Look, I've already made it clear I love San Francisco, even if the local politics aren't exactly aligned with my own. I'm a wanderer, baby, and my kids get dragooned into it, too. (As long as there are some parks, playgrounds and restaurants involved, they're happy). Now, some families - unfathomably, to me - go to Disneyland; we explore The Mission, Bernal Heights, Portero Hill, Pacific Heights, Noe Valley, The Richmond, Sea Cliff, and Sunset.

Even before moving from Chicago to Seattle in 1994, and especially since then, we've visited San Francisco more times than I can count. Lucky I guess, to have friends and family in and around the city, and (for my wife) business there, sometimes.

Just in case you're a Midwesterner or suburbanite whose lingering uptightness about San Francisco's street life, social mileu and moral values are keeping you locked down at Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach and Chinatown whenever you're in the city, Peter Hartlaub has the 411 in today's Chron.

Not only are the food and architecture great, it's a very accepting place. Just stay away from Market Street, only go to Hunters Point in a Hummer, and have fun! Rest assured; nobody's going to lay any, like, judgemental vibes on you, or anything.

Hartlaub writes:

If you're planning to commit a petty crime, drug-related spectacle or even a social faux pas, is there any better place to live than the Bay Area? Sure, we like a good witch hunt, but assuming you don't own a pit bull, join the Republican Party or dunk someone else's severed finger in a bowl of fast food chili, you can pretty much do or say whatever you want with minimum reprisal from your neighbors.

Take the example of former Village People lead singer Victor Edward Willis, who was arrested on drug and gun charges last month in Daly City. While most people east of Mount Diablo reacted to his alleged crimes with scorn, the typical Bay Area resident was simply relieved to hear that one of the architects of "In the Navy" is still alive. While the outsider wouldn't hesitate to throw the book at the musician, the Bay Area resident was more likely to embrace the pseudo cop. Who among us didn't hear of Willis' troubles and consider: Maybe I can get him to sing at my birthday party?

This is a community that chastises the politically incorrect, but is unfailingly forgiving of moral weakness -- which explains why Gavin Newsom and Kimberly Guilfoyle's garish Getty-fabulous wedding attracted way more controversy than their spectacularly failed marriage.

As a matter of fact, there ARE Republicans IN San Francisco. And even if their numbers are not large right now, they seem to be enjoying themselves. Guess they're fairly resilient. Long live diversity in San Francisco!

TO COMMENT: The regular comment feature is not in operation now. However, you can e-mail me your comments on this post, at the address accessed under "Contact," at the top of my "Main" page. I'll add them, here.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at August 24, 2005 11:33 AM