Living in San Diego

San Diego is the second largest city in California, home to more than 2.5 million people in the greater metropolitan area. The economy of the city has a broad base including tourism, the aerospace industry, biomedical technology, and agriculture. The University of California is the second largest employer in the area. An excellent climate, easy access to recreation, good educational systems and a variety of cultural opportunities combine to make San Diego "American's Finest City."

An average annual temperature of 70 degrees provides mild sunny days, ideal for a range of mentally healthy activities. San Diego has both professional and collegiate sports including football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. San Diego County residents enjoy outdoor recreation in many city, county, state, and national parks, Torrey Pines State Park, Cabrillo National Monument, Cuyamaca State Park, Anza Borrego State Park, and Mission Trails Regional Park are but a few areas available for hiking, biking, camping, sailing, and enjoying nature.

There are many other cultural activities available to San Diego residents. Balboa Park, located near UCSD Medical Center, is home to the San Diego Zoo, as well as a large number of museums that explore aerospace, contemporary arts, fine arts, natural history, photography, sports, and the evolution of man. Balboa Park has many other attractions, including a Shakespeare Festival, the Old Globe Theatre, and Botanical Gardens. San Diego is also home to the San Diego Symphony and Opera. The La Jolla Playhouse has received national acclaim for the quality and nature of its productions. The Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum offers instruction about the sea life of California, and Sea World offers a fun and educational outing for the entire family.

San Diego is the gateway to Mexico and the Southwest. It is hours from skiing, the desert, and the California Sierra Nevada Mountains. Perhaps the best experience for San Diego residents is walking miles on beaches available to all.

HOUSING
There are numerous apartments in the areas surrounding Children's Hospital and UCSD Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services. Personal preferences as to beach location (more expensive) versus inland location (less expensive) are important factors in selection.

USEFUL HOUSING WEB SITES:
http://www.housing101.net
http://sandiego-housing.com
http://sdreader.com/class/rentals.html
http://classifieds.uniontrib.com