does a city like this exist in the US?

[vi edit]

so many SD recommendations...
what does SD offer (in terms of meeting my criteria) that LA or SF doesn't?

SD is a true Mediterranean climate. The others aren't. Plus it's just a very different city that I'll let the Californians describe the differences better...

 

[shopbruin]

so many SD recommendations...
what does SD offer (in terms of meeting my criteria) that LA or SF doesn't?

Fewer idiots, when compared to LA. LA is one big sprawling mess. If you don't pick the right neighborhood, life will suck. Traffic sucks.

Traffic sucks a bit less in San Diego.
Traffic sucks in SF, but there are transit options in the city itself. I live on the Peninsula, so I can drive to the city or take the train. Or take BART.

Today's high is 67. Today's low was around 35 at the lowest (brrr.) It has been ridiculously nice for the past 3 weeks. Early spring indeed. It'll rain again, but it's not nonstop rainy or gloomy like a Portland or Seattle.

SF is right on a fault line. Depending where in LA you are, there's another fault. In the long run, basing your location on a fault line location won't help, because earthquakes always seem to spring from "a previously unknown fault line." I don't freak out until the earthquake starts measuring in the 6's. 5's are good shakes. 4's are "stop moving my chair!" I haven't even felt the 3's lately.

 

[thepd7]

so many SD recommendations...
what does SD offer (in terms of meeting my criteria) that LA or SF doesn't?

I haven't been but I have two friends that live there (one moved from SF). SF is actually not the CA climate you think of, it gets cold in the winter and it's even more expensive than SoCal from what they tell me.

SD is a true Mediterranean climate. The others aren't. Plus it's just a very different city that I'll let the Californians describe the differences better...

This. The "vibe" in SD vs. SF or LA is very similar to the different vibe in Austin vs. Dallas. It's definitely still the same state (it's not a different world like the hipsters want to believe) but I'd rather live in Austin.

 

[uclaLabrat]

it's a county with essentially NO personality

OC has plenty of personality if you like pho....it's just full of wannabe hipsters, thugs, and pretentious d-bags. From what I can tell, it's a lot like manhattan, except the people in manhattan will talk to you and are less passive aggressive. More pretentious though.

 

[CZroe]

so many SD recommendations...
what does SD offer (in terms of meeting my criteria) that LA or SF doesn't?

The coastal areas never get hot and rarely get rain (desert climate with oceanic temperature control). When it gets cold, it's usually only a day before you're back to short-sleeve weather. LA is HUGE and the Heat Island Effect means that it will get HOT no matter where you are. It's further north, so it gets colder too. Yeah, it rarely rains, but there's a reason they say SD is "365 days of 'ahh'" and LA is just a desert valley.

 

[Sukhoi]

I haven't been but I have two friends that live there (one moved from SF). SF is actually not the CA climate you think of, it gets cold in the winter and it's even more expensive than SoCal from what they tell me.

Well it depends where you are in the Bay Area. There are a number of micro-climates. It's really only SF and down to about San Bruno that is the generally cold area. San Jose and the East Bay get plenty hot over the summer. The North Bay is also warm in general.

 

[bfdd]

SD is a true Mediterranean climate. The others aren't. Plus it's just a very different city that I'll let the Californians describe the differences better...

That's pure BULLSHIT as the South Bay has a Mediterranean Climate as well.

 

[vi edit]

That's pure BULLSHIT as the South Bay has a Mediterranean Climate as well.

Unfortunately all climate maps and weather trends only list "San Francisco" and not "this" part of SF vs "that" part of SF.

So when you compare "SF" vs. "SD"... SD is considerably warmer, and has half the preciptiation.

 

[SP33Demon]

SF is definitely a Mediterranean climate but I'd rather live in SD b/c of less extreme temps. "The Fog" in SF is no joke... you see that rolling in, you better put your dam coat on!

 

[bfdd]

Unfortunately all climate maps and weather trends only list "San Francisco" and not "this" part of SF vs "that" part of SF.

So when you compare "SF" vs. "SD"... SD is considerably warmer, and has half the preciptiation.

Uh... I'm not talking about San Fran's "South Bay" I'm talking about Los Angeles South Bay which is very much mediterranean climate.

 

[Arkaign]

Oregon. Full of win. Only thing is that the beaches are a little cold a lot of the year.

 

[vi edit]

Uh... I'm not talking about San Fran's "South Bay" I'm talking about Los Angeles South Bay which is very much mediterranean climate.

Same principal applies then.

And I have to ask, if the weather in that part of town is so much nicer, what impact does that have on price of homes?

 

[bfdd]

Same principal applies then.

And I have to ask, if the weather in that part of town is so much nicer, what impact does that have on price of homes?

Same principles apply to what? Where I live falls in the Mediterranean Climate zone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Bay,_Los_Angeles

^ read and click on the cities and read about their climates. Torrance, CA is very much mediterranean.

 

[WelshBloke]

Torino, Italy?

Although asking for competent local government in Italy (even the north) is a biggie.

Edit:Oppps read the OP not the Title. I blame the beer and losing the rugby .

Still Turin is nice.

 

[Ronstang]

"reasonable state/city/property taxes, along with a competent local govt that knows how to manage a budget"

You cannot have all your other requirements and this one at the same time. They are mutually exclusive since liberals swoop in to all the nice places to live with nice weather and summarily ruin them with their politics.

 

[DingDingDao]

"reasonable state/city/property taxes, along with a competent local govt that knows how to manage a budget"

You cannot have all your other requirements and this one at the same time. They are mutually exclusive since liberals swoop in to all the nice places to live with nice weather and summarily ruin them with their politics.

That is a remarkably stupid comment. There are plenty of areas in Southern California that have been ruined by conservatives as well.

 

[gophins72]

if OP is white and republican, he should consider phoenix. if he likes guns and checking the identification of mexican look-a-likes it would be his wet dream.

 

[bfdd]

Torino, Italy?

Although asking for competent local government in Italy (even the north) is a biggie.

Edit:Oppps read the OP not the Title. I blame the beer and losing the rugby .

Still Turin is nice.

is that smog?

 

[GoSharks]

is that smog?

Probably. The Salt Lake Valley has the same problem in winter.

 

[zerocool84]

SD is nice but honestly it's still small compared to LA area and not enough variety for me. Here in LA area we literally have every race in the world here and can get food from any race in the world here as a result. I love trying different foods. There seriously is no place in the world like the greater LA Metropolitan area. We have everything which is the reason it's so expensive to live here cus everyone wants to live here. I moved away for a couple years and it made me realize how awesome this place really is.

 

[judasmachine]

You guys crack me up with your 'sharp knees' comments. She's cute (enough.)

 

[CZroe]

SD is nice but honestly it's still small compared to LA area and not enough variety for me. Here in LA area we literally have every race in the world here and can get food from any race in the world here as a result. I love trying different foods. There seriously is no place in the world like the greater LA Metropolitan area. We have everything which is the reason it's so expensive to live here cus everyone wants to live here. I moved away for a couple years and it made me realize how awesome this place really is.

What isn't small compared to LA's area? It's got other cities inside of it. But there is a balance between "too small" and "too big" and LA is obviously closer to one end of that than SD ("big enough").

 

[CZroe]

You guys crack me up with your 'sharp knees' comments. She's cute (enough.)

Was this intended for the "Star Trek Girl" thread? If so, they said "pointy elbows," not "sharp knees."

 

[TraumaRN]

Asheville, NC.

Only thing is it's a little bit of a drive to the nearest big lake. But there are plenty of smaller rivers and such in the area. I really liked Asheville when I went last fall.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

OC has plenty of personality if you like pho....it's just full of wannabe hipsters, thugs, and pretentious d-bags. From what I can tell, it's a lot like manhattan, except the people in manhattan will talk to you and are less passive aggressive. More pretentious though.

This, I cant wait to leave this hellhole.

SD many times over OC