Funny thing is I was going to start a Miami vs. San Diego thread so you could share YOUR views. I'd love to hear more!
Living large in South Florida
- Thread starter Blue Thunder
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As a Chicagoan Jem I spent many a day California Dreaming......
I would love to see a thread like that.
The problem I see with the whole concept is that one loses either way. In San Diego you are close to more major cities(LA,Vegas,SF) than if you live in Miami. However you pay much more in rent/housing to live in the better areas of SD than you do in Miami. I miss shopping in Publix as no other grocery chain can compare.
In SD you don't have to worry about watching the weather every day in the summer as you do in Miami. I got hit with 4 hurricanes when I lived in So Fla and it was brutal with no electricity, no gas, eating canned food for weeks at a time. The weather is better overall in SD when compared to Miami but you pay for that with the "sunshine tax" or income tax.
Even the best "singles" areas of SD or even LA for that matter imo cannot hold a candle to that of SoBe, Miami, Bayside ,Bal Harbor, Aventura, FtLauderdale, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, etc....
As far as "illegals" go... I would rather hang out all day in Little Havana and Coral Gables, than spend 1 minute in Chula Vista, San Ysidro,etc. Cubans are soooo much more upscale,friendly, clean, better looking on a whole than even the best Mexican. Cubans in Miami take pride in their culture. Mexicans in So Cal take pride in raping the welfare system.
Gas is about the same for me in SD as it was in Boca Raton.
Overall the whole foods, fresh market, Targets, Walmarts,Barnes and Nobles, tanning salons,etc were soooo much better in Florida than out here in So Cal. The restaurants in So Fla are only second to that of NYC imo. Unless you only like Mexican Food, than I say come on down to So Cal. On a side note if you are ever in Aventura and want the dining experience of a lifetime, you have to hit up Chef Allens for a tasting menu with wine flights. 5* imo.
I must admit the malls in OC are absolutely gorgeous when compared to those of Florida. Bal Harbor, City Place,Mizner Park are great don't get me wrong. But you cannot even compare those to Fashion Island, Irvine Spectrum Center, Shops of Mission Viejo, Santa Monica 3rd st, Beverly Hills Center etc... But I would take Madison avenue shopping and Bergdorff over all of them.
Also you can drive to NY or Chicago from So Fla anytime you want. Flying from FtLauderdale to JFK used to cost me $79 on avg each way. Where are you going from SD? I guess you can drive to LA, Vegas or SF .However you cannot compare all those to the "city life" of a Chicago or NYC.
In Aventura, wife and I used to hang out at the waterways shopping center and sip on espresso catching a glimpse of dolphins in the intercostal. Visiting Naples and friends in Clearwater we basically played with Manatees on the intercostal (in the backyard of a house). Here in So Cal you are advised to not go into the water for 72hrs after it rains as the water is so polluted you have a greater than average chance of catching hepatitis A. They in fact recommend anyone going into the ocean at anytime here in SoCal get vaccinated. WTF? Sounds like a fun time
I could go on but to sum up my feelings it's "six of one, half a dozen of the other" sort of thing. Too hard for me to call a clear cut winner. Do you want the threat of hurricanes and beautiful beaches or insane real estate prices and great weather?
I'm all up for hearing more about this debate
San Diego has a HORRIBLE singles scene, let me repeat, HORRIBLE. Not many women to be found.
There is the Marine base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. All the Marines are male and, after their service contract is done, they all seem to stay in San Diego county. When you go to a bar in downtown San Diego or PB, its wall-to-wall guys. Great if your a chick, horrible if your a man. Let me repeat, HORRIBLE.
If your young and single, stay away from San Diego. Go to Orange County or LA County which have much better singles scenes. Orange County is a great compromise between LA and San Diego Counties.
Where ever you go, all these places have their own problems. However, the singles scene is key.
You can meet them in NYC, however, they are much heavier and dont just jump into bed on the first date. When they do jump into bed, the libido and drive just isnt there.
There is a reason why the porn industry has decided to base themselves in SoCal and SoFlorida. . .
There is the Marine base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. All the Marines are male and, after their service contract is done, they all seem to stay in San Diego county. When you go to a bar in downtown San Diego or PB, its wall-to-wall guys. Great if your a chick, horrible if your a man. Let me repeat, HORRIBLE.
If your young and single, stay away from San Diego. Go to Orange County or LA County which have much better singles scenes. Orange County is a great compromise between LA and San Diego Counties.
Where ever you go, all these places have their own problems. However, the singles scene is key.
You can meet them in NYC, however, they are much heavier and dont just jump into bed on the first date. When they do jump into bed, the libido and drive just isnt there.
There is a reason why the porn industry has decided to base themselves in SoCal and SoFlorida. . .
Living in large American cities is very similar to living inside a low intensity war zone. You're liable to get mugged or worse shot to death for $5.00 if you make a wrong turn. If your car breaks down in the freeway, you'd better start praying the police or the tow get to you before the well armed roaming gangs do. Purchase a really good GPS unit that updates live and carry a well marked city map of the black and hispanic areas to avoid. There's a reason rental cars no longer have the small rental decals on the rear, some american cities are as bad as the likes of mexico city, Cali Colombia or the slums of Rio.
If you're going to live in miami, you might as well move to Tijuana mexico where your money will go a long way. The only solution is moving to a small white city with no urban black or mexican population.
If you're going to live in miami, you might as well move to Tijuana mexico where your money will go a long way. The only solution is moving to a small white city with no urban black or mexican population.
if you are going to speak about crime rates and victimization, you need to acknowledge that florida is a "right to carry" state where you SHALL be issued a permit to carry, as long as you are not a convicted felon, etc.
in California, it aint gonna happen unless you are best buddies with some politically connected people. unless you are rich enough to live in a gated community with armed guards you are at the mercy of waiting for the police. that's absurd.
california i love. love.
but it is a HYOOOGE nannystate.
florida is more libertarian. it aint new hampshire by any means, but california otoh wants to regulate every single aspect of your life.
thank god i live in a state without income tax. i could never go back. blech
in California, it aint gonna happen unless you are best buddies with some politically connected people. unless you are rich enough to live in a gated community with armed guards you are at the mercy of waiting for the police. that's absurd.
california i love. love.
but it is a HYOOOGE nannystate.
florida is more libertarian. it aint new hampshire by any means, but california otoh wants to regulate every single aspect of your life.
thank god i live in a state without income tax. i could never go back. blech