I am moving from New England to San Diego CA. Anything I should know in advance?

Question

Thank you so much for sincere answers - perhaps from Californians or other New England Immigrants...

Stevers: It has never reached anything LIKE 114 in San Diego - if it gets to 85 it is extraordinary

Curt: West of the Five if I can afford it. I'm spoiled here living 6 feet from the sea in N.E.

Answer 1

You'll probably meet a lot of other people from NE down here too. There is a Boston Red Sox bar in Ocean Beach, can't remember the name of it, so you'll have plenty of fellow NE transplants to cheer on your teams with. I've met a lot of people from the Boston area in San Diego.

Housing is expensive but it's probably not that much more than the Boston area. Rents are less than LA and SF; you can get a 2 bedroom near the beach for less than $1500; I pay $1375 for a 2 bed about 8 blocks from the beach and places about 3 blocks go for around $1500-1700; one bedrooms are obviously less than that too; this is in Pacific Beach too. OCean Beach might be a little less b/c it's a little seedier. Mission Beach is a little more expensive but you can find places that rent for fairly cheap on a 9 month lease b/c they jack up the prices during summer when many homes there turn into weekly vacation rentals during summer.

I think SD has some pretty friendly and down to earth people; most of them are transplants too so many are down to just meet new people.

People drive pretty fast on the freeways down here too; I'm from northern CA originally and notice a significant difference in how fast people drive down here; the fast lane usually moves at least 80-85mph.

The weather is pretty close to perfect so you won't have to worry about it too much. Inland areas tend to have more extreme weather; hotter than the coast in summer and areas near mountains or hills can be burn easily. Big earthquakes do not occur in San Diego like they do in SF and LA b/c we're far from the San Andreas Fault. Small to moderate ones occur, but SD has never had a major earthquake that's caused a lot of damage like SF and LA have had.

Can't really think of anything else you should know, but if you have any other questions feel free to ask me. Welcome to San Diego.

Answer 2

The Red Sox are playing the Padres this summer for the first time since the new stadium was built.

There are more people moving out than moving into San Diego and so you should have your choice of places to rent, although none will be cheap. :) Purchasing homes as well, although that is a PRICEY adventure. The housing market is down and what you get for what you spend is pathetic.

Living close to a freeway exit will make your life happier because you'll have faster access to everything. There is traffic during peak hours, but otherwise, even crowded, the freeways are organized well and it is easy to get around.

It is chilly at night, even in the summer sometimes. A light jacket is always a good idea.

The zoo membership is the best deal in san diego.

If you're into sports, this is the place for you. There are tons of organized sports league doing almost anything you can imagine. It's a great way to meet new people. There is beach and mountain camping close by, hiking and biking trails, whatever you could wish for outdoors.

You can find out about restaurants and such at www.signonsandiego.com, although read it with a critical eye.

Answer 3

I'm a Diego native and my husband is a boston import, it's very different from N.E. but wonderful. But you have to be carefull when you drive, the freeways are much bigger and we like to go fast in So Cal. =) Plus if it ever rains, be prepared for a horrible drive home, it's as if everyone forgets how to drive when it rains here. Plus there are many different areas to live, south of Diego you get National City and Chula Vista, where some areas are nice but some are NOT! Then you have areas closer to Downtown like Bankers Hill and Southcrest, Then there's East County, which has El Cajon, Lakeside, Ramona, And then North County, with Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Poway (my home town), so many places to choose from, just do your research and have fun! San Diego is great plus if you ever miss the snow you can drive up to Big Bear or Mammoth =)
Good Luck

Answer 4

San Diego is gigantic, 4,199 square miles. The county has four climate zones, coastal, inland, mountain and desert. It has a great deal of diversity and ethnic neighnborhoods. Yes, it can be 120 degrees in the desert in the summer and 110 within five miles of the Ocean during a summer Santa Anna.

Here is all you need to know - best place to live in the entire country. Expensive for insurance, gasoline and home/apartment costs. Very laid back. You will love it.

Answer 5

I've been in New England and San Diego. People in SoCal are a little more selfish, but at the same time they are more laid back and free-thinking. The weather is ALOT nicer, pretty warm all year round, and no humidity, it hardly ever rains and the chicks are all hot!....oh..and nobody believes in god and most of them are going to hell...but its a pretty good place! have fun!

Answer 6

I lived in Cali for 14 years and then moved to missouri where I still live but my parents just moved back to San Diego. Its pretty culturally different. People aren't as friendly as other places and sometimes people can bbe really rude. There are a lot of homeless people downtown and tons of cross-dressers and trannies so prepare yourself for that. I love California and I am sure you will too once you get use to people there. Definitely go visit Coronado Island. It is beautiful there and its right next to S.D. Good luck! I hope you love it!

Answer 7

Beautiful, but expensive. Will you be living in the canyons or west of I-5?

Answer 8

Watch out for killer brush fires and hot weather. This last summer it reached 114 in the shade.

Answer 9

bring medical cannabis Brian is looking peace out

Answer 10

they are cool people there oh take summer cloths