Any bad things about San Diego other than living cost? (Santa Barbara: house, condo)

[kimmer]

We are also on the verge of a big water shortage, or a big reduction in usage.

Today in the U-T there was an article on how the price of water is going up. San Diego has been VERY lucky in the past securing water rights, but folks, please don't forget we're an arid, coastal area. We're not in a tropical zone. The only reason you see ANY lush greenery or tropical plants here is due to imported water. There's been talk of the "toilet to tap" solution, but that was rejected. Our water tastes bad enough now!

Be prepared for some type of water rationing in the future, or at least a sky-high water bill. I don't think it should stop anyone from moving here, but be prepared for this to be an issue in the near future.

[GratefulDeb]

Do you think that there are alot of unfriendly, stressed out people in SD because they are transplants from the Northeast? Pretty much EVERYBODY here is like that. Maybe the people you saw were transplants who haven't figured out that they are in a more relaxed environment. I don;t know. Just a thought

[Sampaguita]

Seriously, I don't see how some of the posters on here can deny these behaviors of San Diegans. It's extremely obvious. It's so intense that it drives many of us crazy, and has given SoCal a nationwide reputation for having rude, arrogant people. It looks very unbelievable to many of us when people act like nothing is wrong with SD. And I think most of the people who are adamently pro-SD are either real estate agents, or very wealthy people who live with a very limited perspective of what is truely happening all over this city, and their vision of SD is limited to the very affluent areas.

I don't deny that the people you come across exist - it's just in my experience that I don't see a whole lot of it. But - there's no denying that ALL those kinds of attitudes exist no matter where you go. I spent 15 yrs on the road as a musician's road manager and saw and worked with people from all walks of life - from the insanely, fabulously wealthy to the panhandler who would approach my boss because they recognized him & would engage him in coversation. What you've described is everywhere - not just San Diego - which is why I guess I think all this talk about how snooty & materialistic San Diego is kind of minor compared to what I've seen.

We are neither wealthy nor living with blinders on.

We lived in City Heights for 2 yrs - I can't even begin to describe how unfriendly our neighbors were towards us despite our genuine efforts to reach out & be friendly with them. You can hardly describe the residents of CH to be materialistic or wealthy.

We lived in El Cerrito/College area where we met some of the kindest people EVER.

Now, we live in La Costa and so far, have come across nothing but polite, kind & friendly folk.

Look - there's plenty wrong with San Diego and its populous - but the circle of people we choose to associate with are salt-of-the-earth. The snooty people? They're on our periphery and we really have no need to be around or associate with them. We just don't let them get under our skin or give their presence around us any energy.

[FunkyMonk]

Originally Posted by GratefulDeb

Do you think that there are alot of unfriendly, stressed out people in SD because they are transplants from the Northeast? Pretty much EVERYBODY here is like that. Maybe the people you saw were transplants who haven't figured out that they are in a more relaxed environment. I don;t know. Just a thought

For whatever reason, the overall vibe around here has that stressful feel to it, I think it's because the cost of living is very high and everyone is working hard with lots of money worries. I also think that the competetive, materialistic, disrespectful, "it's all about me" attitude of the city contributes to it.

As these kinds of vibes are contagious, the bad vibe spreads. People arrive here from all over and have their own vibe, but pretty soon the overall, stressful vibe overtakes them and they become part of it, and they contribute to it. That seems to be how it works in every city i've been to, which is why each city has it's own distinctive feel. And there are only a small number of people who maintain thier individuality and concsiously rise above it.

Before I was in SD I witnessed the opposite phenomenon. I was living in a very small, laid back little college town with a strong sense of community and helping out your neighbor. People would come in from all over, often times with a really sour, big city attitude. Then after a few weeks or months they would be happy, smiling, friendly, humble and begin to drop all the attitude they had when they first arrived. That's how people are. They are heavily influenced by thier environment.

[Nick682]

Originally Posted by LookingtoLeave

I don't live there yet, so I really am just asking out of curiosity, but are the people that bad? I have a group of friends there that are so nice and down-to-earth and not the least bit snooty. When I visited them I met their other friends who are also just as cool. Doesn't a lot of it just have to do with who you choose to surround yourself with? By the time I relocate I will be 30, so I personally would have no desire to hang around a bunch of people in their young 20s because I know how juvenile they could be. For that matter, they're like that here too. Are you saying the more mature people with good careers be just as snooty?

It just sucks that's all, you'll find out.

If you like to try real hard in life to be cool, then you'll love it here.

[jeena]

I live in a New York suburb now, I have lived in Orlando, Fl. and I visit San Diego every year to see family (I'm going to SD next week). If you found Orlando "a waste" there are less places to work and things to do in San Diego than in Orlando, you might not like San Diego either.

Negatives: Too much traffic, few good restaurants (mostly Mexican salty food, popular chains, and fast food places), everything too spread out in North County, little nightlife, store clerks too slow, chain restaurants and supermarket food more expensive than NY, gas more expensive than NY.

Positives: Weather is better than NY, beaches are beautiful, views are gorgeous, people are very friendly, very restful.

I go to San Diego to rest and relax, but I couldn't take a steady diet of it, I'm very New York, there is no place else like it, and there isn't anyplace else I would rather live most of the year!

Good luck on your decision!

[LookingtoLeave]

I hear a lot of people here say there's little night life in SD, but then I also hear the contrary. I found it fun last time I was there, but to be honest, it's been about 4 years ago and I was in my mid-20s.

Is the nightlife just tailored to the 20 year old crowd or is the same thing all the time and it got old, etc? Any thoughts???

[macchiato]

I was born in San Diego but lived most my life in Houston.
And my family and I will be living in SD for possibly the next 8yrs, I'am a military member.
I was there a little over a week ago and I don't see too much down side.
You go on about life same as anywhere else. The problems cited here are the same everywhere.
You exclude the inflated cost of living in San Diego and you minimize most all of the down side, in general the downside can be traced back to the disparity in economics. Its the way of the world.

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by lostdecade

Yes! As an expat Brit and someone who has worked and traveled all across the world, I rarely meet anyone of the same mindset in San Diego. People seem very shallow and the height of most people's ambitions seems to be to have their own place where they can drink and smoke in the backyard. I hardly ever meet anyone who travels, or can engage any kind of deep discussion about anything. At least up here in LA I've met many interesting people who are all creative minded, ambitious and able to talk about deep and meaningful issues (despite the stereotypes about LA folk) - when I go down to SD I am grateful when I leave, to be honest.. it's like I'm returning to civilisation. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, for sure. My girlfriend says it's mostly the areas we are visiting, and that people vary across the city, so I'd like to think I'm just meeting the wrong people.

Well, I've been to 34 different countries, 47 different states and I live in San Diego. The people I associate with are artists, avid travellers, and professionals alike, who don't smoke or drink in their backyards for fun. It's pretty absurd that you think everyone here does that.

[Nick682]

Originally Posted by lostdecade

Yes! As an expat Brit and someone who has worked and traveled all across the world, I rarely meet anyone of the same mindset in San Diego. People seem very shallow and the height of most people's ambitions seems to be to have their own place where they can drink and smoke in the backyard. I hardly ever meet anyone who travels, or can engage any kind of deep discussion about anything. At least up here in LA I've met many interesting people who are all creative minded, ambitious and able to talk about deep and meaningful issues (despite the stereotypes about LA folk) - when I go down to SD I am grateful when I leave, to be honest.. it's like I'm returning to civilisation. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, for sure. My girlfriend says it's mostly the areas we are visiting, and that people vary across the city, so I'd like to think I'm just meeting the wrong people.

"The truth shall set you free"......so preach on brother!