No better than most cities, actually worse.
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11/8/2009
So the weather is great (unless you prefer seasons), and the surfing is good (unless you need warm water), but thats pretty much the end of anything good about San Diego. The cost of living is outrageous and nearly prohibitive if you have a family and need some space. Unless your one of the many ultra-affluents who bid up all the property prices buying vacation homes, you'll likely be tucked into a dense neighborhood where all the dogs, kids, and adults show clear signs of neurosis. Aggression and indifference are common. The way of life is mechanical and unprofound. Materialism, consumerism, and narcissism comprise the heart of the coastal region. The water, air, beaches, and soil are all polluted. The air pollution alone significantly increases the regions mortality. Light and noise pollution are also pervasive. Get ready to sleep with white noise to drown out the neighbors. Traffic is horrible. The views are of smog rather than nature. Nature has been paved over. Parks are retired landfills. Surface water runoff into the ocean is toxic after rains. Granted, many cities have such problems but in San Diego you have to pay more for it. In short, San Diego, despite having a strangley inflated reputation, is like many cities, come with appropriate expectations.
Ded Urban | Encinitas, CA