Which CA city for late 20s early 30s (San Diego, San Francisco: rental, insurance)

[Yippee]

Hello all. I am from the midwest, a small, but great city of about 200,000. Here are the things I like:

Excellent public education (2nd best in the nation)
In particular, I was able to go to a public high school as tough and varied as a world-class university.

Excellent medical care. Some of the lowest insurance fraud/poor behavior in nation. World class hospitals and clinics. Ambulances come very quick.

Very safe. A few small areas of crime but safe.

Very educated populace.

Here are the things I don't like:

Weather is horrible. November through April very little sun. November through March, cloudy always and snow.

Not that much activities to do. Most activities are associated with the university which are great, but by age 16, I had done them all. Downtown same thing.

People are reticent. While they can be loyal once you get to know them, it takes like 3-5 years before a neighbor invites you over for a cup of coffee. You can't just strike up a conversation with someone at a park, on the street etc. People are not spontaneous at all. Your best chance to meet someone this way is in the summer, when people are actually out on the street. One downside to this, a lot of students and grad students leave my city in the summer to go home. So, most of the fall, winter, and spring, not many people are outside at all.

It is hard to form a social network. I had one when I went to University here before I left to complete my undergrad in Florida, and start my Masters. It has been quite difficult since I came back. There are some young people here but a lot of them move to a bigger city like Chicago when they graduate.

I realize that I am very affected by the lack of sun and am buying a sun lamp. I get irritable and sad without sun.

I am considering moving to the West Coast, somewhere. My choices so far are San Diego, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, San Francisco, or Seattle.

San Diego seems perfect weather wise, but I am not that happy with its conservative leaning, and the fact that it is on the border with Mexico (guns, military etc.) , and Bush's Blackwater is moving there.

Santa Cruz seems great, although I am not happy with the low population (only 55,000). Maybe I will be bored.

Berkeley seems cool but perhaps too expensive and not uniformly safe. Concerned about proximity to Oakland (see below)

San Francisco seems awesome but I am very concerned about its proximity to Oakland. Friends have lived in the area and said they would never go to Oakland. Lots of gangs, one of the top homicide rates in the world. Also, the cost concerns me. Finally, are there a lot of single, heterosexual males in San Francisco looking for a long term-relationship.....I eventually want to get married, but no rush

Also considering Seattle. Seattle seems to be the big city I want, with low crime, lots to do. The only downside (but huge, is the weather (no sun).

I would like to meet friends in their mid 20s to mid 30s.

It would be great if some of you could provide some insight.

Thanks

[SurfGirl]

You sound like me. I am from the Midwest too, I have also mulled around the idea of checking out Seattle or San Fran. You know though, something to take into consideration is the lack of sun, it really gets to you.

I like pacific beach, you get the appealing CA weather, but the people are oh so much better than LA (no offense, I do have some good friends in LA). But PB is not as expensive as you would think, and the restaurants are wonderful (hey good food is important), so much diversity. Far enough from Oakland...and many beautiful (but not too stuck-up) men. I would recommend in a heart beat.

[kettlepot]

If just the thought of Blackwater establishing a training center in San Diego county puts you off, San Diego is not for you. Also, a significant portion of the single men you will meet will probably be in the military which also probably means San Diego is not for you.

Santa Cruz - It may be smallish, but if you want to go out on a weekend you could drive to San Francisco. There is a university in the town which will give it extra pep for a town its size.

San Francisco - Oakland is across the bay. The crime situation of Oakland has virtually ZERO impact on life in San Francisco. Now, San Francisco has its own issues - large numbers of homeless, certain areas that are crime ridden, and the weather will be cloudy and foggy a lot of the time. You may not get the sun you are looking for.

Berkeley has more sun than San Francisco, but you'll need to choose the right neighborhood. Plus, with the tight rent control laws, finding a vacant rental will be very difficult.