I agree exactly with what CB said streak. San Diego is in my opinion the best place to live in the USA IFF –

climate means alot to you
you do alot of things outdoors
you either have alot of money
OR
you are prepared to spend alot of time working

******

The local govt here is pretty lame. The unions have a pretty fierce grip on the city and the medical care entitlements from previous contracts will forever cripple the local budget. Once the city can get enough nuts to declare bankruptcy that that would help in a big way. The state of California leadership is inept. There simply is no way the state can cope with the financial ledger because of the ideology splits. More spending and more taxing is the model we have followed and it simply has not worked. Yet not only do we continue to follow that model but many many many people still support it.

Coming around full circle I can think of no better place to raise kids. Take em to the beach, take them to the trails, take them to the mountains, the desert, lots of sports programs, lots of outdoors stuff. Honestly it cannot be beat. However to have to work and work and work just to be able to afford the home that you feel your family deserves in good school districts and such… well there is a diminishing return on the quality of life if you cannot spend it with your family.

So it is a tough call. I can say with all honesty that I take home less then 50 cents on the dollar that I earn. So yes high tax bracket, good for me. I can buy a home in many states for cash and literally commute here to spend more time with my family then I do now.

I think if you don’t have kids and are more centric about you and only you, it also is alot easier to live here. Rent a small place and enjoy all that the city has to offer because it does have alot of cool stuff…

Just don’t look for a championship professional sports team.