San Diego vs. Connecticut (San Jose, Fairfield: how much, home, bankrupt)

[NoTimeToTalk]

Hello. I'm trying to decide between moving to San Diego/Encinitas/Carlsbad or the southern part of Connecticut in Fairfield or New Haven County near the shoreline. Career opportunities are okay in either of the two areas, and the income will be roughly the same (around $100,000). I'm currently in the NYC metro area. Please tell me what you think is best given my situation.

- Single male, late twenties
- Want reasonable access to the city without living in it (I like peace and quiet in a suburban home)
- Like warm and sunny weather, but also like experiencing the four seasons
- Like relaxed and laid-back attitudes, but also appreciate sophistication and ambition
- Eventually want kids and do not want to have to move to a new metropolitan area
- Enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle with outdoor activities
- Like beach views and the beach environment, but also like being able to go to a busy downtown area
- Whole family is in the NYC area
- Don't want to be in the rat race and prefer a lower-stress day-to-day living experience
- Don't want to spend all day in the office and commuting to the office
- Like having a car
- Want to own a single family detached home with a garage in the near future

Thanks in advance for your time and input!

[tonyinsd]

If you want the four seasons like you get in most of the country, San Diego is not for you. Sure, it will get colder, and drop into the 40s at night in the winter. And it will rain quite a bit in the winter.

But if having a distinct winter, spring, summer, and fall is important then this is not the place for you.

[NoTimeToTalk]

Thanks. Any other responses?

[sfosyd]

I like Connecticut. Based on the fact that you like four seasons and your family is in the NYC area, it sounds like the right choice. If you lose your job, the economy is MUCH better better and more diversified in the NYC metro and if worse comes to worse is commutable from New Haven as is Hartford. The economy is still very bad in San Diego and there is a large sunshine tax. It is not possible to commute to LA from San Diego. I also think New Haven and the shoreline are significantly less expensive.

[sdurbanite]

I don't know, given your criteria, sans family and having four seasons (although you can drive to any season you want from SD, ie, snow, desert heat or thunderstorms), SD is the obvious choice. At your age, why not try something different and if it doesn't work out, you can always go back to NYC.

[cmdreset]

Warning: Stereotypes to come.

- Single male, late twenties

* Hmm, San Diego certainly wins in the pulchritudinous babe category

- Want reasonable access to the city without living in it (I like peace and quiet in a suburban home)

* You can get this either place

- Like warm and sunny weather, but also like experiencing the four seasons

* You can always get the 4 seasons in San Diego by traveling to the mountains or desert. You will live in the seasons whether you like it or not in CT (although fall in New England beats the crap out of fall wildfires in CA.)

- Like relaxed and laid-back attitudes, but also appreciate sophistication and ambition

* New Haven probably has more sophistication - SD is pretty laid back and (outside of the techies in the Golden Triangle area) more slackeresque

- Eventually want kids and do not want to have to move to a new metropolitan area

* Either place

- Enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle with outdoor activities

* There is no place in the US like San Diego for outdoor activities. You can run, cycle, climb, etc. any day of the year. World-class athletes make their home out here for that reason. People are definitely more fit here.

- Like beach views and the beach environment, but also like being able to go to a busy downtown area

* How to put this nicely? OK I can't: Connecticut beaches suck compared to California. Sorry, it's the truth. Most of the shoreline in CT is private anyway, so you can't go there unless you are Smedley Moneypants. This is one of the truly great things about CA - an entire shoreline of awesome public beach.

- Whole family is in the NYC area

* Do you like them? Do they like you? That will determine which place is better

- Don't want to be in the rat race and prefer a lower-stress day-to-day living experience

* Again, SD is generally more laid-back

- Don't want to spend all day in the office and commuting to the office

* Well, either place can have great or terrible commutes

- Like having a car

* CA is the place for car love for sure.

- Want to own a single family detached home with a garage in the near future

* OK, this is definitely easier in CT - housing is roughly 2-3x higher in CA for the same thing. But that is because of some of the points above...

[Cardiff Kook]

didn't you create the same thread a few months ago? i remember the consensus being Connecticut since you couldn't get over the fact you would be living on the other side of the country from your family.

[moved]

Originally Posted by GMUAlum08

didn't you create the same thread a few months ago? i remember the consensus being Connecticut since you couldn't get over the fact you would be living on the other side of the country from your family.

Yep, he started the same thread on 02/28/2012.

[bloom]

got heeeem

[dallas_cowboy]

As a non-cali native who lived in CA, FL, NC, MI and TX states in my whole life. I put CA last on the list considering if I have to live in major city like San Diego, LA, SF, SJ etc..... CA state govt is bankrupt and whatever you make in CA will end up having nothing in your pocket (after all taxes and expenses) at the end of a month in savings. I make six figures per year but at the end of the day I think about how much I can save at the cost of putting my retirement at risk due to low savings and what I get in return. SD is pretty good in weather overall during the whole year, no doubts about that. Besides that everything is super expensive from gas to housing to food etc. FYI, I live in Texas and lot more happier right now. I know more than 5 family friends who moved from CA to TX in last 3 years, 2 of them were from SD, 1 from Santa Barbara and 2 from San Jose.

This is my honest answer based on what I feel about California state, I am sure others may not like or agree with it.