This guy would LOVE living in.... Help me choose a home (Los Angeles: renting, neighborhoods)

[fidoppl]

I'm planning on moving to Southern California this summer, and would love some help choosing a location. I'm a bit overwhelmed researching cities/neighborhoods.

I currently live in Austin (Hyde Park) and love being able to ride my bike everyday to numerous coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. I rarely use my vehicle and plan to keep/improve upon this lifestyle decision.

I've been to California 20-25 times over the years and can see myself living in either San Diego, Orange County, or Los Angeles. I'm not really interested in anything north of Santa Barbara. (Although I LOVE to vacation north!)

I would love for some guidance regarding specific pockets that would be fun to ride/walk/live/work. I would prefer to be very close to the ocean. (renting)

So here is my criteria:

- walkable/ridable (lots of coffee shops, cafes, etc) (5 miles +-)
- safe
- charm/character
- strong dating pool (I'm 31, straight male, not into loud party scene...prefer outdoor activities, movies, adventures, travel, dinners, live music, etc - looking to settle down)
- good urban biking culture (cars don't freak out when they see a cyclist on the road)

About me:
I work from home/coffee shops as a software developer, so job options won't be necessary. My budget is roughly $2,000 per month, however, I can go a little higher if necessary. I have a dog. I get along with a wide variety of people, but tend to be most comfortable around laid back active folk who are who they are...

I've been researching:
- Ocean Beach, SD
- Pacific Beach, SD
- Laguna Beach, OC
- Marina Del Rey, LA
- Santa Monica, LA
- Redondo Beach, LA

After reading this are there any specific pockets/cities/neighborhoods that you thought "This guy would LOVE living in _____".

So basically...small town feel, fun, sunny, lots to do without hitting highways/etc, good for dating.

Thanks! I'm a long time lurker

[BRinSM]

santa monica and venice in LA seem like good options for you. very urban with plenty to do. Laguna is nice, but is so secluded and surrounded by hills which will make cycling very difficult. SD is also nice, but not as bicycle friendly (at least with regards to bicycle commuters). the westside of LA is pretty flat with plenty of thoroughfares that can be traveled for miles and miles. there is also plenty of riding along the coast. redondo is nice and is close to hermosa beach and manhattan beach, but it's leisure options are not on the level of the westside.

if i had to pick one spot that might be ideal for you, it would be the area surrounding main st in santa monica. lots of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, not to mention bike shops. check it out if you're coming to visit. $2k/month will get you a pretty nice 1br or possibly a 2br if you look hard enough.

[mrsltd]

I'm a bit overwhelmed researching cities/neighborhoods.

Ah, my friend, have fun with this. You sound like you are already well on your way as far as your research goes. And there are many, many, many more neighborhoods in the Southland.

I don't know, however, where the best chili con queso is made. ") I had a Houstonian complain to me once that he couldn't anyplace in Southern California that made it Texas style.

The way he described it, he probably could have whipped up some at home on his own