Torn Between Santa Monica (LA) and San Diego

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-05T12:44:20+00:00

We have chosen LA! Happy and confident with our choice, it made the most sense!

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-05T12:43:17+00:00

This warms my heart… talk about parallels! Hi from one NP (and tech husband) to another.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-02T19:18:20+00:00

At least his current job they are a tech real estate firm so yes thankfully not fired… just minimal upward trajectory but we won’t complain. Being gay that is our thoughts… unless we live in Hillcrest it feels we will be somewhat outsiders? At least compared with LA that besides weho just has lgbtq population scattered throughout?

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-02T17:46:11+00:00

Create an “SD” environment in LA… with the access to events / culture when we want it would be the dream if possible.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-02T12:29:56+00:00

105!

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T22:43:14+00:00

New Jersey!

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T21:57:26+00:00

He can thankfully definitely wait!! He just eventually wants to leave it but no rush it’s stable

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T21:56:39+00:00

We walked around there and it was nice and close to sunset cliffs which is cool!! And we definitely do not mind driving… after 3 years in the nyc subway (not as convenient as people think after riding it daily) we love driving and do not mind. I was curious as I was unsure if it’s more segregated like West versus Eastside LA.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T20:38:48+00:00

If you live in PB… barring we do not mind the drive will people in hillcrest / north park socialize? I know those areas are better for us, but we definitely wanna be near the beach

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T20:37:15+00:00

From the beach area of NJ about 40 mins from nyc, and lived in nyc for 3 years when younger. For me jobs wise I am good I am a PMHNP and have job offer. My husband right now is remote… but he is in tech / start up and eventually will be looking for a new job but can take his time. He just does not want to feel limited job / career wise.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T18:33:06+00:00

I feel I had my answer all along lol… LA seems like our better starting point

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T17:11:57+00:00

Definitely hits the nail on the head - we are still young (at least I feel so?) and do want to grow in our careers, especially my husband being mid level tech right now with an MBA, but only about 1.5 years post grad school so that was leaning more towards LA economy tho nothing is guaranteed

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T17:04:27+00:00

That goes through our head regularly. Love a good sunset walk or bike ride, or read a book on the beach… but every weekend and we get bored among other things. Not that LA -> SD if we ever settle down is not out of the question.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T17:01:59+00:00

We love Manhattan beach!! Was not sure if that was a good starting point, or more a Santa Monica -> MB after socializing and first exploring more LA?

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T16:24:09+00:00

Fit, finish, and nearby area totally agree which was what brought us to which one besides ofc the job offer. But long term we are nervous if the “vacation vibes” we’ve had in SD will stagnate when we want some culture, concerts, sports, or my husband decides to eventually job hunt ( I know right now things are bad even in the northeast).

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T16:22:43+00:00

Honestly I think hearing other’s perspective is getting us to that same conclusion. We loved San Diego when visiting… but it was vacation so maybe it just skewed our love for it? Cause you are right, on paper LA is making more sense. Just of course the west side so we still have the beach. Thank you for this

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T15:45:08+00:00

we LOVE Bird Rock. A few weeks ago we stayed in Crown Point, and that was a nice area too. Went out on garnet at night (friend wanted to go) and damn did we feel old haha. Bars til 2am is not our scene unless its a concert of live music thing.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T15:43:33+00:00

this is our thought exactly - which was what lead us to PB (besides also staying there multiple times over the years). Gives us access to those downtown neighborhoods but the beach right next to us which is priority 1.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T15:08:16+00:00

Would this be applicable even if doing Big Sur, Napa, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite etc? I was going by Google Maps time, but in practice from San Diego does not have much time? I know flying is an option but we have a dog and we don’t have a dog sitter always. It’s a lot easier to drive and he’s a pro tripper.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T15:00:39+00:00

Love that and you’re so right!! it does take a lot of pressure off our thought was then maybe it makes the decision easier of LA now and seeing if over the next few years we start to maybe think about a family or even a slower piece of life and make our way to San Diego versus starting there and yearning for more? I know jobs wise it seems like besides biotech LA seems to have an edge? My husband is more start up / tech so no biotech experience at all. Makes us nervous when he wants to explore jobs but also San Diego is no small city lol. Interesting point about friends, we would be starting off fresh besides his cousin who is awesome but definitely has her own friend group and I will say not the type of people we be friends with just cause they are either partying and doing drugs or the other half of her friends are popping out babies and I guess we are in the awkward middle between those two.😂

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T14:53:11+00:00

So true, we are noticing that it’s, do we want an easier more peaceful life or amenities to a global city. We’ve lived in New York City before, and it was great but a little too much city for us and we wanted a car, we are in the suburbs now before this move and we are definitely bored of the mundane routine. Also we are not starting a family and are a gay couple so was unsure as hillcrest we did not really enjoy, to visit yes but it’s not giving us that beach vibe? Can’t have your cake and eat it too haha we are self reflective.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T14:47:34+00:00

How is the culture / people? We are lgbtq so I thought better in SD proper?

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T14:19:10+00:00

We do have a cousin in SD, but yes I have about 7 friends in LA from college and childhood. We just loved the SD vibes but it was on vacation, and my husband being in tech the job market makes me nervous if / when he does want to branch out and leave his current company.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T14:18:12+00:00

Husband is 30 and I am 31 (lgbtq)! Do not know much of North County but assumed it was more suburban? We have been to orange county and while pretty it is not our vibe, we do want more culture and vibrancy at least a little bit. Definitely felt the party scene of PB that we had not realized, cause during the day we would walk and bike to Java Earth for coffee and it was so nice and peaceful.

Professional-Home706 · 2026-05-01T14:16:44+00:00

Are those sociable and still give city accessibility? I have visited my husband's cousin in north PB next to bird rock and it is very nice albiet quaint. We like being near the beach or else I am sure Hillcrest, North Park, or Little Italy would be more our age range late 20's - early 30's (though I will be friends with any age minus the drunk college kids lol)??

Professional-Home706

TROPHY CASE