Move from Seattle (San Diego, Escondido, Poway: sales, real estate, renters)

[zdogg]

The Seattle winters seem to last 9 months and the cold, wet, dark times are once again upon us. We obviously can't move this week but we are interested in the San Diego area.

We are a same sex couple with mostly opposite sex friends and we currently work in Higher Education but aren't necessarily looking in just that field. We own a home in a quiet neighborhood comprised mostly of homeowners with a few renters sprinkled about. We currently live near the water and would like to continue doing so but understand that the market is quite different in San Diego and our meager salaries my preclude us from that goal. It isn't a deal breaker. We have two dogs so are also interested in local dog parks. We are both runners and would like information on running groups/trails/etc.

We wouldn't move anywhere without first securing employment. We have acquaintances willing to let us use their address for job applications so we don't have to look like the out of staters that we are.

[loveautumn]

extremely difficult to get hired in education field in California.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by loveautumn

extremely difficult to get hired in education field in California.

But apparently not impossible, because one of the posters on this board just started working at UCSD.

To the OP, it isn't really clear what you're asking for, other than for information on running groups/trails. Can you try asking again, more specifically?

If you're asking what neighborhoods you might want to live in, then the first answer will be that it depends largely on where you'll be working.

[zdogg]

Originally Posted by loveautumn

extremely difficult to get hired in education field in California.

We are not teachers but we work in Higher Education. Specifically, I am in purchasing for a major University.

What are the major employers in San Diego?

[zdogg]

Originally Posted by oddstray

To the OP, it isn't really clear what you're asking for, other than for information on running groups/trails. Can you try asking again, more specifically?

If you're asking what neighborhoods you might want to live in, then the first answer will be that it depends largely on where you'll be working.

We know it's impossible to find a neighborhood to live in without knowing where we'd be working. We just want to view remotely via real estate listings some areas that may be of interest to us. Are there neighborhoods that have more dog parks? Better dog parks? More running trails? Better running trails? Lack of either?

The San Diego Reader has quite a few neighborhood blogs but where do we start? There are too many for me to read and keep up with to know which might be a fit. We are just looking right now for a jumping off point. We can narrow it down later.

[T. Damon]

If you like a Ballard/Freemont vibe, walkable, eclectic, a little hip (closer to downtown than those):

South Park- adjacent Balboa Park for running trails, great dog park, nice village vibe but close to downtown.
SOUTH PARK San Diego

North Park- Larger, more urban, more restaurants etc...
NORTH PARK SCENE ~ what's doing

Great Blog about San Diego Core neighborhoods/goings on- scroll down to Hood Sites for more info on neighborhoods:
sd urban

Not so close to water these, but I guess it's all relative, just a hop, skip and a jump on the freeway.

[oddstray]

I don't know anything personally about running trails or dogs, since we do neither, but here are a couple of links that may be useful when you use them with google maps:

the official list of city dog parks: Your Dog and City Parks | Parks & Recreation

a resource to investigate running trails: Trail Running and Trail Races In San Diego | San Diego Trail Running Shoes

Besides the city of San Diego, you could check out Escondido and Poway. I don't know about any higher education in Poway. Escondido has a community college.

[zdogg]

What about income tax? We don't have such a thing in Washington. Our sales tax is 9.5% though, so that stings a little.

Is it possible to bike to work? I know it depends on how far away work is etc, but I'm talking about the culture. Seattle has been ranked #2 in bike riding. Is San Diego bike friendly?

And now, let's talk about beer. Green Flash, Stone, Ballast Point...all fine beers. What about pubs? Home brewing?

[zdogg]

Originally Posted by T. Damon

If you like a Ballard/Freemont vibe...

We used to live in Ballard and we liked the walkability. It just took forever to get to I-5. Right now we live in West Seattle, convenient to the airport, freeways and downtown but certainly not walkable to either of those destinations.

Will check out the websites you suggested. Thanks!

[T. Damon]

San Diego is relatively bike friendly, hilly and not with the same level of courteous drivers as the PNW- i.e enough drivers who really don't give a hoot about sharing the road with anybody much less bicyclists that make it less than ideal.

You can't find a more craft beer friendly area than San Diego- I'm good friends with the Master Brewer at Green Flash (I'm not sure that's a good thing haha BURP!) More brewers and great brew pubs than you'd ever be able to indulge in and growler stations abound!
San Diego Beer Blog

A great, responsible way to indulge in the 30th st. corridor Brew Pubs/Bistros in central SD- buy a bus pass for $5 for the #2 and have at it:
30th Street Blog: FRIDAY: 30th on 30th!

Definitely check out the neighborhood sites- From where you live/lived bet you'd love South Park- Also University Heights is sweet- both areas are small though and you have to know the best streets and be able to jump on property when things come up. You can walk to downtown in about 35 minutes from South Park (quick pace) and the airport is a 7 minute drive.