Commute from Alpine? (El Cajon, Pine Valley: schools, college, to live)

[JimGriffith]

hey folks, I'm researching a move to SD county from Washington, DC.

I've visited Alpine before and am interested in some properties there, but I don't want to set myself up for two nightmares each day in my car.

I see it's about 30 miles or so from Alpine to downtown SD.

Here in Washington, that's a disaster of a commute.

How is it there? Also, anyone know what the climate and schools are like in Alpine?

Thanks in advance.

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by JimGriffith

hey folks, I'm researching a move to SD county from Washington, DC.

I've visited Alpine before and am interested in some properties there, but I don't want to set myself up for two nightmares each day in my car.

I see it's about 30 miles or so from Alpine to downtown SD.

Here in Washington, that's a disaster of a commute.

How is it there? Also, anyone know what the climate and schools are like in Alpine?

Thanks in advance.

I would call it an hour+ to downtown. There is some heavy traffic in El Cajon westbound, and at College Ave eastbound that is pretty much an every-day thing.

The weather is quite hot in the summer. Schools are good. The culture is a mix of old-school rural residents vs encroaching suburbia. Cost of gas has made this area a lot less attractive in recent years.

[JimGriffith]

Eh, I'd be in a SmartCar so hopefully I could handle the pain at the pump. I also plan to set things up so I can telecommute a couple times a week.

Thanks for your input.

[Kasey77]

I used to live even farther out in Pine Valley. I did not mind the commute. It is stil a 2 lane highway. And beautifull scenery.
Now though, the fires are a concern and Alpine has one of the worst air qualities in the county. It is in valley and all the pollution seems to get stuck there.