A few weeks ago a poll was released that suggested that San Diego is NOT America’s Finest City. Actually, we came in second. We were beat out once again by the Big Apple. However, there is a curious footnote to this Silver Medal performance. New York, the most desirable place to live, is also…wait for it…wait for it…is the number one LEAST desirable place to live! As it turns out, this scientific survey was simply asking people where they most wanted to live and where they most don’t want to live. So in my mind you can’t be the best and the worst and win.
So let’s look at some of the raw data*:
Mean travel time to work:
New York = 39.4 minutes; San Diego = 22.6 minutes
Acreage of major outdoor space:
New York's Central Park = 843; San Diego's Balboa Park = 1200
Average temperature in January:
New York = 39 degrees; San Diego = 66 degrees
Okay I have to admit that I envy their public transportation system and lament our dependence on the car. And goodness know, the Yankees could let us have just one of those 27 World Series championships or the Giants one of those three Super Bowl wins.
But when all is said and done, we have some things in San Diego that you can find no where else: slow mo skating down the pier in Pacific Beach, watching the ships pass by Cabrillo Point, more evening stars, great sunsets, and if we are lucky some of those sunsets will include a green flash.
So for me it remains America’s finest city. I will hang in there with the Padres and the Chargers. I will continue to give thanks for all my neighbors.
*from the October 22, 2010 issue of the San Diego Union Tribune
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The photo is sunset at Cabrillo Point.
ReplyDeletePalm Springs has the world's best weather, only 4 cool months, and terrific summers - 3 months 100+ every day. I am so glad to have immigrated here from the East Coast where I grew up. My commute to work is 1.4 miles, 3 minutes, looking at the beautiful mountains God made.
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