A Comparison of 2 Cities: Riverside-Avondale and San Francisco

One would normally think that San Francisco and Riverside-Avondale may not have a lot in common. I beg to differ on that opinion. As a child of the 80's growing up in an area just north of San Francisco, and spending much of my young adulthood in the ‘City by the Bay' I have found quite a bit in common. As a matter of fact, it was one of the determining factors when my husband put forth where we could transfer with the U.S. Navy.

Yes. We, and our little family of 6, yes-6 were living in Oak Harbor Washington on the west coast of the United States. My beloved husband was due to transfer and we had choices. I was DYING to get back to the city. Oh, real vegetables again. Culture. Art. Museums. Football teams. A REAL CITY! I was ready. Jacksonville here we come! And here we are. Five years have passed. Good years, years spent going to the museum, watching football, enjoying art, finding the outdoor vegetable vendors for fresh produce, and other good things. Much like life in San Francisco.

So much in common: Outdoor eating opportunities. The parks. Paths that lead one along water. Roller blading or skate boarding. The nightlife, and the opportunity to shop during the day! The boutiques that have unique items, and the small business' that are only found in these cities. Bungalows and mansions, found much in the same way in both the areas. These two cities are so much alike that there are times that I can simply sit in Memorial Park and appreciate the quiet by the water and relax. If I close my eyes I can go back to Shakespeare in the Park on a summer day in Golden Gate Park-it may have been long ago, but the memory is still there, and we are making memories here as well!

And perhaps that is the point. Two cities on opposite coasts. As seemingly different as it would be and yet as alike as can be-who would have thought? And perhaps that is the point of Riverside-Avondale, a city that is much like the ‘bigger' cities and yet not really a city at all, but an area just outside of the City of Jacksonville, which is after all the largest (total area) city in the United States. Riverside-Avondale is an experience, and living in the experience is, for some, part of the American Dream. The question is this---is it YOUR American Dream, and can I serve you in achieving it.