San Diego, California

ronj1983
Living in San Diego
1y ago
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From NYC 37 years. Here 2.5 years. The fucking people here will give you the shirt off their backs. I am black and have been in trouble in some all white, upper class areas and the people have hepled me there greatly. So much so I thought I was on candid camera. I hangout at Sky Deck, which is a rooftop bar in Del Mar. Only black person there and it is all love. I run so I am friends with everybody. White, Mexican, Indian/Middle Eastern etc. Just go to a bar, shoot your mouth off, and people will love you. South of the 94 is supposedly the hood for the most part. Again, I'm from NYC so I laugh at that. Encanto and Lincoln Park are south of the 94 and are supposed to be the worst areas. Again, I laugh. Personal favorite? I am biased as I work from Del Mar to Carlsbad so that is it for me. If I am close to home? My place would be Kensington to live. Middle East background? You will love Kearny Mesa and Mira Mesa for food. Very good Indian/Middle Eastern food there. I live right off of El Cajon Blvd and College Ave. Kinda diverse and in the middle of everything. Get to the beach in 20-25 minutes driving no traffic.

bellabelleell / Living in San Diego / 1y ago
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1+5) There is huge diversity in San Diego, many pockets of Middle Eastern communities if you need a taste of home. Otherwise, you will fit in anywhere in the county. People here tend to keep to themselves, but are typically kind and outgoing once you begin socializing. I have found that meeting people in San Diego is pretty hobby-driven. You won't normally make friends by going to bars or the beach, but if you love cars or hiking, joining meetup groups for those hobbies will introduce you to many like-minded people. For a county as big as SD, social media is almost essential.

2) I'm not sure if you are looking for a place you can feel safe walking around in OR if you are looking for areas that are within walking distance of a beach (two very different answers). San Diego County is made of many smaller cities, almost all of which are within a 20-30min drive of each other. Two rules to consider when deciding where to live: A) rural areas are less tolerant of other cultures (this is how the US is in general), so suburban and urban areas will be safer for you. B) The more urban the area, the more you will experience issues like homelessness (a byproduct of our weather and population density).

Suburban areas to consider: La Mesa, Santee, and Encinitas. El Cajon has a larger Middle Eastern community, but is a little underdeveloped compared to some of the nicer parts of San Diego.

Urban areas to consider: Golden Hill, Hillcrest (a safe haven for alternative lifestyles), and Pacific Beach.

ronj1983 / Living in San Diego / Updated 1mo ago
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Well, I am gonna be very detailed here. This is gonna be long. I had no idea about this place. I met a girl on Facebook from here in early 2011. She tells me it is 72 degrees in January. Told her I would eventually come check it out. Came in 2014 with my now wife for a week and we ran a half marathon (we are big time runners). Came in 2018 again for a week and ran another half marathon. Then comes the cost of living. Homes here are a little more than NYC, but if you are renting it is probably even if you are smart. We live in a 1BR complex with a 2 pools, a gym, 2 laundry rooms and 2 stainless steel grills for $1,735 a month and 2 parking spots. My wife is in healthcare and left NYC 3.5 years ago making 88K. She started here at 110K. Now she is almost at 150K. I did Instacart full time for 2.5 years and still do it a little, but started my own mobile mechanic business. I love the winter here because you can wake up and it can be high 30's at 6am so you do get a little pinch of back home for a few hours. The coldest days in the winter are like mid 50's. The summer is not nearly as hot as NYC as the humidity is low here. The beaches from La Jolla all the way up to Carlsbad are absolutely bliss. The people here, they will give you the shirt off of their backs and are really polite. Hard to be a douche when you wake up to palm trees daily and good weather. People will tell you that you need to make $2974429257929 a year to live here and it is not the case. The bad about herr is the tap water is not close to that of NYC and there are a lot of homeless people, but the huge population is mostly downtown. If you are not downtown then it will not look bad at all. They are pretty much scattered. I have had no issues with homeless people or my car broken in etc. The gas is like $1 more, but the car insurance is cheaper so it offsets. You can do 75 on any highway and the cops won't even look at you. Less traffic of course. The public transportation I have never taken, but it does not seem bad. We have a train that goes all the way to LA as well. I would suggest you come and stay for a week. San Diego is HUGE in size. I can be at the border, drive for 2hrs with no traffic and still be in San Diego. Oh, we have a place called Julian which is high elevation and it snows. Freaked me out to see snow in San Diego. You can go up there for a weekend if you want to an almost Poconos type feel. Legoland is here, Disneyland is less than 2hrs away. LA is 2hrs with no traffic, Sesame Place just opened up, we have Belmont Park which is a smaller scale Coney Island and a little safer, Sea World is here, the San Diego Zoo is here and the biggest zoo in the country. Whatever your line of work is look to see what it pays here. For example, the city jobs in NYC pay very well. The cops, Firemen, MTA, garbagemen etc. Here, they do not pay nearly as well for those jobs.

AmeriKantDream / Living in San Diego / 1y ago

San Diego is generally known for its friendly and laid-back atmosphere, and many people find it relatively easy to make new friends. The city attracts a diverse population, including locals and transplants, which contributes to a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Some of the nice and safe areas to stay in that are close to the beach and walkable include:

La Jolla: Located along the coastline, La Jolla is an affluent neighborhood with beautiful beaches, upscale shops, and restaurants. It offers a luxurious and picturesque living experience.

Del Mar: Situated north of downtown, Del Mar is a charming coastal community known for its stunning beaches, upscale homes, and a laid-back lifestyle.

Coronado: Just across the bay from downtown San Diego, Coronado is an idyllic island community with pristine beaches, a historic hotel, and a quaint downtown area. It offers a luxurious and relaxed atmosphere.

Encinitas: Located north of San Diego, Encinitas offers a coastal living experience with beautiful beaches, a vibrant downtown area, and a thriving surf culture.

Areas to exercise caution and potentially stay away from in San Diego include certain neighborhoods with higher crime rates, such as parts of Southeast San Diego, City Heights, and some areas near downtown. It's always recommended to research specific neighborhoods and consult with locals or real estate professionals for the most up-to-date information on safety.

The REAL Pros and Cons of living in San Diego California