South Florida -V- Southern California (San Diego, Long Beach: ski resorts, high crime, homes)

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by happ

If we are addressing a lifestyle & progressive outlook Miami is a bit provincial in a provincial state that is heavily Republican & very unlike California.

Do you really think Miami is provincial? I think it's the most cosmopolitan city in the entire southeast U.S. I also think of it as a hugely international city, especially in its role as an American gateway to the Caribbean and all of South America.

[Jonotastic]

Boca Raton: Newer buildings- Cheaper- Street landscaping- Minimal traffic- Canals- Blue Ocean- Warm Ocean- Humid- Minimal nightlife- Minimal ethnic restaurant selection. San Diego: Basically the exact opposite. Expensive- Older- Heavy traffic- Cold ocean- Good nightlife- Good choice of restaurants- Good shopping. Bottom line, if you want a beach where you can actually swim and snorkel without a wet suit choose Boca Raton. If you want to buy a "cheap" nice newer house choose Boca Raton. If you want to go out at night choose San Diego. If you want to have city amenties choose San Diego.

[happ]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

Do you really think Miami is provincial? I think it's the most cosmopolitan city in the entire southeast U.S. I also think of it as a hugely international city, especially in its role as an American gateway to the Caribbean and all of South America.

Yes, that was a poor choice of a word for Miami. I have friends in Pembroke Pines & tend to forget how different the suburbs are from the cities. Miami's high retiree population & somewhat limited cultural opportunities seem to work against the image of an international city but the same can be said of San Diego.

[Milwaukee City]

Well looks like we might be leaning toward San Diego, I'm not winning the argument with the misses!!!
I prefer Miami and she prefers San Diego, I might just want to cut my losses and get out of below zero weather while I can. I did like San Diego when I was there. How is the downtown night life scene. Believe it or not in Milwaukee we have a great nightlife with all the people from Chicago opening new restaurants here along with plenty of upscale lounges. Last time I was downtown was 2002 summer and we went out to a bar and it closed at midnight? is this normal????

Moving from the Brew City with more bars than any where else in the country will I be disappointed in the nightlife scene, clubs, bars, lounges, restaurant scene?

[Milwaukee City]

My wife and I work in the Financial industry, is there a lot of financial jobs in SD or am I going to have to commute to LA?

[Milwaukee City]

Oceanside looks like the best bet for public trains to downtown la and sd, although how expensive is La mesa, el cajon, lemon grove?

[Scott5280]

While I do not live in San Diego, visiting has always been fun---historic Gas Lamp district is great for more urban nightlife check out www.gaslamp.org/ good luck with your decision---I have always loved San Diego perhaps some day I will call it home..

[Milwaukee City]

After spending over an hour looking at photos from around the SD area, I will be glad to move to San Diego and I've seen pics of your ghetto and they don't looks as horrible as Milwaukee's, so I can't wait to make the move.

[SEAandATL]

One thing that gives California an edge over Florida is mountains. Florida might have nicer beaches (imo), but once you go inland there's nothing but flat lands and swamps. In San Diego you can drive about 45 min. to the East County mountains and do a day hike and go home, while in Florida the nearest mountains are the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia, which from Miami is like a 12 hour drive. Not something I'd want to do in a weekend.

[Milwaukee City]

Is there anyplace within a days drive or train ride for snowboarding ?