Do you think San Diego is a happy place? (condo, transfer)

[JakeDog]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

A whole lot of people say that San Diego is the best place in the world and would never live or visit anywhere else. I think those people are pretty happy with it. The whole idea that any place can be that great is a little suspect to me.

If every place is great, then no place is great.

[OrangeSunset]

I agree with the previous post, if you don't mind getting stuck in major traffic going to/from your 9-5 job. If you don't mind driving around for one hour during the summer to get to the beach (& to find a parking space). If you don't mind never being able to go swimming because the water is always freezing, even in the summer time. If you don't mind paying top dollar to live for a mediocre house. If you don't mind having no time to do any of the fun things in the video because you are stuck in the rat-race trying to make ends meet. The answer is yes, people in San Diego are very happy!

BTW, I know people that make 6 figures and can't afford to live near the beach with a family of four. Life in San Diego can be very stressful just like in any other place. I personally think that the cost of living in San Diego is too high and it does impact my life quite a bit.

But the bottom line is, there's no perfect place and you just have to make the best out of it. Happiness is a relative state of mind.

[MissNM]

I'm happier here than any place I've ever lived.

[Papajojo]

Originally Posted by MissNM

I'm happier here than any place I've ever lived.

x2, although it took a bit to get used to the 'mindset'.

[sdlife619]

"Mindset" what do you mean by that?

[JakeDog]

Originally Posted by OrangeSunset

I agree with the previous post, if you don't mind getting stuck in major traffic going to/from your 9-5 job. If you don't mind driving around for one hour during the summer to get to the beach (& to find a parking space). If you don't mind never being able to go swimming because the water is always freezing, even in the summer time. If you don't mind paying top dollar to live for a mediocre house. If you don't mind having no time to do any of the fun things in the video because you are stuck in the rat-race trying to make ends meet. The answer is yes, people in San Diego are very happy!

BTW, I know people that make 6 figures and can't afford to live near the beach with a family of four. Life in San Diego can be very stressful just like in any other place. I personally think that the cost of living in San Diego is too high and it does impact my life quite a bit.

But the bottom line is, there's no perfect place and you just have to make the best out of it. Happiness is a relative state of mind.

Where in San Diego does it take you an hour to get to the beach and find driving? The water isn't always freezing, and is actually very nice in the summer. As for the other concerns, these exist anywhere. At least in San Diego you are experiencing them in an area where there is a lot to do.

[Oerdin]

When I go to the beach I can always find parking but I go early. It's the bums who don't get up until 10:00 who can't find parking spots.

[esmith143]

if you don't mind getting stuck in major traffic going to/from your 9-5 job.

Stuck in major San Diego traffic. Horrible, just horrible experience.

Just to think that, instead of being stuck in San Diego traffic, you could be living in Jersey. You'd have to put on jacket, scarf, and boots, walk to the nearest bus station, wait 15 minutes for the bus. 30 minutes in a smelly bus to drive to Manhattan (but at least it's not cold and windy any more ...). Then transfer to subway, 10 minutes on foot through dirty tunnels, stepping over garbage and homeless people, 15 more minutes on the train. Repeat in reverse on the way back.

Why not just buy a condo in the city you ask? No reason aside from the fact that midtown Manhattan condos usually cost in seven digits ...

At least you can go swimming, right? Hudson River is out unless you want to catch cholera or something else equally nasty. Fortunately there's Atlantic Ocean. Water off Atlantic City, NJ is indeed a couple degrees warmer than in San Diego - July through September. It's way, WAY colder (dipping below 40 F) November through April.

[Sassberto]

I don't see the traffic in San Diego as being all that bad. It's actually easy to avoid the worst of it by leaving an hour earlier. In fact I would say most of the "bad" things about SD aren't really that bad compared to most other cities. The only real drawback to SD is cost-of-living, but that isn't something you can really see or feel. If it wasn't for that I think SD actually is probably one of the best metros in the contry.

[Encinitan]

People who think SD traffic is that bad should try driving on the 91 or the 55 or the 22 or just about any freeway in OC or LA. That's bad traffic. Slow and go traffic from Carlsbad to Encinitas on the southbound 5 during morning rush hour is nothing.