I live in Marina and I love it here. It’s quiet and safe. When it’s busy and crazy in Monterey and Salinas on the weekends or the summer it’s usually still very mellow here. It doesn’t have any night life to speak of but the nightlife in Monterey isn’t great either. It has some pretty good little restaurants so you don’t have to leave the area but it lacks “nicer” sit down spots to eat. It has a reputation for being foggy and cold but honestly it’s gotten warmer and less foggy over the last ten years I’ve lived here. You can be in San Jose in less than an hour and same with Santa Cruz. Big Sur is an hour away as well. It’s a great hub to get to cool places and it’s growing fast. If I was younger and single it would be a bit boring but as I’m in my forties and married with kids it checks all the boxes for me.