San Diego or Tampa? (best cities, neighborhoods, buy)

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by Trade Wind

I left Florida (West Palm Beach) this afternoon and it was sunny, dry, and 76 F…I laid on the beach this morning before we left.

I landed in LA and it was windy, overcast, and a cool 58 F.

“if” weather is important I would choose Florida.

I don't want to live where it's always 86 degrees. If I did, I'd live in Maui, not Florida. I like the mild seasons we have in San Diego. People who say we don't have weather here are wrong. We just have nice, mild temps (at least close to the coast, we do) probably 300 days a year. I like the changes, as slight as they might be.

[sammy1223]

Having visited both cities, SD wins by a mile!

Given the choice, I'd MUCH rather live in a smaller house in SD than a large mc mansion in Tampa.

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by Trade Wind

I left Florida (West Palm Beach) this afternoon and it was sunny, dry, and 76 F…I laid on the beach this morning before we left.

I landed in LA and it was windy, overcast, and a cool 58 F.

“if” weather is important I would choose Florida.

Big deal. A week ago today, it was 80 degrees all over Southern California.

[thepinksquid]

Originally Posted by Trade Wind

I left Florida (West Palm Beach) this afternoon and it was sunny, dry, and 76 F…I laid on the beach this morning before we left.

I landed in LA and it was windy, overcast, and a cool 58 F.

“if” weather is important I would choose Florida.

Yeah, for all the reasons the OP may choose Tampa; I wouldn't say weather is one of them, unless he loves sticky heat (which, who knows, perhaps he does--my mother loves it).

[eastcoastbias]

First, the weather is great here- argubaly the best in the US. I'm no florida expert but you need AC their- I seldomly need it here.

Now- "Seasons" you are going to have a hard time convinving me there are actual seasons here. Granted I grew up in the Midwest and lived in the east coast. You could summerize the weather here on the coast as 80-60 degrees- not what I call a wide range- maybe the smallest range of any US city. I'd like to think a change of seasons involves some christmas snow flakes, but even that doens't happen every year back east. I can take a picture most places in SD, hopefully there is no one in the background with a winter coat and scarf in November (when its 65!) and take a the same picture in June and not know what time of the year it is here.

When I think of seasons I think of the sequence hot, cool, cold, cool, Hot and from Hot to cool you get the leaves changing colors and from Cold to cool you get the plants and trees starting to flower. If you go back east and drive Route 80 in October or April you'll see the beauty of actual changes in the season.

I think Sassberto brings a good point about weather- lots of retirees and work from home people can enjoy the weather here. There is a large portion of San Diego working 2 or 3 jobs just to live here or working 50-60 hours surrounded by four walls with no choice of where to work- how are you going to enjoy anything?

[bloom]

Originally Posted by eastcoastbias

There is a large portion of San Diego working 2 or 3 jobs just to live here or working 50-60 hours surrounded by four walls with no choice of where to work- how are you going to enjoy anything?

Easily. To debunk this rationale, when I am done with my 50-60 hour work week, it is nice know that nearly every free day off (after errands), I can enjoy the outdoors. Whereas, on the other coast, it is only 50% off days off have good outdoor weather (though I enjoyed the indoor stuff on the other coast too so not complaining).

[eastcoastbias]

Originally Posted by bloom

Easily. To debunk this rationale, when I am done with my 50-60 hour work week, it is nice know that nearly every free day off (after errands), I can enjoy the outdoors. Whereas, on the other coast, it is only 50% off days off have good outdoor weather (though I enjoyed the indoor stuff on the other coast too so not complaining).

Sorry to throw a wrench in your argument- I didn't clarify my point. If people move here for the most part to take sole advantage of the weather and have to take extreme measures to survive financially- when does that 5 maybe 10 hours of free daylight time a week become a lame benefit to reside here?

[user432]

Tampa has some of the best beaches in the world. San Diego has good beaches for California. Can't compete. The only thing San Diego has that Tampa doesn't have is very good summer weather.

But you'll soon discover (if you move to SD) most people who can leave San Diego are doing so. Not true with Tampa.

[eastcoastbias]

Originally Posted by user432

Tampa has some of the best beaches in the world. San Diego has good beaches for California. Can't compete. The only thing San Diego has that Tampa doesn't have is very good summer weather.

But you'll soon discover (if you move to SD) most people who can leave San Diego are doing so. Not true with Tampa.

Duck!

[lrmsd]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Unless you have something else like family ties, a career, etc. that mitigates it. Weather ranks fairly low in my heirarchy of important life elements, I realize to others it might be up near the top. I live in a constant bubble of air-conditioned cars, office buildings and my house, so the few hours I spend outside during a given week are not critical to my happiness. I also have an array of jackets and other clothing which allows me to be comfortable outdoors given any inclement weather.

Starve in San Diego or sweat in Tampa... seems like the former is an outright irresponsible decision.

Um,I don't think the OP woud 'starve' in SD.
And so he has the luxury of considering weather variables...
And,it is not just a matter of 'coats' to wear...some folks thrive in sun,some like rain,some don't mind cold,others literally become physically ill in such climates.
Obviously,choosing weather over feeding oneself is irresponsible;but that's an exagerration in this case,in particular.

Agreed,though,that weather is not the only,or necessarily the mitigating factor in quality of life for everyone. Good for you,that you can 'wear jackets' or an array of clothing,and be comfortable wherever you are. Especially since,as you pointed out,you don't get outside much,anyway. That's YOUR lifestyle choice,however. Others NEED to get outdoors more often,and make sure their lives can accomodate this necessity.

Food and shelter do not always make a complete life.

In any case,OP will not find that price range,as everyone's already said,close to UCSD. But UCSD has areas that can be reached w/in 20-30 min.,without traffic,that might accomodate that price range. Tough,and it would be an older house for sure,but with alot of looking at listings,might be do-able.

That said,if OP wants to do a 3/2,look at parts of clairemont,parts of poway,rancho bernardo and parts of la mesa. Parts,b/c some areas are not as desireable. But the ones that are,are very desireable,in terms of either location and/or school districts. And these areas will give more of a family friendly cul-de-sac vibe,too. Also,try Bonita,in south bay. [If interested in exploring options in SD,that is.]