I think it is great place to retire to unless nice restaurants and and fancy shopping are something you need to have easy access to. I like the rustic “Janet’s Cafe” and a few other spots for coffee, ice cream and such.

The pace is going to be very slow unless you try hard to get involved in the community somehow. As you probably know, Rancho Palos Verde is somewhat isolated from the central community by being several miles from the small town center too.

Health Care facilities are very accessible in La Mesa and El Cajon.

If you need to go into San Diego or other parts of the county often, to visit family or carry out errands like many seniors end up doing, that driving might be a drawback.

I have never lived there so there may be negative elements I have missed. Maybe some tough guy jerks that stand out or something like that.

I think it is great place to retire to unless nice restaurants and and fancy shopping are something you need to have easy access to. I like the rustic “Janet’s Cafe” and a few other spots for coffee, ice cream and such.

The pace is going to be very slow unless you try hard to get involved in the community somehow. As you probably know, Rancho Palos Verde is somewhat isolated from the central community by being several miles from the small town center too.

Health Care facilities are very accessible in La Mesa and El Cajon.

If you need to go into San Diego or other parts of the county often, to visit family or carry out errands like many seniors end up doing, that driving might be a drawback.

I have never lived there so there may be negative elements I have missed. Maybe some tough guy jerks that stand out or something like that.

My wife and I recently bought a gorgeous home in the northern, Victoria neighborhood of Alpine and are extremely happy with it. For the past 7 years we have lived in Sunset Cliffs and always thought we would stay there. Interestingly, I have a better view of the ocean (and whole city) right now than I used to living one block from the ocean.

What I like about Alpine is the quiet country atmosphere. I know I am going to get a lot of slack for this from other posters, but it reminds me of a less developed Rancho Santa Fe. I think Alpine is “in the path of progress” and might not turn out to be a bad investment long term. Remember what they used to say about Santee, etc… Right now prices are shockingly low compared to SC prices. When we went into escrow, I was prepared to get lots of comments from friends about Alpine, but have instead been surprised to learn how beautiful everyone thinks it is, and several people seem envious.

In the meantime, I get land (3 acres) 4,000 sq w guest house, pool, orchard, room to build and a million dollar view. Not bad for a quiet country life.

I think if you don’t mind living away from the beaches, its a great place to look. Plus, I would rather go east-west twice than go north-south to my office downtown.

Anyone else have opinions?

My wife and I recently bought a gorgeous home in the northern, Victoria neighborhood of Alpine and are extremely happy with it. For the past 7 years we have lived in Sunset Cliffs and always thought we would stay there. Interestingly, I have a better view of the ocean (and whole city) right now than I used to living one block from the ocean.

What I like about Alpine is the quiet country atmosphere. I know I am going to get a lot of slack for this from other posters, but it reminds me of a less developed Rancho Santa Fe. I think Alpine is “in the path of progress” and might not turn out to be a bad investment long term. Remember what they used to say about Santee, etc… Right now prices are shockingly low compared to SC prices. When we went into escrow, I was prepared to get lots of comments from friends about Alpine, but have instead been surprised to learn how beautiful everyone thinks it is, and several people seem envious.

In the meantime, I get land (3 acres) 4,000 sq w guest house, pool, orchard, room to build and a million dollar view. Not bad for a quiet country life.

I think if you don’t mind living away from the beaches, its a great place to look. Plus, I would rather go east-west twice than go north-south to my office downtown.

Anyone else have opinions?

My wife and I recently bought a gorgeous home in the northern, Victoria neighborhood of Alpine and are extremely happy with it. For the past 7 years we have lived in Sunset Cliffs and always thought we would stay there. Interestingly, I have a better view of the ocean (and whole city) right now than I used to living one block from the ocean.

What I like about Alpine is the quiet country atmosphere. I know I am going to get a lot of slack for this from other posters, but it reminds me of a less developed Rancho Santa Fe. I think Alpine is “in the path of progress” and might not turn out to be a bad investment long term. Remember what they used to say about Santee, etc… Right now prices are shockingly low compared to SC prices. When we went into escrow, I was prepared to get lots of comments from friends about Alpine, but have instead been surprised to learn how beautiful everyone thinks it is, and several people seem envious.

In the meantime, I get land (3 acres) 4,000 sq w guest house, pool, orchard, room to build and a million dollar view. Not bad for a quiet country life.

I think if you don’t mind living away from the beaches, its a great place to look. Plus, I would rather go east-west twice than go north-south to my office downtown.

Anyone else have opinions?

lifeizfun, I agree that the east-west commute to dtn SD is no doubt far easier than the north-south commute, IF you want to live in an outlying area. Sunset Cliffs is a far better place to live than Alpine, IMO. No, you can’t get 3 acres there but SC has better things to offer, namely its excellent location and the ability to get to dtn SD without using a fwy. This is just my .02.

As far as it being in the “path of progress,” I’m not so sure about that. If I had to depend on I-8 east of Greenfield Drive to both enter and exit my community, I might not want to drive too much at night. I don’t like the fact that the Border Patrol uses that stretch to set up its “checkpoints” and to apprehend suspected illegal aliens and are often in pursuit of a (frequently speeding) overloaded vehicle. I don’t have to tell you that plenty of these pursuits have ended in disaster, which did not exclude other motorists who just happened to be driving in the wrong place at the wrong time. Also, the lighting isn’t very good on the fwy exits out there. I guess this is okay if you are a “homie” and know EXACTLY where you are going. And this part of I-8 can be very windy at times.

Disclaimer: I have never been a resident of East County but have driven I-8 many times to/from SD County on a road trip (half of those times late at night).

lifeizfun, I agree that the east-west commute to dtn SD is no doubt far easier than the north-south commute, IF you want to live in an outlying area. Sunset Cliffs is a far better place to live than Alpine, IMO. No, you can’t get 3 acres there but SC has better things to offer, namely its excellent location and the ability to get to dtn SD without using a fwy. This is just my .02.

As far as it being in the “path of progress,” I’m not so sure about that. If I had to depend on I-8 east of Greenfield Drive to both enter and exit my community, I might not want to drive too much at night. I don’t like the fact that the Border Patrol uses that stretch to set up its “checkpoints” and to apprehend suspected illegal aliens and are often in pursuit of a (frequently speeding) overloaded vehicle. I don’t have to tell you that plenty of these pursuits have ended in disaster, which did not exclude other motorists who just happened to be driving in the wrong place at the wrong time. Also, the lighting isn’t very good on the fwy exits out there. I guess this is okay if you are a “homie” and know EXACTLY where you are going. And this part of I-8 can be very windy at times.

Disclaimer: I have never been a resident of East County but have driven I-8 many times to/from SD County on a road trip (half of those times late at night).