Handling the rain – a guide for San Franciscans

rain on a windowIt’s raining in San Francisco today. Which means people LOSE IT. I’m not sure what it is about San Francisco and rain. But I’ve constructed this handy guide for San Franciscans so they can better survive the rain.

1. Don’t freak out
THE WORLD IS NOT ENDING. It’s just rain. It happens pretty much everywhere. You’ve seen it before. Still freaking out? Pretend you’re just in a giant shower. Better? Um…please put your clothes back on.

2. Don’t drive like an idiot
While rain is largely safe, it does change the roads and driving at your traditional 80 MPH will not benefit you. Slow down a little bit. Because otherwise you’ll have to…

3. Prepare for bad traffic
The rest of the people in San Francisco who haven’t read this guide are still driving like idiots. They’re going to get in crashes and slow you down. Does it normally take an hour to get to work? Plan for two hours.

4. If you have an umbrella, don’t walk on the side of the sidewalk with an awning
That’s for people without umbrellas. Duh.

5. If you have an umbrella, don’t walk in the middle of the damn sidewalk
People. Your umbrella makes you about 4 feet wide. If you walk in the middle of the sidewalk, nobody can get by you.

6. Don’t splash bicylists
C’mon man. We’re already wet. If there’s a big puddle and a bicyclist, go around it or wait for them to pass it. Seriously.

7. Once more, DON’T FREAK OUT
Remember that scene in Jurassic Park where they don’t move so the T-rex can’t see them? Think of it like that. If you don’t freak out, the rain can’t hurt you. Just calm down, and everything will be ok.

Have your own recommendations? Post them in the comments!

Photo courtesy of Mohan Kaimal.

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  • kate

    Just a request: Come to farmers’ market when it rains so us poor schmucks selling there don’t spend all day damp, bored, and lonely! ;)

    • http://www.evanhamilton.com Evan Hamilton

      Amen! I just did. :)

  • Kim Thaker

    wonderful. and #5 could be its own spinoff guide. san franciscans seem to be deeply, hopelessly confused about what to do with crowded sidewalks, rain or not.

    • http://www.evanhamilton.com Evan Hamilton

      Ugh, seriously. It should not be as hard as it is. My favorite? The person who stands IN THE STREET a foot or two while waiting for the walk sign to change. What??

  • http://profiles.google.com/triplyksis Adiel Cloud

    Okay, I’m seriously dying over this post. You had me at just the title. I lived in Utah for my whole life until I moved to the Bay Area two years ago. It’s the most baffling thing to me, people here absolutely lose their minds when it rains. Thank you for this. :)

    • http://www.evanhamilton.com Evan Hamilton

      You’re welcome. :) People from out of town always say “well, it gets crazy here when it rains too”…then they come to town and their minds are blown. Total chaos. Ahhh, San Francisco. ;)

      • http://azurelunatic.livejournal.com AzureLunatic

        I moved here from Phoenix, AZ, and it’s actually refreshing to me how very calm and stable San Francisco is when faced with water from the sky.

        • http://blog.uservoice.com Evan Hamilton

          Hah! Glad to hear we’re not the worst.