If you have young children, or plan on it, River View has a good language program. Well, you might have to make up for some shortcomings, but that’s true with any public school. Just having a school with language offerings makes Lakeside not the same as it was. School Choice has worked out great for my family and you would have lots of great schools to choose from on your commute. My kids live in Jamul (east county). We got our kids in an out of district charter, and an out of district language academy, just because it fit them,and what we wanted for them better.
Santee, is not Klantee anymore. I don’t like it too much, but it has some Commercial usefulness to it if you live in Lakeside. There are some good recreation leagues for all ages. Pretty decent drive to the beaches and lots of good hiking/mountain biking nearby.Iron Mountain. El Cajon Peak, sycamore canyon. Even Noble canyon isn’t too far away.
Hopefully,your area is good enough and will improve. Quite likely is better for you than the alternatives you mentioned. Pretty sure if a condo in MV was a fit for you , you wouldn’t need someone to tell you that.
