Lpas, I don't specifically remember any, but at that time of year there are frequently smaller fires. Our air quality is good, though, and i do not remember wnat you describe.

Threehearts, I can get to one of our best beaches in 15 minutes and sailing is big here. Don't forget to factor in the cost of sun screen!

In lpas' defense, in my ten years here I can think of numerous times I've driven over a hill, looking down on the city and saying, "Ugh. Look at all that smog." It's usually on days when there's a breeze from the north. (Thank you LA.) Yes, there are certainly advantages (and disadvantages) to living here; it all depends on your priorities. We've decided we've had enough "fun" in California and are moving to the midwest to be closer to family and for the change in lifestyle. Threehearts, good luck in making your decision. Hopefully you'll visit one or the other and say, "Aaaah, we're home!"

Regarding air quality in SD:
"San Diego's air quality often is affected by the smog drifting south from Los Angeles. In 1991, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce learned that because of the smog from Los Angeles, the city of SD was designated a "severe" air district, and that it would be required to implement strict and unrealistic commuting regulations. Through the efforts of a public/private partnership, the Chamber opposed local regulations that would do little to improve the air quality but would cost businesses millions of dollars to implement. By 1994, San Diego was reclassified from a "severe" down to a "serious" rating

In 1998 the EPA rated SD's air quality mostly moderate. Only four percent of the year had "unhealthful" air quality.

San Diego's air quality is measured i Alpine, which is east of the city and at a higher elevation. For some reason, any bad air around collects there and so it makes it look as though the whole county is "moderate' or "serious" or whatever when that is not the case. Almost everyone who lives here knows that you really can't pay attention to these reports because they do not accurately reflect the air quality in either the city or the county. We do, occasionally get smog blown down from LA, but even LA has pretty good air compared to what it was twenty years ago. You really can't look at statistics from ten years ago and call them relevant. They're not, nor are the ones from five years ago.

What are ya, nuts????????????? I'm in Grand Rapids, and looking at 9 fresh inches of snow. San Diego without a doubt!!!

jenifer, does Ann Arbor still have the fantastic art fair on the city streets in the summer?

I only made it there once, but we had a ball. Also had something cool happen at one of the AA restaurants at the end of the day. It was an Indian restaurant in a former home. When we went in, we saw there was no VISA/MC logo on the door. We had spent all are cash at the art fair, so we asked it they took credit cards. They said no, but they would take a personal check.

We thanked them, but did not have a check book with us. We left, but only went a few steps when they called us back and said we could mail them a check!

The food was good, too!

Keith

Keith - Yep, it still happens every summer. It's quite an event for those who have never experienced it! Many locals complain about the crowds and the inconvenience (closed off downtown streets, no parking), but I love it. You can easily spend a day walking through the fairs and not see it all.

And what a nice thing to happen to you at that restaurant! We were recently at a local jazz club (firefly club) for their Sunday jazz brunch. One of my friends wanted to take part of her meal home, but they didn't have any take-out containers at that time. So, the owner wrapped the plate in foil and told her to take it home, and just return it next time she was downtown. :)

Don't know if Threehearts is still checking this. If you have elementary aged kids, this is a no-brainer: Ann Arbor. I'm a native Californian, accidentally displaced - but I've quit regretting that long since. As wonderful as the California coast line is, the cost of living is horrendous, and the fiscal problems now faced by the State of California are overwhelming. The school systems are already struggling, and in the present fiscal climate it's only going to get worse. Ann Arbor's weather is surprisingly better than much of the surrounding midwest (I've lived in AA and Champaign, IL, and spent a lot of time in Chicago and Appleton, Wisconsin. For weather, I'd choose AA, altho I have to admit that Chicago is a lot more felicitous than Detroit, but you don't have to go to Detroit). What you save on cost of living in the Ann Arbor area (and the chance to send your kids to the Univ. of Michigan, one of the premier public universities in this country) you can spend on nice annual mid-winter trips to San Diego, Scottsdale, Tucson, etc.!
Good luck.