San Francisco's magisterial beauty and climate have always been known, but it was not until the Gold Rush of 1849 that people really began flocking to the City Across the Bay. Now San Francisco is the 2nd most densely populated city in the United States...and for good reason. If you ever had the pleasure of visiting, then you know what a wonderful place San Francisco would be to retire in.
San Francisco continuously draws attention to itself, through word of mouth and pop culture. Its weather retains a nice coolness even during the peak of summer, making it a rarity in the often-sweltering climate of California.
Residing in San Francisco means living the good life. It is a relatively modern city, as most of it was rebuilt after a major earthquake at the turn of last century. The city continues to rank amongst the top "most livable" cities in the world. That means the city is safe, hygienic, features great transportation, and recreational options. The "MUNI" (Municipal Railway) has over 80 lines to take you wherever you need to go. For culture, Chinatown and Little Italy offer some of the best. You can tour the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street's hairpin turns, Fisherman's Wharf, or Alcatraz Prison, to name a few of San Francisco's many monuments. Put up a peace sign and let your freak flag fly at Haight-Ashbury, or take a motorcycle tour up north. San Francisco is your city, if you are a sports fan. The 49ers, Giants, and Golden State Warriors all call this home, while the Oakland A's and Raiders are just across the bay. If you are into hockey or soccer, San Jose's major league teams are just south. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can just slip away on one of the many ships leaving San Francisco everyday, to cruise the world.
Politically speaking, the majority of San Franciscans lean to the left. This stems from counter cultures dating at least as far back as the Beat Generation. There are strong Asian and gay communities, and Silicon Valley startups provides the city with tech and entrepreneurial-minded people. San Francisco has one of the highest educated populations in the US, with almost half of all residents having a bachelor's degree or higher.
Supporting San Francisco's aging population are a plethora of senior centers, assisted living facilities, and home health organizations. Plus, California has one of the top life expectancies in the nation.
Although earthquakes are common, San Francisco has not seen a major earthquake since 1989 and the majority of earthquakes are quite harmless. All of the buildings were built with the San Andreas Fault Line in mind, so they are meant to withstand tremendous vibrations. Fog can play a role in sight seeing, but it rarely gets too dense to be impractical.