Moving to Bay Area! Quiver advice?

[Aloha]

What part of Oaktown are you moving to? As others said, keep all kites - you will understand once you get here

The variety of spots, styles and things to do with a kite and a board are endless here. Look forward to sailing with ya!

[nate.e]

We'll be living in the Montclair area. Pretty much the opposite of waterfront, but it's a starting point. Fortunately I work from home and have a pretty flexible schedule so hour-plus drives to kite or surf aren't totally out of the question.
One of the best wave spots in Rhode Island is a reefbreak with a tiny beach to launch from that's surrounded by rocks and backed by power lines. I've never had a problem, but adding a freeway to the mix sounds especially "exciting". Can't wait to check it out.
Thanks for the advice on wave spots, I've heard stories about OB from CA transplants around here and most of them involve ass-kickings.

Are there any kiting options in the winter or do most people just pack it in until the spring?

[NorCalNomad]

Winter storm winds here are sketch.

Snowkiting is the way to get it in during the winter.

[Yoda]

Are there any kiting options in the winter or do most people just pack it in until the spring?

Mostly everything shuts down during the winter months with the exceptions being the coast and Crissy. Some storm days will bring out the more conditioned riders within the Bay, but most stay in.
CA's coastal spots are ideal for advanced/experienced riders since the surf and winds can be quite extreme during the winter. Winds are generally from storm fronts and associated clearing winds and they can be unforgiving at times. Add in the strong tides and currents and things can get interesting very quick. Many coastal spots during winter can be double to triple overhead waves, so there's zero room for error.

If you're willing to make the trip out (about 2 hours from Oakland), Folsom Lake is becoming a more popular spot during the fall through spring. It relies on the same frontal and clearing winds, but the conditions tend to be more tame than the Bay or the coast. The most common kite size is 10-12m with some occasional 6-8m days.
Depending on the lake level or where you're at on the lake, there can be a variety of water conditions from butter flat to waist+ high lake swell.
Click on the blue balloon just right of Sacramento for the Folsom details:
https://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/forum/sites.php

If you're willing to explore a bit more (about 2.5 hours from Oakland), Black Butte Reservoir and Thermalito Afterbay are some other spots that can be really good on N wind days. No matter where you go, make sure to have at least a 4/3 full suit, 3mm+ hood and booties, and 2mm+ gloves.
I now use a drysuit during the winter except for on the coast where I use a 5/4/3 hoody.

If you can time it and catch it, there can be some really fun days within the fall period when Lake Tahoe goes off. Usually the N side of the lake at Kings Beach or Incline Village is the place to be, but there are some spots at the SE end of the lake too. Amazing place to kite!

[WindAufWasser]

For someone your weight and for slingshot wind range, 6,9 & 12M will pretty much covers more than 90% of kiteable days. There are days in May when some sites that nuke over 40 mph that's too overpower for 6M, and there are days so light even 12M barely stay in the air. But these 3 sizes will pretty much cover most of your need from Mar to Nov and random storm session between Dec to Feb. You will mostly likely be on 9M over than 50% of time for your weight.

[friggin old guy]

As mentioned, winter kiting is mostly related to storms, which generally means south winds. They are 'warm', meaning that temps are in the 50's and 60's. Positively tropical by east coast standards. Gusty. Mostly we don't have too much lightning but....

Alameda can be fun on southerlies. OB can be fun if the surf is not ginormous.

After storms, the clearing winds are out of the northwest but temps drop into high 40's and low 50's. With windchill colder than shit.

I predict you will be adapting emphasis in winter to watching for easterly prevailing winds between storms and surfing more. It gets really good.

Montclair is nice place to headquarter......snow in the sierras are a siren call, too. Lots to choose from in bay area and you'll be within reach of all.