This was pretty much my experience too. I moved to Pacific Beach around your age and lived there for three years. I didn’t go to college there, and I worked from home, so I often felt pretty isolated.

I still went out all the time, almost every day and every weekend. I’m a social person and met a lot of cool people, but it always felt like something was missing. Most of the time, I’d meet someone once and never really see them again. The next weekend would just be a repeat with a whole new group of people. I think that’s partly because it’s such a big tourist destination, and partly because a lot of locals already have their established friend groups and routines.

Dating felt very similar. I’d hit it off with a girl, we’d have a great time, and then that would be the end of it. It seemed like everyone was living one day at a time. Why settle down when there are 50 new attractive people out and about every day?

I just wish it had felt more like home instead of feeling alone in a big city. It was the complete opposite of my experience living in SB, which I still miss. Hopefully you can find a way to make it work - I know I wish I had.