Southern California - Moving Back!

Well, after a 28 years of kicking ourselves for ever leaving, we're moving back. I'll be working at MCAS Miramar in San Diego, (it will always be NAS Miramar "Fightertown" to me!). We're looking forward to joining some relaxed group rides, and just riding around in general enjoying the weather.

We sure got a lot to do getting prepared for the big move and trying to locate a house. We/ve accumulated WAY too much over the years! But the thought of no more winters keeps us motivated!

Don & Deb

What will you be doing there, Don? Are you still serving? What's your billet?

If you haven't been to Miramar since the Corps took over, be prepared for a shock. All the signs are now......red!

Where are you thinking of living? If you haven't been in SD in 28 years, be prepared for another shock: there's actually civilization between Miramar and Escondido...Rancho Bernardo is no longer a sleepy retirement community...Mercy Road is now Scripps Poway Parkway...Suburban Sprawl at it's most viral. In a good way...as my family (when I was 13) moved to Rancho Bernardo in 1989.

Welcome back! What took you so long?

I actually live in that civilization between Miramar and Escondido, maybe 5 miles from MCAS Miramar.

I was an air traffic controller in the Navy there years ago, and will be transfering with my govt job back to the Southern Calif Tracon. I lived the last few years while in the Navy up in Ramona. Bought a NEW home in Ramona back then for $29K!!!! Was out there about 5 years ago to visit, a lot of changes for sure! Probably going to live in the north county or possible Temecula area. We're ready for the sticker shock on housing.....It's only money, and being able to ride all year is worth it to keep up my health.

Don

What will your hours be? If you're 9-5, the I-15 corridor during rush hour is not-quite-as-bad as Los Angeles...but pretty bad. The stretch from Via Rancho Parkway to Ted Williams (SR-56) is normally hammered. I live in Escondido and work in Clairemont Mesa, and work 6-3...still hit traffic...but not much. If I had a 9-5, I'd want to live closer to work.

Traffic may be of little concern to you, though. I love where I live because of the riding terrain available in a small radius.

Not knowing your demographic, price range, or preferred social status, I can't really suggest areas to look. 4S Ranch in Rancho Bernardo is a new master-planned community, with many different housing options...from 400K row homes to 1.5 mil+ McMansions.

Going all the way to Temecula isn't as great as it was 10 years ago, when housing was notably cheaper than North County. You can be sure of 2 hours minimum driving per day...probably 3.

FYI: www.houserebate.com (http://www.houserebate.com) has been the best site I've found for scouting houses. Unlike most MLS sites, this one will actually show you addresses, with multiple pictures, links to maps with satellite pics, etc. Requires a Login (free) for the addresses, though...and you will get a follow up call from the HouseRebate people when you sign up. Not a big deal for some great information.

Thanks for the info....for day shifts, I'll start at 5:00 AM, (they do this because of the traffic issue). I've also been looking at Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Fallbrook, and possible Oceanside. Also possible closer in if we can find a deal in the $450K range. I've noticed a lot of bank owned homes while searching the MLS. Boy what changes! I remember when I first started working at Miramar it was a 2 lane road north of Clairmont, (I think it was called Hwy-163).

Don

Commute from temec to that base will kick your butt and isn't worth it. You're talking about 3+ hrs a day spent on the freeway alone. The prices up there aren't that much better then down in SD now. More people moved up to temec, over crowded and getting over priced. Living in North county, like esco, vista, oceanside, and such, you will have to deal with a lil traffic on your way home, since you get to work so early, the freeways will be blank.

For $450k, you can get a house almost anywhere, just won't be new down closer to the Base. In Esco they are building some new homes, at the end of Valley Parkway and Washington, priced from the $400's and all new, bout 3000 sq/ft. From here you can ride your bike anywhere, and the MTB trail is within 2 miles. Casino Buffets aren't far away and neather is the climb up to Lake Wolford or Palomar Mt.

Thanks for the info......I'll have to modify my real estate search. We're probably going to try and find a place to rent for a few months until the wife finds a job. Then we can refine our search to somewhere that works for both our commutes. Of course I'll lean toward the wife's job because I could retire in about a year if the commute gets to me.....

Really appreciate the information.

Don

Good luck with your move, SD is God's country!

Thanks for the info......I'll have to modify my real estate search. We're probably going to try and find a place to rent for a few months until the wife finds a job. Then we can refine our search to somewhere that works for both our commutes. Of course I'll lean toward the wife's job because I could retire in about a year if the commute gets to me.....

Really appreciate the information.

Don

just want to say that jsigone and Mo'Phat are right on... North SD County is a great choice. Having lived in both Escondido and South Riverside County over the past few years I can say that there is NO way I'd do the Temecula/SD commute... and jsigone is also right about the prices, the minor difference between temecula and NSD County is not worth it :rolleyes:

Welcome back. Always good to have another BF rider in SD.

Real estate is not as crazy here as it was a couple of years ago. There are quite a few options in the 450k range. Good luck with the move.

Thanks again for the advice......actual first hand experience information from you guys is what I need. I'm looking forward to some relaxed group rides, and who know, maybe I'll get into better shape for some serious climbing rides. I'm looking forward also to the MS-150 this fall out there. I understand it runs from Long Beach to Mission Bay along the coastal highway. I did the Kansas City MS-150 last fall, but I'm sure the ocean would be a lot nicer to look at.......

Thanks again!

Don

Check out the North County Cycling Club (http://www.northcountycycleclub.com/roadies.htm) for a pretty relaxed group in (what I think is) your age group. There's a link on their site to route slips and maps of a hundred + North County routes. I use it all the time. Other than that, we humble members of SoCal bike forums routinely do group rides through the North County, Orange County, Riverside, and the IE...you're more than welcome to join.

Check out the North County Cycling Club (http://www.northcountycycleclub.com/roadies.htm) for a pretty relaxed group in (what I think is) your age group. Why don't you just come out and say that we're a bunch of old geezers?

Why don't you just come out and say that we're a bunch of old geezers?


a little grumpy are we??

a little grumpy are we??

Nah, just bored and joking around.

Welcome back.

http://efgh.com/bike/clubs.htm

I checked out the North County Cycling Club web site. Sounds like what we're looking for. I'm going to need more hill training! Glad I recently up-graded my hybred with a slightly lower gearing, and I may have to think about changing my road bike to a 12-27 cassette. Our tandem is already geared low, I just need to get my wife into some serious training. About the most hill riding I've done was a 50 mile ride in the Ozarks last summer. We're really getting excited about the move back!

Thanks again,

Don

Awesome. There's quite a few of us close to Miramar. I look forward to meeting you and hopefully enjoying a ride together sometime.

Why don't you just come out and say that we're a bunch of old geezers?

To be honest...I only know one member, and he's in his sixties...so I'm pretty much talking out of my backside. Sorry Frank. :o

The fact that NCCC had a contingent doing the Triple Crown says a lot.