supergirly

Hi there,

Is anyone in San diego? Whats it like living there? Also are the water shortages really that bad?

Socal Local

Yes, I am in San Diego and I love living here. You're question about what it is like is pretty broad! I like the climate, the proximity to the sea, the mountains and the desert, the choice of outdoor activities and the various other options living in pretty good sized city bring - concerts, museums, etc.

As for the water shortage, they are currently running TV and radio ads encouraging people to think about cutting down their water usage, especially reducing sprinkler usage, etc.

scrubbedexpat091

I was born and raised in San Diego and lived there for 24 years before leaving to move to Canada.

As far as climate is pretty much impossible to beat the San Diego climate when compared to other US citys, comfortable average temperatures, mostly dry and sunny summers once the morning clouds burn off which are common May and June, and nick named May gray and June gloom, July to October is the real summer for San Diego, but winters are mild and mostly sunny with less then a total of 10 inches of rain for the entire year.

Its not nearly as big as Los Angeles and geographic boundaries and camp pendleton help keep Orange County from invading..

Water is never what I'd call a shortage where you run out, but they will in times of shortages restrict what you can use water for, like no watering grass etc. But most times its voluntary, but I have never seen water actually run out to where there is none available so no need to worry there.

Your pretty close to everything one can think of, ocean for swimming and diving, mountains to the east as well as the desert all within 90 minutes of downtown, in winter skiing is only a few hours drive north.

If you can afford to live there, I can think of no other city in the US that's comparable.

Alan17

Cons
- The traffic sucks
- The fires are pretty terrifying each fall when the Santa Ana winds blow in
- Waters in short supply and getting more scarce

But theres really no other better place to live - 9 years here so far and I'm not leaving !

Pros
- Weather (someone says you get tired of sunshine all the time, they obviously never spent 20 years in Aberdeen....)
- Beaches are open and useable all year round
- Big city with a small city town center
- Lots of places to live around the city and up the coast if you can't afford the city center

Alan.

Ozzidoc

I agree with all of the above! Housing can be a bit pricey though.

supergirly

Thanks for all your replies. We've been given the choice to move to San diego or Canada and I'm totally stumped! I love the idea of the lovely warm weather all year round though. Is crime that bad in San diego? Just been reading alot about gangs in San diego area.

supergirly

Oh also how dog friendly is san diego?

penguinsix

re: crime in America.

You should really read this piece by the BBC's man in the US

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...nt/7359513.stm
Yes, there is crime in America, guns, whatever...but you're chances of encountering it...well, you'd be surprised.

Ozzidoc

Very. Expect to pay a small pet deposit on your rental.

scrubbedexpat091

San Diego County crime hits 25 year low.

The article in on crime in the entire county of San Diego which has a population of approx 3 million people, and includes all 18 city's and unincorporated areas of San Diego.


Here is crime rates for 1950 to 2008 for comparison. PDF file.

The above is only for the City of San Diego.

Socal Local

Whereabouts in Canada is the option you've been given as I am sure that will influence the decision?

I love the weather in San Diego, but my sister lives in Vancouver and despite all the rain in winter, I'm pretty sure I'd be happy there too, as it is another fantastic city to live in.

Re safety - when we first moved to San Diego we lived downtown and most of our visitors from the UK couldn't believe how safe they felt wandering round the city centre of a large American city.

I think two big things that might influence your choice more than what each place is like to live in would be:

- Cost of living - I suspect San Diego is going to be a lot more expensive than wherever the alternative in Canada is that you are being offered.

- Path to permanent residency - I am not sure if the move you are being offered is temporary or permanent, but based on my experience compared to my sister's, I think it is more straightforward to become of permanent resident of Canada than it is of the US.

astor

Much more opportunities in San Diego or generally in US if you are gonna do your own biz.Anywhere near the sea is good enough-not so far in North though-for me.

scrubbedexpat091

Vancouver and San Diego are pretty close when it comes to housing costs, but Vancouver will likely be higher in things such as car insurance, transit, taxes, most goods and services etc.

Vancouver is a nice city, but San Diego is nicer and has a cleaner downtown to boot.

christmasoompa

Where did the Vancouver bit come from?! The OP never mentioned Vancouver and if my vague recollections are correct, she was planning on moving to Ontario.

YankeemovingAbroad

I thought home prices have dropped tremendously? Enfact a buddy of mine who lives in calsbad (near SD) told me that prices have gone down over 30% in the last two years. Is he correct?