Carlsbad to Napa Valley - need advice on neighborhoods, air quality, bookstores... (San Diego: apartment)

[webbish6]

Hi there!
I posted here a while ago about my move to the San Diego area. My husband and I ended up in Carlsbad, which we liked, but the lack of culture (we had lived in Seattle for 10 years before the move) has really gotten to us.
(BTW, for any asthmatics: the air in Carlsbad is pretty good! Gotta watch the days when the smog factor is high or May/June gloom, which can bring mold, but other than that, very nice...)
So we both love San Fran and Berkeley but it is out of our price range/crime/traffic/dampness tolerances. We've lived in a couple "sleepy small towns" before (Bainbridge Island and Port Townsend) so we think that Napa Valley might be a good fit for us. Currently we both work from home so communtes are a non-issue. I'd like to go into SF for cultural events but that would only be once in a while.
My concerns are
--how is the weather/air quality for asthmatics (particularly - are there mold issues?)
--which neighborhoods should we be looking at? We're hoping to find some apartment/condo rental in the 1400 range...safety, air quality, friendliness?
--coffee shops? bookstores? libraries? doctors? poetry readings? Any info on any of those things would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help in advance!

[Yvetta]

You are absolutely correct about San Diego's lack of culture.
I left there in 1996 .
As for Napa ( and surrounding communities) you will probably love it.
It's cozy, quaint and from what I have seen pretty diverse and cultural.
St. Helena is very nice, as are all the little towns in the valley.
As for the weather..Grapes grow there for CA wine..how much better can it get? lol

Here is a weather link for you, and good luck.

May Napa Valley Weather: Napa Average Temperatures and Climate

[webbish6]

Thanks Yvetta! Yes, we'll have been in Carlsbad a year in October, and that was plenty! The ocean was beautiful, and it was definitely a switch for us (as former Seattleites) to have some sunshine in the winter...so I'm thankful for that part of the experience.
Any specific parts of town I should be looking at (or staying away from?)
Again, thanks for any help!