Is it always like this? (Los Angeles, San Diego: car rental, transplants, rentals)

[NYC2RDU]

I'm a seasoned traveler. I've been quite literally around the world on business and have been in more major cities than I can count. I've been to Los Angeles many times as well.

However after spending my first few days in San Diego I'm absolutely amazed with the people I've met. Now granted I've only been here two days but I've been through the airport twice, dealt with the car rental place twice, dealt with the hotel staff, a few restaurants and a whole office full of clients during my two days and I'm still waiting to meet someone who isn't both polite and friendly. It's all at once cool and weird.

I also enjoyed the scenery and the way so much of what's been developed has been built to blend with the landscape. I was actually finding myself distracted while driving around because I'd often find something to look at that just sort of needed to be, well, looked at.

Is this a common experience of is the sleep deprivation just messing with my powers of perception?

[amc760]

Although some might complain, San Diegans have it pretty good.
Some of the mildest weather in the state, Traffic and Crime levels that don't even touch places like LA, and an overall laid back environment.
The only thing is the cost of living.

But in my opinion, SD isn't as hectic as the other metropolitan areas of the state.

[j760]

Originally Posted by NYC2RDU

I'm a seasoned traveler. I've been quite literally around the world on business and have been in more major cities than I can count. I've been to Los Angeles many times as well.

However after spending my first few days in San Diego I'm absolutely amazed with the people I've met. Now granted I've only been here two days but I've been through the airport twice, dealt with the car rental place twice, dealt with the hotel staff, a few restaurants and a whole office full of clients during my two days and I'm still waiting to meet someone who isn't both polite and friendly. It's all at once cool and weird.

I also enjoyed the scenery and the way so much of what's been developed has been built to blend with the landscape. I was actually finding myself distracted while driving around because I'd often find something to look at that just sort of needed to be, well, looked at.

Is this a common experience of is the sleep deprivation just messing with my powers of perception?

Welcome to Paradise.

It's not perfect here, it's not perfect anywhere, but I think your experiencing just how lovely of a city this is, and it's great to hear you've run into friendly people and have enjoyed your time here so far. A lot of people say Californians aren't friendly, well I can't speak for other parts of the state, but I think San Diegans in general are friendly and know how to come together better than any city there is.

[NYC2RDU]

Originally Posted by j760

Welcome to Paradise.

It's not perfect here, it's not perfect anywhere, but I think your experiencing just how lovely of a city this is, and it's great to hear you've run into friendly people and have enjoyed your time here so far. A lot of people say Californians aren't friendly, well I can't speak for other parts of the state, but I think San Diegans in general are friendly and know how to come together better than any city there is.

I've never liked Los Angeles. The people there have always struck me as being aloof with a tinge or arrogance. They aren't aggressive or overtly bothersome but when you have to engage them it sort of leaves you wishing you didn't have to.

I can state with great certainty that the people at the car rental location, a brand I use all over the USA were by far the nicest people I've encountered at just such a venue. I mean from the guy behind the counter, to the guy who walked me out to the lot and the shuttle bus driver one was nicer than the other.

[LookingtoLeave]

Originally Posted by NYC2RDU

I'm a seasoned traveler. I've been quite literally around the world on business and have been in more major cities than I can count. I've been to Los Angeles many times as well.

However after spending my first few days in San Diego I'm absolutely amazed with the people I've met. Now granted I've only been here two days but I've been through the airport twice, dealt with the car rental place twice, dealt with the hotel staff, a few restaurants and a whole office full of clients during my two days and I'm still waiting to meet someone who isn't both polite and friendly. It's all at once cool and weird.

I also enjoyed the scenery and the way so much of what's been developed has been built to blend with the landscape. I was actually finding myself distracted while driving around because I'd often find something to look at that just sort of needed to be, well, looked at.

Is this a common experience of is the sleep deprivation just messing with my powers of perception?

While you may not always experience that, my initial answer is yes. I've come across some snooty people, but overall the people were very helpful and laid back. And no, it's not sleep deprivation. The scenery imo is great-just be careful next time you're in SD not to rear end someone while driving. I too need to be careful when I drive as I tend to gaze into the water.

[Huckleberry3911948]

my uncle in mississippi says huck, livin in california is like livin with a beautiful woman that has a headache all the time.

[homie01]

Originally Posted by NYC2RDU

I'm a seasoned traveler. I've been quite literally around the world on business and have been in more major cities than I can count. I've been to Los Angeles many times as well.

However after spending my first few days in San Diego I'm absolutely amazed with the people I've met. Now granted I've only been here two days but I've been through the airport twice, dealt with the car rental place twice, dealt with the hotel staff, a few restaurants and a whole office full of clients during my two days and I'm still waiting to meet someone who isn't both polite and friendly. It's all at once cool and weird.

I also enjoyed the scenery and the way so much of what's been developed has been built to blend with the landscape. I was actually finding myself distracted while driving around because I'd often find something to look at that just sort of needed to be, well, looked at.

Is this a common experience of is the sleep deprivation just messing with my powers of perception?

If you're here as a tourist or a short business trip, you're gonna meet nice people everywhere. Of course they're nice -- these workers are a service to tourists/newbies in SD. San Diego is a tourist city and that's why they have to be nice. Plus, you have only been to the "nice" part of San Diego. Nice people, mean people, they're everywhere. I would say many San Diegans are civilized here and we have some of the best family events and people are very active in social issues compared to other places.

I take it, you haven't been part to some of the crime-ridden area of San Diego yet....

[kcda]

My husband travels quite a bit and says the service people are definately nicer in the hotels, airports, car rentals here than in other cities he's noticed.

[sav858]

Welcome to San Diego and I'm glad you are having a good experience. But I've always thought people here were some of the friendliest and nicest people in California, especially for a large city. People are nicer and more polite here than where I grew up in the SF Bay Area. My theory is there are a lot of transplants who come here and are nice and friendly b/c they want to meet people. And also with such great weather it's hard to be a bad mood, it's just so nice always that it puts you in a good mood or something in a way.

[jkoz]

Originally Posted by sav858

Welcome to San Diego and I'm glad you are having a good experience. But I've always thought people here were some of the friendliest and nicest people in California, especially for a large city. People are nicer and more polite here than where I grew up in the SF Bay Area. My theory is there are a lot of transplants who come here and are nice and friendly b/c they want to meet people. And also with such great weather it's hard to be a bad mood, it's just so nice always that it puts you in a good mood or something in a way.

Very true, but beware--you you will run into the occasional case of road rage, bad hair day, "PMS/menopause moment", cranky cab driver, or crabby store clerk, even here in S.D.