Lesbian couple in mid-twenties looking to relocate to San Diego (Mission Hills: apartment, neighborhoods)

[slund13]

Hey everyone!

We are a lesbian couple in our mid-twenties from Chicago looking to move to San Diego in October. We will be visiting for the first time sometime this summer, but would love some advice from people who live there already. Particular, we would love advice on public transit, vegetarian/vegan options, music and nightlife, and biking in the city (as transportation). The more you can tell us the better, and we would appreciate anything you can share with us! Thank you!!!!

[moved]

What area will you be working in?

[oddstray]

Here's the public transportation info: Transit.511sd.com

and farmers' markets: Farmers Markets in San Diego - Find locally grown produce: San Diego County Farm Bureau

and the bicycle map: http://www.icommutesd.com/bike/bikemap.aspx

[Naomi Manischewitz]

I would suggest Hillcrest for you.

[tonyinsd]

You know, people really need to get outside of their boxes.

Hillcrest may have a lot of gay people, but it's not the only place where gay people live.

I've got a friend who lives with his boyfriend in Uni Heights. And another lives in Normal Heights.

And I know plenty of straight people who live in Hillcrest.

She also said she is interested in public transportation. So, she probably wants to be on the trolley line. Guess what neighborhood ISN'T on the trolley? Oh, yeah, Hillcrest.

My recommendation would be Little Italy. Just like most of the neighborhoods in the city core, it is gay agnostic, as in nobody will give a damn that you're gay. It has a very good farmer's market, and lots of restaurants. Little Italy's got a lot of nightlife on its own, but if you really want to get into it, you can walk right downtown or take the trolley (there's that public transportation thing again) from the Little Italy stop down to the heart of the insanity.

Do not expect Chicago type restaurants or nightlife, however. You just can't compare the two cities.

But on the plus side, lows in the 40s, which is a nice high for Chicago in January, will cause locals to complain about how bitterly cold it is.

[rcjhku]

Also, don't expect Chicago's public transportation. To fully enjoy what San Diego has to offer, outdoor activities, nightlife, restaurants, sports, you'll need a car.

I don't remember if we dropped below 50 last winter during the day through late evening, but I remember thinking one night after work that it was the coldest that it's been all year, and checked my phone and saw the temperature at 52F.

[Naomi Manischewitz]

Fine. Forget my suggestion. I just know if I were gay I would want to live somewhere where I feel a sense of community the second I leave my building....

[moved]

Gay people live everywhere, they just don't limit themselves to one area.

[skeke]

There are six gay households on my block and I live in Rolando Park. Not a place for young couples in their 20s looking for nightlife though. I would go for North Park, South Park, University Heights, Normal Heights as possible options.

[T. Damon]

You guys will limit yourselves severely if you base where to live by the trolley, look to the core neighborhoods served by the more frequent bus service lines- specifically, the 3, 2, 7 and 11. These routes, while not subway quick and frequent, generally service the core communities from Mission Hills, Hillcrest, University Heights, Normal Heights, North Park, South Park and Golden Hill pretty decently. These areas will probably, to varying degrees, give you most of the ammenities, lifestyle and core urban enough location that biking is also an option. Most of the bus service is every 10-15 minutes here, bikeability abounds but be aware that San Diego is quite hilly so expect to work a bit harder than flat Midwest lands.

It seems that many of us started at the beach areas for a while when moving from areas that had none, but honestly living there is mostly for rowdy college kids shacking five to an apartment, and with difficult access to the rest of the city so it's probably better to stick to the city and visit the beach. And as others have correctly noted there are very few areas in the city are not well represented by gay inhabitants there.