I have been living in san diego for over three years now (moved from Europe), and sadly I have to say I did not fall in love with this city (I tried). I had a chance to live in some other cities in US (san francisco, chicago, new orleans, LA - loved all of them) - san diego made a pretty blank impression. Gaslamp, old town, coronado seems really nice though, but sorry to all san diegans - this city is seriously lacking fresh, honest and open outlook to everything - art, food, fashion, design, culture. Boring, visually or mentally uninspiring place without identity - a place for surfers and chicks with flip flops, daisy dukes and bikinis on top, just like katy perry sings. Oh, and for hunting cougars, almost forgot :)
We have an pitbull terrier, adopted her from local shelter - incredibly complicated to rent a place, breed restrictions are over the top.
For some it may seem like a place to live and love, who knows, definitely not for us.

Dustin & Whitney- Just curious- do you live at the Pioneer Lofts??? I have recently found #3: Vintage Shop, Thrift Store, or Flea Market...etc. in the area if you are interested.

I live in University Heights near Balboa Park, a wonderful park to visit not to mention the San Diego Zoo, as well. Great weather. Rent is pricey and home prices are high... unless you move East of San Diego.

MLaura- Exactly my sentiments. I am relieved to hear another person voice this because San Diegans get SO offended when I tell them there are much better places to live. I have been here over 3 years too and have been trying to love it since. We were originally by the beach in North County but had to get out because it was too suburbia for us. We have been in the Gaslamp/Marina district for a year, and it has been better than the burbs. However, having lived in 8 countries, this is just not the place for me. I can go on and on about all the things that are wrong with this place and the people here but I will not do that on this blog b/c I love it :)

I'll show San Diego some love! I grew up in San Diego County and I'm now living in the Bay Area, but every once in a while I'll get a bit homesick for my old stomping grounds.

Yuck, yuck, yuck! I live in San Diego and LOVE IT! But hate the Gaslamp Quarter which is filled with uninteresting drunken tourists (and locals). If Paris Hilton came to San Diego this is where she would hang out. Enough said. If you are visiting SD, check out Ocean Beach, which has a great boho culture and several antique stores. North Park and South Park are also great for thrifting and hanging out. Sorry Dustin and Whitney...you just moved here...you'll discover the better parts of SD shortly I'm sure.

@cosmolola - yes, we do live at the Pioneer Lofts! I am very interested in your answer to #3! Do tell! :)

@Sandy Floors - We spent many days (and nights) driving all over the area looking for places to live before settling on the Gaslamp. While I do not enjoy the weekend drunks, I find it quiet and charming during the day. We explored every other area of San Diego including Ocean Beach which I found to be a nice place to shop for antiques, but dirty and kind of sketchy. Not somewhere I'd be comfortable living. Ultimately, we needed to be close to the Naval Base, and this was the best option for us considering high living/gas costs. Somewhere I could walk to for groceries, etc. since we drive an old Super Beetle that doesn't always run. ;) We will be here 3 years, and then it's off to someplace new. I've enjoyed the "city life" without being in a HUGE city like D.C. where we moved from. It's much more laid back and the locals in our area are all very friendly. I grew up on the East Coast, so I'm loving being out here. Do not miss the ridiculous heat and humidity!

I'm surprised to hear so much negativity about San Diego. While I don't think it's the perfect place on earth, we've only had good experiences so far and absolutely perfect weather. We've moved quite a bit in the short 5 years we've been married including Key West, Honolulu, Washington, D.C. and now San Diego. There will always be negatives no matter what city you are in, but I definitely think San Diego has a laid back vibe, nice people, lots of things to see and do, lovely weather, fabulous locally produced foods and deserves a little credit. But, we've also only been here for 3 months! Still in the honeymoon stage. :) Either way, it's beautiful and in my opinion, a nice place to visit.

Now, does anyone have good recommendations for the area?

Allen's flowers has beautiful merchandise, but the staff is a bit abrupt and not so helpful.

Interestingly, the Pioneer Lofts building used to house a four story antique mall that was AWESOME.

I worked in the Gaslamp from '87-'92 before it became "The Gaslamp". There used to be many thrift shops in that area, including the Goodwill "as is" store, which rocked. Gone are all of the artists work spaces, vintage stores antiques, and thrift shops...I'm sure they've been priced out of the neighborhood.

I haven't lived in SD for almost twenty years, and every time I go back, it seems like the Gaslamp looks more and more like Main Street at Disneyland, very faux-city-esque. However, I can understand, SewTrashy, why you would chose this area for it's convenience and walk-ability. There aren't many neighborhoods in SD that offer that...

To find good thrifting, you probably need to go to places like El Cajon, La Mesa, or Lemon Grove. I think that there is an AM Vets that is right off of the 5 fwy, near Washington that is fairly close to you, that used to be really good one, and I think it's still there.

This thread has cracked me up. My husband and I have lived in San Diego for almost 6 years now and I can completely relate to the negative comments that some people have left.

I have been coming here all my life. My grandmother lived on Coronado. I have amazing memories of the beaches and taking the ferry over to go thrifting downtown when it was super industrialized.

I work in Little Italy and I love aspects of it, but I am a very positive person that would find the glass half full no matter where you put me.

I think the negativity lies in the fact that San Diego and San Diegans act like this is the "Finest City," and it's not. The infrastructure and planning are terrible. The rents are inflated because of military subsidizing, which makes it tough on people who aren't serving. For the same cost you could get a lot more out of a city.

Until we find better jobs we are here plane fuel and all.

To answer the flea market, thrifting question:

1. The swap meet at Sports Arena on Sunday is hit and miss for vintage, but if you need plants for the house or cheap sunglasses it's awesome.

2. Frock You on Park is awesome for vintage clothes. So much fun.

3. AmVets off the PCH is good sometimes.

4. The AmVets in North County are great for finding newish clothes in great condition.

5. For mid century finds Park has some nice shops. Nest in Golden Hill is awesome. Adams Ave. also has some fun shops.

Other than that you will have to go north and explore.

Honestly, one of the best parts of San Diego is the weather (or lack thereof). As far as the city is concerned, Gaslamp and East Village (Petco Park area) are a great starter, but there is so much more to downtown and the city as a whole. Head off to Little Italy, or Balboa Park. Venture a little farther away and hit the great restaurant scene around 30th in North Park, or all over in Hillcrest. Head out towards the quaint small town of Julian for their famous apple pies, or out to Anza Borrego to explore the desert.

To add to bellemode's list: Goodwill in Pt. Loma is hit-or-miss, but worth checking out. Newport Ave Antique Mall is big with many vendors. I always find something I like there. Pat's in North Park is what some refer to as a "junk" store, but I like it. You can take well-worn or beat up pieces to Pat's and they will refurbish them.

As a native east-coaster, I love living in San Diego! I understand that it's not perfect for everyone, but it suits my lifestyle perfectly.

Thanks for all the great recommendations everyone!

@HonoluluSu - WOW! I can't imagine how awesome downtown would have been filled with antiques and thrifting! Also, I was headed to the AmVets on Washington yesterday, but didn't quite make it. Now I will definitely try to get up there today!

@bellemode - I am with you on the glass half full! I'm the same way. I'll find the best about wherever we are since well... that's where we have to be. :)

@bellemode - I am headed to Frock You again today for their huge sale! I love that place, and the Hillcrest area. I'll be checking out your other recommendations as well. Have been to Sports Arena and you are right, hit or miss, but still fun to walk around and pick through.

@bellemode - And I agree on the ridiculous costs of housing! I can't imagine trying to live in SD without the military housing allowance. I don't know how non-military people do it.

@iamcam - I love love love Little Italy and the Hillcrest area. I tell my husband all the time, if we end up needing to move from the Gaslamp, I'd like to look in those locations. I'll definitely have to seek out those apple pies, too!

I will say that San Diego as a whole isn't what I initially expected. I'm not really sure what I thought it would be like, but it's certainly not "the perfect city" as I had always heard it was from everyone who'd ever been here. Still, it's a new and different place for us, and I'm really enjoying exploring all of the surrounding areas as well. Hope to take a road trip up the coast soon to see all that California has to offer. It's quite different than the E. Coast.

Most things on this list are big commercial stores, why do I need to go to San Diego to go to Boarders? I wish these were more like hole in the wall great finds, places only the locals would know. When I visit somewhere, I might hit a few touristy places, but I want to go where the locals go. Somewhere I can ONLY go in that city.

I lived in San Diego for 5 years...downtown and then in North Park. North Park is a fantastic neighborhood -- near Balboa Park, great old craftsman homes, and some great shops and restaurants along 30th and along University. My wife and I found the city of San Diego to not be a great city per se (coming from SF), and all the stuff about infrastructure and support for arts and culture is true. However, we realized after a bit that the thing to do is get outside. In whatever way you can. Take up a hobby that requires you to be outside (kayaking, swimming, diving, cycling, even walking) and enjoy what San Diego does have, which is amazing weather and a beautiful coastline. Also, the Hillcrest farmer's market is the best in the region...

And you have to get to other neighborhoods more (explore North Park, South Park, Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, Kensington, etc). And check out the sleepy beach communities in North County.

But some of our favorite spots downtown/Little Italy:

Restaurants: Cafe Chloe, Bread on Market, Indigo Grill, The Mission

Shops: Pannikin (great coffee, gifts, and folk art)
Opium Gallery (interesting furniture)
Walk around East Village for some smaller shops that are interesting

Its always nice to hear when people move to San Diego from somewhere else with big-city expectations and find it wanting, and then move on. More room for locals!

Here's the deal with SD - its a very kickback place. Its the city of villages and has incredible natural beauty. That being said, its the kind of place where you can't get a good sense of it if you stick to the route of the Old Town Trolly Tours.

Its a city/county of secret, simple pleasures, so I'd get a local guide. Borders in the Gaslamp, I must say, is not a highlight.

As a San Diego transplant (stationed here... active duty Naval Officer), I have to say that these recommendations are horrible- except for Basic.

The Gaslamp district is for 20-somethings and tourists who don't know any better.

I mean, seriously... Ace Hardware? Borders? World Market? The only thing missing is a Starbucks.

San Diego is full of great neighborhoods, with their own identities, boutique/quirky shopping, fantastic restaurants, great bars, and even better microbrews.

It's easy to see that the author of this article never bothered to explore the city.

I'll be stationed here for another 1.5 years until I'm needed somewhere else, but until then, San Diego is a great city. Not perfect, but I'll be happy to come back.