Which Neighborhood is right for me? (San Diego, Corona: apartment complexes, homes, neighborhoods)

[ms_smartypants]

Hi all,

I am looking to relocate to San Diego in September/October of 2011. I will be able to keep my job and work remotely, so that's a relief.

I am moving from NYC where I have lived for the past 12 years. I loved it for a long time, but want something less hectic and WARMER, and hopefully a bit kinder. I am a 31 year old single woman, so I'd like somewhere that isn't all families where I might be able to meet someone 30s-early 40s. Preferably a bit of nightlife, not like dance clubs but wine bars/lounges or something like that. I'd love to be near some cute restaurants/shops if possible but not vital. I'd love to be less than a 20 minute drive from the beach. (I assume that's not too difficult? I''m not great in terms of estimating drive times!) I'm looking to pay around $1200 a month for a 1 bedroom. Any advice would be incredibly appreciated!

PS - This is my first post on City Data, so bear with me if I have done anything incorrectly...

- Ms. Smartypants

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by ms_smartypants

Hi all,

I am looking to relocate to San Diego in September/October of 2011. I will be able to keep my job and work remotely, so that's a relief.

I am moving from NYC where I have lived for the past 12 years. I loved it for a long time, but want something less hectic and WARMER, and hopefully a bit kinder. I am a 31 year old single woman, so I'd like somewhere that isn't all families where I might be able to meet someone 30s-early 40s. Preferably a bit of nightlife, not like dance clubs but wine bars/lounges or something like that. I'd love to be near some cute restaurants/shops if possible but not vital. I'd love to be less than a 20 minute drive from the beach. (I assume that's not too difficult? I''m not great in terms of estimating drive times!) I'm looking to pay around $1200 a month for a 1 bedroom. Any advice would be incredibly appreciated!

PS - This is my first post on City Data, so bear with me if I have done anything incorrectly...

- Ms. Smartypants

Hi Ms. Smartypants,

I am an NYC transplant that has lived here in SD for the better part of the 7 years.
First off, there will certainly be a major change from NYC no doubt!

As far as driving times, 20 minutes to the beach puts you just about anywhere west of the 15 (freeway). There are 3 main freeways that run North to South. The 5, 805 and 15. There are some smaller ones in there to, but these are the main arteries.
Here in SD, we typically build our lives around the freeways and commute times. They can be seen seen as unofficial dividing lines between cities and neighborhoods as well markers for distance to and from places.
By SD standards, a 20 min drive puts you inland a bit into a more sububran like setting. These areas typically are more family oriented in nature.
In this sense, I will refer back to my freeway diving line example.

As far as where you would like to live based on your post, I would definitely lean more towards the Balboa Park neighborhoods. SD has a magnificent set up in regards to the Downtown, Balboa Park and mid-city/uptown areas. Its a mix of older bungalow homes built around a small downtown or main street in each neighborhood. Some bigger, some smaller.

Here are some neighborhoods you should become familiar with. Each have their character but you cant go wrong with any of them. Its more about personal preference.

-Normal Heights
-North Park
-South Park
-Bankers Hill
-Hillcrest
-Mission Hills
-University Heights
-Talmadge
-Kensington
-College Area


Then of course you could literally live near the beach if you wanted, but I will defer to the local coastal forum poster for that one.

[bajaxtreme]

Same here..I just move to San Diego 3 months ago from Long Island (Melville,NY)...I'm looking for a home in Eastlake or Rolling Hills.

[ms_smartypants]

Wow thanks so much for the info. A couple questions:

Which of those areas do you think is best for making friends and/or dating? (That is a high priority for me since no matter how great the place, if I'm sitting around by myself 90% of the time, I'm gonna get lonely.)

In terms of the driving thing: I know this is going to take major getting used to because at present I maybe drive once a year. But I did live in NJ for a couple of years so I did drive often then. The thing is, since I will be working from home does that change things (since I don't have a particular place I would be commuting to...) It's more like I'd like to go out after work for dinner or to yoga or something like that. It's going to be so strange - but great - to have a car again! I know it's bad of me, but I miss it and hate the subway with the fire of a thousand suns.

One other minor question: Are there dog parks in SD that are easily accessible? Or do people just generally walk their dogs around the neighborhood? I walk mine twice a day but whenever possible he loves to go to the dog run to play with other dogs. (I know that's really random, but I'd like to keep that going if I can.)

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by ms_smartypants

Wow thanks so much for the info. A couple questions:

Which of those areas do you think is best for making friends and/or dating? (That is a high priority for me since no matter how great the place, if I'm sitting around by myself 90% of the time, I'm gonna get lonely.)

In terms of the driving thing: I know this is going to take major getting used to because at present I maybe drive once a year. But I did live in NJ for a couple of years so I did drive often then. The thing is, since I will be working from home does that change things (since I don't have a particular place I would be commuting to...) It's more like I'd like to go out after work for dinner or to yoga or something like that. It's going to be so strange - but great - to have a car again! I know it's bad of me, but I miss it and hate the subway with the fire of a thousand suns.

One other minor question: Are there dog parks in SD that are easily accessible? Or do people just generally walk their dogs around the neighborhood? I walk mine twice a day but whenever possible he loves to go to the dog run to play with other dogs. (I know that's really random, but I'd like to keep that going if I can.)

Ms. Smartypants,

Not sure about dating as I have been out of the game for quite some time.

Working from home is what I do right now in the burbs, but I also did this living downtown for 6+ years.
No question there are pros and cons to each. The urban setting is more conducive to actually getting off your keester to get places rather than relying on a vehicle. But if you are a (former) Manhattanite like myself, getting to and from by foot should not be a new concept.

I am in the burbs right now. Its an older suburb but I have trolley access which makes getting around quite painless to Downtown and Amtrak for up the coast distance rides. I am definitely using my car more often now though. Getting to the beach I prefer (Coronado) takes no more than 20 minutes by car. By SD standards I do live quite a ways out as most folks that come to SD are all about the coast and rightfully so.

I think areas like North Park, Hillcrest and South Park have a vibrant social scene for certain. Lots of shops and restaurants. Definitely places to meet people. There is also a dog park at Balboa Park which is a great way to meet other locals. Other dog parks are a bit further away in Ocean Beach and Del Mar.

Areas like Kensington are great, but I am not certain they are ideal for a single female.

[met19]

any idea of apartment complexes in those neighborhoods. also moving from nyc area to sd this summer. its easy to look for a complex if i'm gonna live in mission valley or with archstone...

[Clevelandgal]

I second schmooz's advice about where to live. I am in your age range, albiet not single, and I agree the Balboa Park environs, or maybe even downtown are probably good places to meet people. At the very least there is a lot to do-there is something going on every weekend at Balboa park. Since your schedule is probably flexible, you can enjoy free tuesdays at the museums at Balboa (every tues 2 or 3 have free entry for residents). You will find lots of wine bars and happy hours throughout Hillcrest, North Park, Bankers Hill and Downtown. Coronado is your closest beach (`10-15 from Balboa) and is really nice. Hopefully you can kind other ways to get out and meet people-get a dog, volunteer, what not. It seems like people complain about the singles scene on this forum, but if you look on other city boards you will hear the same thing. Pretty much anywhere you go you need to have an open and positive mind, be physically out and about... and lets face it- have dumb luck- to meet someone compatable.