The more I look at Vista, the more I like it. Many thanks for the I-78 warning. Google earth shows the various other streets mentioned in this thread. The Palomar airport road looks like a promising route for an early morning commute to whereever I might work.
I see several things about Vista that I am perceiving as good points:
1. big box shopping stores nearby (cuts down on commutes)
2. small-town feel, open land, particularly past downtown as Jim stated
3. Close enough to the ocean
4. More house/land for the money
5. At a hub to the central areas (despite traffic jams)
6. zoning restrictions that counter the mega-tracts (?)
7. the city website does say good things about schools, but this needs further investigation
I’m not afraid of a hispanic community, so long as there is no gang presence.
Despite the negative comparisons to, say San Marcos, if I’m looking to move somewhere I’ll be happy with for a while, sometimes going when a town at its low is the best tiime.
The pictures of Vista reminds me of Issaquah, WA in some respects.
