being away from home (closer), saving money at the same time, possibly living with other roommates and then transferring to San Francisco. Of course this will work if it is the same school. Or, hopefully, the schools will accept transfer credits. You have some time to think about it and many here have given good opinions. We all wish you the best in your decision and keep us informed.

Craiger

 

[littlemonster]

Although the choice in schools is very important, I remember college life being a lot about finding out who I was, learning to deal with being away from my family, and making contacts. I think San Francisco has so much more to offer you than Santa Ana with regards to these considerations. If the school thing is equal, chose SF. You will meet so many creative artists, friends, and contacts here that it may be better for your future to do your thing here. Plus, the city rocks. I've been here for 11 years and would never live anywhere else in the U.S. I had an art minor in college in a place that wasn't like it is in SF and I regret not being in a place that has the resources that SF does.

Is is very expensive to live here, but it really is a renter's market in the city. I actually live in a 3 bedroom apartment right in the middle of everything and pay only $600 rent. I do share with one other person, but for the price it's totally worth it. I founded a theatre company here with the resources, diversity and creative contacts that exist in this wonderful place.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to chat with you about this.