Santa Cruz or San Luis Obispo? (San Francisco, Atascadero: income, jobs, house)

[Woof]

Which would you prefer if you could afford either ..... I'm more interested in quality-of-life issues .... nature walks, good cafes, stimulating conversations that don't end in mutual death threats ..... than economics, as they're both impossible to afford and yet have no employment above minimum wage.

I've lived in Santa Cruz but have never been to SLO.

[Sorcerer68]

You'll find SLO more conservative and less "cool" than Santa Cruz. Your area has more of an alternative scene. SLO County is fairly conservative compared to a lot of CA. Just north of SLO as you go over the Cuesta Grade it gets kinda rednecky. I know, I've lived in San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Atascadero and Templeton. What I love about SLO is that it's really beautiful. It has a lovely, walkable downtown area with old store fronts. Linnea's on Garden St. is the cool coffee house that's been there a very long time. I have fond memories of SLO and only left because I'm too much of a city boy to live someplace that small. Being a college town, there are a bajillion young, hot college students...they also suck up the jobs that don't require a degree. One big drawback is that it's out in the middle of nowhere. It takes
4-5 hours to drive to a city (take your pick, L.A. or San Francisco). SLO is very clean and the sidewalks roll up very early.

[Woof]

Thanks .... I suppose the little coastal towns like Pismo Beach and Morro Bay would have even more difficult to tolerate for a guy who likes big city life!

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by Woof

Thanks .... I suppose the little coastal towns like Pismo Beach and Morro Bay would have even more difficult to tolerate for a guy who likes big city life!

From one city boy to another...you'd die of boredom.

[krudmonk]

Santa Cruz rivals towns much bigger in size. It's also nearer a major metro area.

[wulfruna]

If you like big city life, why are you looking at anywhere on the central coast!!!!!!?????

[Woof]

Oh,I enjoyed big cities when younger ..... but now prefer medium sized cities, or small cities of at least 20,000 .... too small and you'll never fit in without family connections, and too big is maddening as you grow older, unless you have the income to live in a nice area.

Well, I ended up in Susanville ..... butt-ugly as far as the city itself, but some very nice places nearby for recreation. And it's vastly more affordable than central coastal CA.