quality of life

there's an interesting blog post about ditching your mortgage in the suburbs to rent in a more urban neighborhood in san diego. although point loma isn't quite "urban", it does offer several of the same benefits that contribute to one's quality of life. walkable neighborhoods, locally-owned restaurants, and proximity to all of the resources downtown. a great read.

i've lived in various parts of the east coast, but san diego, to me personally, is far and away the best place i've lived in. i'm hoping to stay here for the rest of my career because i like it so much. of course i enjoy the weather and the natural beauty of the area, but living in a neighborhood where i feel comfortable is a big part of that. why move to san diego if you have to drive 20 or 30 minutes to get to the things you enjoy? or to live in a neighborhood where people would rather watch their big-screen tv's than interact with their neighbors once in a while? but i understand that people have families to raise, and the suburbs offer many benefits for that.

the author is dead-on about the money issue, too. it seems many suburbanites are more interested in the value of their home investment than the value of the community in their neighborhood.