I think of San Diego as air-conditioning. Living in SD is like living in a well air-conditioned house. Thanks to the weather, it always feels the same, boring but very comfortable and, well… boring. Everything has a Fashion Valley, Disneyland-esque feeling (that’s because The OC is kinda like the same but SD is better).

I agree, lniles, San Diego is definitely not a cultural mecca. Your description of restaurants and museums is right on.

My foreign friends who visit San Diego get bored in a few days. They feel trapped because they can’t go anywhere by themselves. Can’t even catch a cab to hang out in the city.

San Diego is comfortable but soul-less and impersonal. But it’s a physically comfortable, easy to live in place.

My all time favorite city is Paris, France. I don’t mind living there 1/2 of the year then come back to San Diego’ to my comfortable bubble, when it’s cold. Maybe a goal for retirement.

NYC would be my favorite American city but you need a lot of money to live there and to insulate yourself from the elements and the urban grunge. I love NYC urban fashion but you can’t wear that in SD.

It’s always good to travel and get out of San Diego to see what you’re missing in the world. It gives you a better perspective of what SD truly is compared to other cities in the world. We do some things pretty well but we’re not the greatest.