Should I move to San Diego? (car insurance, school, living in)

[stephen1221]

Hey everyone. I've been accepted into grad school at a school in San Diego. The program is very strong and I'm excited about the opportunity. Ive been to SD many times, and have always been in love with it. However visting a place and living there is very different. I've lived in the South my entire life, and I'm afraid it will just be to big of an adjustment. I'm a very open and accepting person, but if everyone is completely different from me Im worried I wont really like living there. Anyone move to SD from the South? any comments are appreciated! thanks

[PharmboyinNC]

What part of the south? Lived in any large cities?

Honestly, it all depends on your mentality. Going to grad school here does not tie you down, and would be a good place for school and enjoying the area.

[moved]

Which school?

[BeenThereDunThat]

I wouldn't think twice about moving / living in San Diego. I'm from the South too... and I've lived there off & on over my lifetime (first time as a military brat, second time nearby as an adult). and left only because of family obligations back home. Sure, it's a big city but for a city it's size, it's pretty easy to get around once you get a feel for traffic patterns. Besides...the area is made up of smaller communities and there's usually enough going on around you to satisfy basic needs.

Cost of Living? Well yeah... car insurance and housing can be pretty pricey. But a lot of common expenses are reasonable thanks to competition ( i.e. food, clothing, etc.). Lifestyle is great...you have the mountains, desert & chaparral for the great outdoors, the beaches & coastal areas for sunlovers, smaller communities for folksy feel and of course the downtown area complete with harbor & gaslamp district to suit big-city fixes.

But hey...your main focus is going to grad school and I would say the only negative is that if you come to San Diego, you'll find it too easy to be distracted and slouch on the studies. San Diego is a cool town and it's easy to fall in the party-trap as it has a lot there. I have a number of friends who've complained about their kids blowing off their studies thanks to too many leisurely influences.

So that's the skinny. But hey...you could do a lot worse.