Also – the comments about wealthy pitchers, etc. living here… So what? Actors… So What? These are the extremely tiny segment of our society which makes the huge money and has no basis in reality. For every wealthy pitcher, there are 600 somewhat struggling middle class, college educated people living cheek and jowl with non stop building, tiny lots, tiny crappy houses at McMansion prices.
The builder who built our last addition just built David Wells a home overlooking San Diego County in Cielo? (Forget which actual neighborhood but I saw the pad when the started). David Wells was just cut from the Padres (but I think they might be changing their mind.)…. Do you really think it matters if he has a job here or not? Or if he cares if he has another 5M$ house in this town or not?
You can’t base an economy on the tiny sliver of top earners who might and might not live here, just as you should exclude all the home sales on the water here in SD from the statistic pool. These areas and homes are the exception, not the rule and they just cloud the true numbers.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the water and Rancho holds up, it has more to do with who has money than the general economy.
As to NYC being a broken down Audi…. Whew! That’s only true if you make less than $250K per year. For the $250K-5M/year crowd it’s the Bentley or the Maybach. I’m guessing that you never lived there or could afford to.
I’ve heard lots of different perspectives here – and I think we might agree that everyone is correct! Where you live is about your history, your perspective, your income, and your lifestyle choices. In lots of ways this place is paradise! If I surfed, was tan, was very casual and laid back this place would be a paradise to me. If I lived here for 20 years and had tons of long term friends same deal. I still like it here, but it is shallow and empty for me – it’s my perspective based on my life. One thing for sure though… If I was more income limited, this would be among my least favorite places just as NYC would be as well.