San Diego Dreaming: relocation advice (Los Angeles, Corona: apartment complexes, rentals, condos)

[SLC1]

Hello everyone, I am thinking of relocating to San Diego. I've heard some wonderful things about SD and would like to know the following, please:

Best places to live for a single female (The most peaceful and relatively safest places) I have a dog so it would be great to have some space for her to play.
What's the average temperature in SD. (I hope it doesn't get below 60 in the winter during the day). I lived in Chicago and desperately want an area with nice warm weather all year. No more cold, snow, sleet and digging your car out.

I had originally looked into Las Vegas, but have since changed my mind and decided to keep my original plan and relocate to California.

Is it difficult to meet new people there? I have family in Los Angeles and to me Californians always seem so laid back. I hope this is true for individuals in SD.
If you have the time I would appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks so much for your time

[jwblue]

University City in La Jolla is safe and peaceful.

Not cheap, but not outrageous either.

Here is information.

University City, San Diego - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[oddstray]

It's quite rare that it doesn't reach 60 on any day. I grew up in Chicago, and I've been here for 30-some years. I now feel the "cold" during a San Diego winter. But it's nothing like the cold in Chicago. Be aware that it can be cloudy during winter - California is not the land of eternal sunshine that legend would have it. And we have May Gray followed by June Gloom. The warm season here ranges from mid-July to mid-October.

[moved]

Have a job lined up first, or have a large savings cushion before you come.

[SLC1]

Thank you for responding. In Chicago, we can go a month w/out seeing the sun. The winters are always gray and very little warm weather. I'll take a (maybe) gray May and a (possible) gloomy June any day. I have my own business so that's not a problem. How far is La Jolla from the beach? I'm very excited to relocate so any information I can receive will be welcomed.

[lrmsd]

Depending on your budget, and if you want a house with a bigger lot, or a place with character [older parts of the city], or an apt. complex [this would prob be UTC, and includes much/most of SD], check the following:
*Encinitas! Great coastal community in north county; it's about 15 min. north of UTC on the 5 freeway. Safe, nice place, lots of holistic and alternative stuff going on, lots of surfing, and also lots of families as well as hip, young people. Solana Beach, just to the south, is a nice community as well-perhaps a slightly more yuppie coastal vibe, though also artsy. Check craigs list for ideas on pricing. These areas have some really good restaurants, shops and cafes, and parts are very walkable. I think solana beach has a dog park, as well.
*University Heights
*South Park
*North park -some areas better than others, search the threads here on the forum. Dog park there is Morley Field, which is also a good area to look for housing.
*Mission Hills-be aware of the airport/jet traffic, however.
The above are all inland communities, about 20 min drive to beaches-a very easy drive, and more walkable with shops, cafes, restaurants, etc. They are all relatively close to one another. These are also the older parts of the city, with more character and charm. Balboa Park is in hillcrest, an adjacent community. However, there really aren't many parks in this area, relative to the number of people living there. [i lived there for 3 yrs]. More space is found in encinitas, carmel valley, etc.
*Clairemont [50's style homes, mostly single family near tecolote canyon, bordering Bay Park], and apts. near clairemont square [this area can be iffy-especially closest to the square]. Clairemont is up the hill from Mission Bay, which is a great place to run or walk your dog. It's also not far from Ocean beach, which has dog beach and a large dog park. It's 15 minutes to pacific beach or mission beach or la jolla shores [you have your pick of beaches, really.]
*Carlsbad Village; this is getting further north, coastal. Downtown area is walkable; i'm sure there are dog parks, and it has some cute shops and restaurants. If you want to go inland a bit, la costa canyon is newer planned communities, condos, apartment complexes.
*Carmel Valley is just a bit north of UTC, and 3 miles to torrey pines state park/beach/hiking, no freeways. It's more walkable than UTC, but falls within the same price range. It's walkable to health food store, shops boutiques, theater, etc. Carmel Valley IMO gives you cleaner, safer, more trees and nicer places for your money than UTC [which is also where many students attending UCSD live, so be aware when looking at UTC rentals.]

Good luck!

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by SLC1

Thank you for responding. In Chicago, we can go a month w/out seeing the sun. The winters are always gray and very little warm weather. I'll take a (maybe) gray May and a (possible) gloomy June any day. I have my own business so that's not a problem. How far is La Jolla from the beach? I'm very excited to relocate so any information I can receive will be welcomed.

+1 for the advice to have either a job or a good-sized cushion of savings!

La Jolla is right on the coast. Upside of that is that it's right on the coast. Downside is that the May gray and June gloom will fade later at the coast then inland.

I remember plenty of sunny winter afternoons in Chicago - but it was too cold to stay outside for long! Have you been having back-to-back years of gloomy winters recently? Or is it the short days you're referring to?

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by oddstray

Be aware that it can be cloudy during winter - California is not the land of eternal sunshine that legend would have it.

Actually, the winter months have the highest percentage of sunshine during the year. It's late spring and early summer when cloudy days become more persistent.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/climate/san-san-month.htm

[SLC1]

To lrmsd: Thank you so much for the information! I would like to be in an area with shops and theaters within walking distance. The beach and the dog parks are very important. My dog likes to be outdoors and it's important that she can feel comfortable in her surroundings as well; so thanks for providing all of the wonderful information regarding the dog parks! I'm a little older than college students so I wouldn't want to be in an area with them.lol It will be like living w/a million of my nieces and nephews.lol Love them, but don't want to live w/them.

Oddstray: I don't know what Chicago you're referring to w/regard to "plenty of sunny winter days". I lived there double digit years and NEVER remember the sun shining until possibly March and it's still COLD.

Give me the California coast and sunshine any day over a Chicago winter or spring because those are the only seasons you experience there.

Thanks again everyone! I'm looking forward to my relocation!!!

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Wonderful dog beach in Del Mar, just north of La Jolla (or 10 minutes south of Encinitas).

Other dog beaches that I know of include Ocean Beach, in a straight line west of I-8, Fiesta Island in Mission Bay, and Coronado Beach, probably the prettiest dog beach anywhere. Neighborhood dog parks are not as easy to find--probably because the dog beaches are so accessible.

Since San Diego differs greatly from the high-density cityscape you're used to, the "walking distance to shops and theaters" is not your common SD experience. Encinitas qualifies, and so does the general Hillcrest area, as well as Downtown and a few other neighborhoods, but it will be harder to find a home with a reasonably big back yard, in a safe area, not too expensive, and still be within walking distance to shops. I would let your prospective work location decide on which neighborhood would be reasonable, and has most of the points on your wish list. If you can limit your commute to 15-20 minutes, you'll feel better at the end of the day.

Good luck--where would we be without our dreams?

PS San Diego is not known for being an easy place to make friends, for whatever reason (check out old threads), but show up with a dog at a dog beach/park, and you'll get to chat with the locals! Great socializing device!