bubbleninja, i just relocated to SD and work in SV. We looked at the exact places you mention (enc, sr, rp). If you plan to go to work between 7:30 and 8:30 and return between 4:00 and 6:00, count on an extra 2 hrs/ day spent sitting in your car for everyone of those places vs living closer or in CV/DM. If you’re heading north on 5 and have to pass del mar heights blvd, best of luck to you. Also going down Mira mesa is a nightmare. Before you commit to living anywhere I would highly suggest you try out the commute at the time you intend to make it (and do it Wednesday-Friday). For whatever reason there is very little traffic on Monday. I happened to interview on Monday and drove north afterwards, and mistakenly concluded that commuting to Encinitas would not be a problem!:-( One of the biggest mistakes of my life.