Twice last week, I found myself trying to describe to out-of-area clients, the difference between living in Marin versus their other options the East Bay or the Peninsula. This conversation comes up a lot with buyers moving here for jobs in San Francisco, as Marin tends to be a bit pricier and has a smaller supply of homes (i.e. less housing stock) than the East Bay and much of the Peninsula. It can be hard for someone from out of the area to see why.

While I’ve never lived in either of those areas, I have heard very good things and have seen some lovely places too, and so I usually explain to my clients what living in Marin has to offer—an easy commute, excellent public schools, great weather, small towns surrounded by nature, and so much more! But now I have some help from Jack London and he says it a little better. This is from the Marin History Museum (www.marinhistory.org): 

London’s Paradise

On Jan. 12, 1876, novelist Jack London was born in San Francisco, and years later he rhapsodized: “Marin County …demonstrates that there is absolutely no comparison between the northern and southern part of California. …of all the parts of the world which I have visited, Northern California, and especially Marin County, is in my opinion, the real paradise of the earth. The Riviera, the sights of Egypt, and the wonders of India are but the works of mankind, while here Mother Nature has lavished her best efforts.”

Click here to see it reprinted in the MarinIJ’s History Watch feature story.