I'm looking for the idealistic beach town..? (San Diego, Encinitas: for rent, home)

[Jules0529]

I'm a female, 25, single, no children, and have a career where I'm not tied down to a particular city. I've always had dreams of living somewhere near or on the beach in California. I don't know much about the coast but I know that I'd like to live somewhere where the scenery is beautiful, surfing is involved (I really want to learn how to surf and do it regularly.. wouldn't mind the surfer boys either LOL), the restaurant, shopping, and nightlife scene is pretty decent or near somewhere decent, and has a youthful vibe to it. Any ideas? Thanks!

[Charles]

What is your career?
Where do you think you can find a job?
What is your budget for rent or housing price range?

[luchia5]

And when I was your age, back in prehistory, I wanted to live on the CA beach and could. Now I am just looking for a place with a small yard to put a manufactured home on and that, if it exists at all in CA at something approaching a reasonable price, will probably be in the middle of the desert. Good luck with that. Wish you could do it, hon.
luchia

[dubstyle247]

encinitas, ca

[TheDragonslayer]

Check out McKinleyville, Trinidad, Manila, Samoa and Arcata here in Humboldt county and Shelter Cove in the southern part of the county. All the towns here are small, the ones I mentioned are well under 20,000 people. Arcata has the highest concentration of youth due to the presence of Humboldt State University. Humboldt county is very laid back and accepting.

[Joker32]

Originally Posted by Jules0529

I'm a female, 25, single, no children, and have a career where I'm not tied down to a particular city. I've always had dreams of living somewhere near or on the beach in California. I don't know much about the coast but I know that I'd like to live somewhere where the scenery is beautiful, surfing is involved (I really want to learn how to surf and do it regularly.. wouldn't mind the surfer boys either LOL), the restaurant, shopping, and nightlife scene is pretty decent or near somewhere decent, and has a youthful vibe to it. Any ideas? Thanks!

San Diego has plenty of neighborhoods you'd like

Pacific Beach
Encinitas
La Jolla
Ocean Beach


Dont listen to haters...find a cheap place, get your career going, you can move to a better place later.

[luchia5]

That is great area, but don't you need a wet suit to swim in those waters? I think they are too cold otherwise. Maybe I am wrong, but I thought the lady wanted the typical warm weather beach that just requires a swim suit, so on.
luchia

[Woof]

So much depends on what the OP can afford. There are lots of idyllic little beach towns if you can afford them.

[sponger42]

Re: Surfing

You will need a wetsuit in order to surf year-round anywhere in California thanks to cold Pacific currents. Also, you'll be fine splashing around in the whitewash most places for the first few sessions. However, when you get serious about surfing and join the lineup, expect to encounter some hostility.

Surfing has boomed in the past decades and SoCal is the center of the surfing world. The majority of surfers nowadays are not the laid-back beach bums of yesteryear. The younger crowd is into performance surfing, burning everyone else in the hope of getting sponsored. The older ones are annoyed at the influx of new surfers and tend to be bitter. Then there's the yuppie crowd, which have too many negatives to list.

Breaks are crowded and dangerous when conditions are good, and newcomers without polished skills are not welcomed with open arms. Being female doesn't get you much extra slack.

That's not to say that you won't have an awesome time surfing and really get into the lifestyle and find your dream surfer boy. There are still plenty of soul surfers around, it just takes some hunting to find the right people. Here's a hint; they don't drive XTerras, sip lattes, or ride brand-new surftech popouts.

So, in conclusion, I'd suggest you "try it before you buy it." When it comes to living in a beach town with the surf bum lifestyle. If you really like surfing, all the negatives will roll right off you. However, if you don't catch the bug, you'll just end up another frustrated wannabe clogging the lineup.

If you can stand cold water, the further north or south you go, the more soul surfers you will find. San Diego to LA has the highest concentration of surfers and the most negative vibes. Mexico, Florida, the Carolinas, and Costa Rica are all good alternatives to SoCal.

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by sponger42

Re: Surfing

You will need a wetsuit in order to surf year-round anywhere in California thanks to cold Pacific currents. Also, you'll be fine splashing around in the whitewash most places for the first few sessions. However, when you get serious about surfing and join the lineup, expect to encounter some hostility.

Surfing has boomed in the past decades and SoCal is the center of the surfing world. The majority of surfers nowadays are not the laid-back beach bums of yesteryear. The younger crowd is into performance surfing, burning everyone else in the hope of getting sponsored. The older ones are annoyed at the influx of new surfers and tend to be bitter. Then there's the yuppie crowd, which have too many negatives to list.

Breaks are crowded and dangerous when conditions are good, and newcomers without polished skills are not welcomed with open arms. Being female doesn't get you much extra slack.

That's not to say that you won't have an awesome time surfing and really get into the lifestyle and find your dream surfer boy. There are still plenty of soul surfers around, it just takes some hunting to find the right people. Here's a hint; they don't drive XTerras, sip lattes, or ride brand-new surftech popouts.

So, in conclusion, I'd suggest you "try it before you buy it." When it comes to living in a beach town with the surf bum lifestyle. If you really like surfing, all the negatives will roll right off you. However, if you don't catch the bug, you'll just end up another frustrated wannabe clogging the lineup.

If you can stand cold water, the further north or south you go, the more soul surfers you will find. San Diego to LA has the highest concentration of surfers and the most negative vibes. Mexico, Florida, the Carolinas, and Costa Rica are all good alternatives to SoCal.

Excellant answer!!!