Share things you like and dislike about your location (San Diego: rental, professionals)

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by nurserosie

One comment.....why are you going to the ER to see a doctor?? That is what doctor's office are for...ER's are for emergencies...

If you are waiting hours in an ER you are not sick or injured enough to be there (sorry...but emergency rooms are not for non emergent visits)

Lets see, in CA it was for an appendicitis, a knee that was split open and needed stitches, once because I had a feminine hygiene lodged inside me which had to be removed, and once was for severe unexplained abdominal pain.

In WA it was for a severe gallbladder attack (which I didn't know what it was at the time).

All the times I've been to an ER in CA it was late at night or on a weekend. In WA it was the middle of the night.

So you see, I know what an ER is for, thank you very much.

[Charles]

Las Flores, located midway between Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Likes:

• Safe
• Most kids can safely walk to school along community walkways
• Community Feel: Las Flores is completely surrounded by open space and all the kids go the same schools.
• Masterplanned

• Good schools (Las Flores Elementary, Las Flores Middle, Tesoro High)

• Built at the "right" time, 1997; many are still original owners who bought before the bubble so there is a lot of community stability.
• Quite: No malls, business, industry, retail bringing in lots of traffic - just one little mall with a convenience store, a gas station, Starbucks, etc - nobody drives to Las Flores - most of the patrons are from Las Flores. Still, Las Flores is only one or two easy miles from Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, and RSM shopping/amenities/parks/sports facilities.)
• Lots of kids; our two cul de sacs had 85 kids.

• Genuine "Middle Class" feel where neighbors have a beer with each other in the front yard while the kids play in the street. We actually know every neighbor on our street.

• Reasonable HOA, $100/mo includes community pool and mini splashground, tennis courts, baseball field, landscaping - just the right amount of amenities that get used.

Dislikes:

• Mello Roos
• Zip code hassle as 92688 cross references to RSM, confusing for online purchases for example
• It is in south Orange County, 55 miles from my job in El Segundo. Vanpool is an absolute necessity. Leads to problems for doctor appointments since work is so far away - a challenge to get back home for a 4 or 5 PM appointment for example. Also, a challenge to get home early for kids' activities. It will always be a long commute for me for wherever I work in LA or north OC. One of these days maybe I can work in Long Beach or Huntington Beach or something closer. I have to get up at 4AM to catch a 5AM van to get out of ES by 330PM to get home by 445. However, most of my neighbors work locally or at home or Irvine or something.

[Fontucky]

That little fireman doesn't look very happy. I'll bet he just got nailed by forced overtime.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

once because I had a feminine hygiene lodged inside me which had to be removed

I had that once.

[Vascodagama]

Originally Posted by Charles

Las Flores, located midway between Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Likes:

• Safe
• Most kids can safely walk to school along community walkways
• Community Feel: Las Flores is completely surrounded by open space and all the kids go the same schools.
• Masterplanned

• Good schools (Las Flores Elementary, Las Flores Middle, Tesoro High)

• Built at the "right" time, 1997; many are still original owners who bought before the bubble so there is a lot of community stability.
• Quite: No malls, business, industry, retail bringing in lots of traffic - just one little mall with a convenience store, a gas station, Starbucks, etc - nobody drives to Las Flores - most of the patrons are from Las Flores. Still, Las Flores is only one or two easy miles from Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, and RSM shopping/amenities/parks/sports facilities.)
• Lots of kids; our two cul de sacs had 85 kids.

• Genuine "Middle Class" feel where neighbors have a beer with each other in the front yard while the kids play in the street. We actually know every neighbor on our street.

• Reasonable HOA, $100/mo includes community pool and mini splashground, tennis courts, baseball field, landscaping - just the right amount of amenities that get used.

Dislikes:

• Mello Roos
• Zip code hassle as 92688 cross references to RSM, confusing for online purchases for example
• It is in south Orange County, 55 miles from my job in El Segundo. Vanpool is an absolute necessity. Leads to problems for doctor appointments since work is so far away - a challenge to get back home for a 4 or 5 PM appointment for example. Also, a challenge to get home early for kids' activities. It will always be a long commute for me for wherever I work in LA or north OC. One of these days maybe I can work in Long Beach or Huntington Beach or something closer. I have to get up at 4AM to catch a 5AM van to get out of ES by 330PM to get home by 445. However, most of my neighbors work locally or at home or Irvine or something.

ES, LB, HB now that rings a bell

And I thought I traveled too far ... from HB to Redondo along the 405

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Charles

Las Flores,

Genuine "Middle Class" feel where neighbors have a beer with each other in the front yard while the kids play in the street. We actually know every neighbor on our street.

What's the middle class price of admission there?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

What's the middle class price of admission there?

We paid $242/sqft.

The average price of an SFR sold in the past six months was $585K ($420K to $840K) ($251/sqft). It is a lot cheaper than Irvine, Laguna Niguel, and Aliso Viejo, probably because it is that much farther out.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Mission Viejo:
- Safe (Safest city in the U.S, 2007)
- not crowded
- no traffic (except OSO/Marguerite during peak hours)
- great weather
- close to beach
- centrally located between San Diego and LA.

San Rafael:
- My oldest lives in our home there by himself, and I don't worry about his safety.
- Good schools
- Great weather (except the rainy season early in the year)
- Close to San Francisco, lots of custom homes with interesting architecture
- Lots of alternative shopping (indie small shops, etc)

[Fontucky]

No dislikes, Mr. F?

[Snort]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

I had that once.

Please share the story.

BTW, Thing 1 seems to be in position for a Thing 2.