Living in San Diego?

[Shag]

Earlier today, I was presented with the option to relocate my job to San Diego (currently in Minneapolis). For those who live, or who have lived, in San Diego, what can you tell me about living there? I've been there a few times, and really enjoyed myself, but living there is a whole different thing.

I make a good living, but would only be getting a token cost of living adjustment (not quite 10%). I understand that housing, in particular, is crazy expensive, and I'd have to make some sacrifices there. I generally enjoy the outdoors, sports, beer, the beach. On the surface, SD is perfect, though I wouldn't know anyone there, or have an office to meet people (would be working out of my place).

So, for those who live, or have lived, in San Diego - thoughts? What do you like/hate about living in SD? Would you recommend others live there?

[Coochie liquor]

I lived in Mn for a year and I hated it severely. Getting out of there and to Florida was the best move I ever made.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by Shag

I'm in IT sales, so I'd be covering a territory, based out of my house. I'd be visiting customers around SoCal and AZ.

Now if you could live in Arizona or Nevada instead of So Cal, it might be worth it but you will get 1/4 of the house for 4x's the price in San Diego.

San Diego is gorgeous but you better do your home work on your living arrangements FIRST

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by BiStateNo

Yeah, my bad. My Old Man retired from the Air Force and we moved to LA for 9 years from age 11 on.

On a lighter note - I got to work in some of the better known studios on the Strip - got to meet a few legends. Had my folks known the shit that went on in those days - they would have strangled me dead.

I don't know - maybe they DID know. They seemed genuinely relived when I joined the Army and left the "LA Scene" behind me.....and headed for Fort Benning then Viet Nam.

You're talking about Dane, aren't you?

[Coyote]

Originally Posted by Shag

Would be both the SD and LA areas, so I would likely be driving into LA somewhat regularly, though I imagine it would only be a few times a month.

Didn't see if you have kids but if so schools are a major issue. Given the above, try either side of Campen and get the coast side of I-5-if you can afford it. I prefer Carlsbad and lean to San Diego vice San Clemente/Orange County. An option may be taking the train to LA-depending upon where you're going/ how often to LA-and focusing on South of Camp Pendleton. Campen is the only thing preventing San Diego/North County from becoming another LA suburb. I dealt with non-stop encroachment on MCAS Miramar (El Toro and Tustin before Miramar) and MCB Camp Pendleton as the towns/developers covet that prime real estate.The sale of MCAS El Toro funded all other Dept. of the Navy base closings/movements so land is not cheap out there.

[displacedinMN]

Shag, why would you want to leave this great place?

Today 90F and 70f dew point feels like 106.
Winter -20 with a 20mph wind feels like -45.
Mark Dayton
Traffic congestion
Great drivers
BLM
Wayzata people
Packer Fans

[Kiimo]

By the way when that stadium in Gaslamp gets approved eventually games in downtown vs the Chiefs will be outstanding.

Don't listen to people who think it will never happen, it will.

[Shag]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

I've lived here in SD most of my life. It's expensive. I often get jealous seeing other people pay less money for nicer homes.

If you're adventurous then you'll like it. If you're a homebody then maybe just stay in KC because you won't be getting what you're paying for. Imo, SD's best asset is its proximity to pretty much everything you'd ever want to do on any given weekend, and there's always an abundance of events to attend that are free and great for kids, family etc.

If all you're gonna do is work and stay at home, then the weather isn't worth paying for.

Thanks. I like to get out an do things, which is one of the draws of CA for me - that everything I could want to do is fairly close, even snowboarding.

Originally Posted by eDave

If you want to live in nice places, you gotta pay for it. SD is a nice place. I'd go Carlsbad or something though if you are commuting into LA too. Personally, I'd get as close to the beach as possible. You can do that, renting, for about $2500.

Carlsbad is a possibility, also like Encinitas. I figured even at $2500, I wouldn't be super close to the beach. Initially, I'm thinking either downtown, the areas around balboa, or going north county as near the beach as possible. Trying to avoid being too far in the middle of nowhere, as I'll be going there solo.

Originally Posted by scho63

Now if you could live in Arizona or Nevada instead of So Cal, it might be worth it but you will get 1/4 of the house for 4x's the price in San Diego.

Don't think I want to deal with AZ summers at this point - that would be similar to MN, just reversed. I want to be outdoors and comfortable year round.

Originally Posted by Coyote

Didn't see if you have kids but if so schools are a major issue. Given the above, try either side of Campen and get the coast side of I-5-if you can afford it. I prefer Carlsbad and lean to San Diego vice San Clemente/Orange County. An option may be taking the train to LA-depending upon where you're going/ how often to LA-and focusing on South of Camp Pendleton. Campen is the only thing preventing San Diego/North County from becoming another LA suburb. I dealt with non-stop encroachment on MCAS Miramar (El Toro and Tustin before Miramar) and MCB Camp Pendleton as the towns/developers covet that prime real estate.The sale of MCAS El Toro funded all other Dept. of the Navy base closings/movements so land is not cheap out there.

Thanks. Not sure I want to be that far north, as I'm going out there solo (so schools are not an issue), and want to be close to some action, at least. Would love to get west of the 5, but might be out of budget, unfortunately. I'll check out the trains to LA - thanks.

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

Shag, why would you want to leave this great place?

Today 90F and 70f dew point feels like 106.
Winter -20 with a 20mph wind feels like -45.
Mark Dayton
Traffic congestion
Great drivers
BLM
Wayzata people

lol, the top 2 are two of the major factors in this potential move - my old bones don't like the cold much any more.

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

By the way when that stadium in Gaslamp gets approved eventually games in downtown vs the Chiefs will be outstanding.

Don't listen to people who think it will never happen, it will.

I hope that's the case - I'd be really bummed if I moved to SD, and the chargers skipped town. Petco is awesome, and having a football stadium down there would be pretty fantastic for catching a Chiefs game every year. Most things I read seem to indicate that it's not expected to pass, though...

[Randallflagg]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

You're talking about Dane, aren't you?

Didn't meet the great one - however, met the guys from Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, The Monkees, Dave Clark 5, The Doors, etc etc etc..

Believe it or not - most were just down to earth guys...with the possible exception of Jim Morrison. That was one weird monkey.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by BiStateNo

Didn't meet the great one - however, met the guys from Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, The Monkees, Dave Clark 5, The Doors, etc etc etc..

Believe it or not - most were just down to earth guys...with the possible exception of Jim Morrison. That was one weird monkey.

You met Mike Nesmith? His mom invented whiteout!

[Ming the Merciless]

Pull the trigger Imo. There's really not too many places better. Do this shit.

[Lzen]

I think I would love the San Diego but would hate the politics/gov't. For me, Kalifornia is a no go.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Lzen

I think I would love the San Diego but would hate the politics/gov't. For me, Kalifornia is a no go.

I think the city itself is kind of middle of the road, isn't it? I could be wrong, but that's always been my impression.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Lzen

I think I would love the San Diego but would hate the politics/gov't. For me, Kalifornia is a no go.

San Diego is generally viewed as a conservative city when it comes down to politics. We generally vote conservatives into local office.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Shag

Carlsbad is a possibility, also like Encinitas. I figured even at $2500, I wouldn't be super close to the beach. Initially, I'm thinking either downtown, the areas around balboa, or going north county as near the beach as possible. Trying to avoid being too far in the middle of nowhere, as I'll be going there solo.

San Diego is divided into 4 sections.....and all 4 are very different lifestyles. North, South, Central and East County.

Carlsbad/Encinitas/Oceanside etc are all considered North County. Everything north of Del Mar essentially is North County. I grew up in Oceanside/Carlsbad and have been living in the main city (Central) for the last 10-15 years.

Very, very different lifestyles. So if you have a way of life in mind, make sure you pick the right location because each town in the county has its own unique vibe.

If you're after that beach-bum, relaxation type of life where you wake up and smell the ocean, then you need a spot in North County. Central San Diego (Downtown, Balboa Park etc) is very much like living in the big city. It doesn't smell like ocean, it's packed full of people and mostly business oriented. The people are different. I can't explain it, but they're just different.

So let me help, since i've lived all over this county all my life.

Oceanside: Pure beach city. Wake up and smell the ocean. Tons of nightlife in its downtown area. Heavy, heavy military city since it neighbors Camp Pendelton. Its more of a younger, party type scene considering so many young marines go there to get off base. Probably the best beach/party scene in the entire county.

Carlsbad: Neighbors just south of Oceanside. More upscale than Oceanside. Like Oceanside, its beach is glorious. But unlike Oceanside, it draws a more mature crowd. Its nightlife is alive but it's not so much the party scene that Oceanside is. Very nice beach town and not too expensive.

Encinitas: Very nice beach front similar to Carlsbad, more affluent area than Carlsbad. Similar to Carlsbad but generally viewed as a little more upscale.

Cardiff: Meh. It's always kinda just melted into Encinitas in my mind. More of the same.

Then you get into Del Mar, La Jolla etc. Affluent areas. Gorgeous views and great beaches, San Diego's upscale living at its finest.

Pacific Beach: People love Pacific beach. Not me though, lol. It's party scene for sure. Most believe it is THE party scene in San Diego. Sure, it's on the beach. But to me it doesn't feel like the beach. It feels like the city.....but with a beach, while Oceanside actually feels like a beach town.

Mission Bay: I havent spent much time there, tbh. Feels like Pacific Beach Lite...

Then you get into Central San Diego. At this point, you're living in the city. Feels like it too. Lacks that beach town charm. It's nice, new, modern and the Gaslamp quarter is pretty much Pussy heaven on week end nights.

Coronado: A very nice Island. Affluent. More of a retirement community than anything.

As you continue to move south you'll hit National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, San Ysidro. I generally dislike these towns. It's not like Central San Diego living, but its more crowded than North County and the beach front is non-existent or small and shitty.

There's a lot of towns that i didn't mention, including East County stuff and a lot of the SE and NE stuff as well. I doubt you'd be interested in those areas.

Avoid: San Ysidro, National City, Vista, Escondido, El Cajon & parts of Chula Vista, San Marcos, SE Central San Diego.... If you find a home and are curious about the neighborhood it's in, holla at me and I'll fill you in. I know this county like the back of my hand.

[PunkinDrublic]

Was stationed in SD for 4 years in the Navy. SD is a big transplant town due to being a military city. It was a great place to send my early 20s. I'd move out there in a heartbeat if the money was right. Being broke all the time from the cost of living expenses is no fun. Even in Cali.