This place has gone a long ways downhill since the
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1/6/2016
I visited San Diego in 1972, moved there in 1986 for a year and have moved here again in late 2015.
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Short story is there are better places to live. I wanted to like this place very much but too many cons.
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PROS
The weather is enjoyable especially if you come from a snowy climate. The beaches are nice although the water is pretty cold. There are quite a few things to do but San Diego is really an island, an expensive one too.
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CONS
If you have a $100,000/yr job and your spouse works too, you can afford the housing costs. If you live in an apt, for some reason, people are stand offish and won't respond to a kind hello. This is to be expected for a large city though.
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You have to drive north on a VERY crowded freeway on weekends to take in other cities such as San Clemente and such.
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BUT there are things you can't deal with by throwing dollars at it like terrible traffic, rotten roads, rather unfriendly people and a big city vibe of plain disregard for one's fellow man. Add to that the kamikaze drivers, even in the rain!
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The place is a desert (unless you count golf courses as greenery), no trees, no nature to enjoy, or wild animal life other than snakes. If you are into hiking or mtn biking, it is utterly boring. Dirt, rocks, scrub brush and that is it. I was in shock on my 1st few mtn bike rides.
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Cost of living is about 65-70% higher than national average.
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I would recommend other places in southern Orange County but they also have become really crowded.
Bob | San Diego, CA