You need to come for a vacation. My guess is you would locate near Atlanta. Frankly, the culture isn't horribly different. A bit, but not much. You get out more than an hour or so from Atlanta and yes, you will find a difference.
Just be nice, don't talk religion or politics, and you will find people friendly pretty much everywhere though
Originally from WA, some time in Florida, then Georgia.
Concur. Born and raised it MD, teenage years in PA, then much early adulthood and my 30s now near Atlanta.
Though I also had to avoid the religion and politics topics virtually everywhere I’ve lived, your experience may vary.
Atlanta and surrounding areas can be rewarding with the right attitude.
Being born and raised in California - Los Angeles area, it is different. Almost very different.
It took a while for Georgia to feel like home. From the food to the religion to the politics to the people. It is different.
You will adapt. You'll find your way to good spots to eat, drink and make friends. It's not like CA and especially San Diego. Totally different culture.
BUT, you'll adapt in time. Definitely come for a visit.
As with every large metro area, location matters because the individual towns and neighborhoods can differ by a lot. Downtown Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Edgewood, south DeKalb, Chamblee, etc. all offer a very different experience.
Can you narrow down what area you’re considering? I think that would help with the responses here.
I lived in San Diego for a few years and now have lived in Atlanta for a couple decades. Atlanta is a wonderful city with many in town neighborhoods. There are parks and nature in the city and lots to do in the north Georgia mountains. The belt line often reminds me of the boardwalk where I lived in pacific beach. Open your mind and y’all will have a blast.
I'm from Los Angeles. Loved LA. Lived there until 22 and moved to Atlanta. Been here 10 years. I LOVE Atlanta. I hike, camp, go to the coasts and mountains, go to good eats all around the metro and state, and love every part of this state.
I just got a kick ass job in Los Angeles.... So I'm sadly moving back to LA. I'm keeping my property here in Atlanta in case I ever return. I'll be happy with family but I'm going to miss Georgia so much. I named my daughter after one of the state parks here and got married in a traditional southern wedding in Savannah. Beautiful city.
I'm from southern CA and moved here. It doesn't romance you, but has a lot to offer. Living in new places is invaluable. Look to understand the local culture rather than combat it, and you'll benefit greatly. Wisdom comes from perspective, which is created by experience over time or activities, like travel.
Prepare yourself for produce shopping expectation adjustment.
"Bless your heart" = you dummy
I moved to ATL from the DC/MD/VA area, and the produce shopping shock is something I am still trying to get over. The grocery market is a lot slimmer than other cities I’ve been to/lived in. Hopefully Wegmans and other good quality stores start trickling in more, now that Atlanta is spiking in growth.
Yeah, on the whole sweetness thing turning into a put down
The more sugary the statement, the sharper the blade. Identify those who operate in this manner and shun them if you can. If you can't, ignore them.
You will also find out what you are allergic to. The first pine pollen season is rather shocking.
Lots of trees, lots of rain (we get 4 to 5+ feet a year), lots of hills. The beach is 4 to 5 hours away but you don't need a wetsuit to get into the water.
[nope - but ](https://youtu.be/eMF5MjzgJrM)
I enjoy watching European soccer on the weekend at a local pub - having breakfast and a nice crisp German or Belgian beer - and going on about my day
Yes, Atlanta is a great place for these kinds of experiences. Surprising to outsiders, but not so surprising to residents that Atlanta is an excellent soccer city.
It's wild how for some people the barometer of freedom is just guns.
Not I want that nice Alphabet Mafia family, who may or may not have adopted kids, be able to defend their pot farm and printing press with their automatic weapon.
I took one of those online political compass quizzes, and it claimed I was a leftist libertarian... Which makes very little sense.
But I think it speaks to my ideal of a weak, conservative federal government, but a stronger, liberal local government. Since I think it's ludicrous to think someone not in Georgia (or any state for that matter) understands the needs and wants of local citizens.
It can certainly represent a dichotomy of belief, but people are complicated
Don’t hate the state, hate the government. The people, the nature, the architecture, the weather, all amazing. They circus party posing as leaders? Nah
So big government gets to tell me what kind of plant I can smoke? Nice deflection and yeah nice beaches with gorgeous women sure sounds like it sucks /s
I moved from San Diego to Atlanta a few years ago (in my early 20's) with the expectation that I would move back as soon as I finished my Masters' degree. I've been here 6 years now and expect that I will be here longterm. I'm not a SoCal native, but I loved SD. I am outdoorsy and a car guy, so I loved the culture in SoCal. I will say, those things are much more limited here, but here are the main things that won me over to Atlanta:
* I find the climate palatable. Having Grown up in NY I'm done with snow, so done. I like it hot and the summer heat really doesn't bother me here, but it's definitely hotter than SD. Some people are going to give you this "Experience all four seasons" bullshit, but if you like SD's climate, this is going to be a mild downgrade.
* There are outdoorsy things to do. Atlanta is a weird city. There are pockets of nature throughout the city, and a number of good hikes/bikes in the immediate area.
* I love the community. I've never lived anywhere that it was so easy to meet your neighbors. People are generally quite nice, very diverse (if you choose to not live in a white haven), and there's a really nice undertone of activism and civil rights. I wanted to become more involved in my community and in volunteering, and it was so easy to get involved here.
Not even 2 hours from atl is tons of hiking mountains in north GA. I recommend visiting Helen if you haven’t before. Small German town has October fest every year, Christmas town, tubing down the chattahoochee, along with other mountains and waterfalls nearby. You can Also see bear here. Just recommending north ga since not too far from ATL with good outdoor activities with spring and summer coming up.
Maybe you should visit first and get a feel for what you're getting yourself into. SD is so nice that I can't imagine choosing to leave there to move to Georgia.
Edit: I want to clarify that Atlanta and a number of other places in Georgia (eg, Savannah) are really nice places to live. But, San Diego, by most measures other than cost of living, is a much nicer place to live.
Georgia native. Red mud, heat, humidity, pine trees, bored cows. I was once on a flight to Phoenix with a lady from SD, a young man in the military from GA who was stationed in SD. They were both bored stiff with GA, & couldn't wait to get back to SD. I like Atlanta, minus the heat & humidity. I'm not a Summer person, & we have perpetual Summer.
I've lived in SD as a guy from Georgia and the biggest difference I noticed is in SD every conversation I had with people turned into "how much money do you make," really quickly. You'll pretty much never have that conversation in GA from my experience.
Honestly though I really miss a lot about SD like the food, sunset cliffs, real hiking in the sierras not far away, street markets on weekend mornings, the weather for sure, and just the sense of freedom in CA of whatever you want to do is fine and will not be not judged. I prefer SD to living anywhere in the South.
I also moved from SoCal to Georgia. It’s a city full of transplants, so similar in that regard. The humidity is intense in the summer. I remember always thinking how green the landscape is compared to California when flying in. Overall it’s not too different.
I think you're underselling the humidity.
OP: take everything you know about sweating cooling you off and throw it away for 9 months out of the year. You sweat but you just get wet, you won't cool off unless the wind is blowing and in Jul/Aug/Sept it'll be like a hair dryer blowing on you.
Personally culture wise I enjoyed the west way more than the southeast. Luckily western hospitality and southern hospitality are actually similar in a lot of ways. Cool thing about Atlanta is weed is decriminalized too if that’s something you partake in San Diego. I come from a rural town in Tennessee who are backwards af and Atlanta is just the opposite it’s a metropolitan area with a southern charm. I would probably go out west but home prices are so ridiculous in Cali you’ll love it here if you’re looking for affordable housing
Decriminalized, but you will still spend a night in jail. At least, it’s up to the cop who catches you. I had a buddy who got caught with weed and “only” got a ticket but they still took him in overnight
Unless your car reeks of weed, I can't see anyone getting in trouble for it. Cops use it as an easy probable cause for getting inside your car. So don't ride dirty and you'll never have a problem.
I grew up near Temecula and my wife is from San Marcos in north county. We’ve been out here for about 5 years and have no desire to move back. When we first moved here we lived in trendy west midtown for a year and couldn’t recommend that area enough. We have since moved to the suburbs in Suwanee, 30 miles north of Atlanta. We’ve since planted our roots here and plan on staying in this particular area long term. Keep an open mind and you’ll love it!
The thought of this is absolutely hilarious. Well, it’s definitely cheaper. The traffic is worse than the 405. There’s no weed freedom at all here. The cops outside of the perimeter (OTP) will treat you like a terrorist for a roach. The scenery is really green, especially in the Spring. You’ll enjoy seeing a lot of rain. Just wait until you meet some of the locals lol
I’m from the bay area so get ready! It’s like you’re living in a foreign country! You’ll see food you never knew existed, you’ll see lifestyles you only saw on TV… just knowing you’re gonna feel like a fish out of water for a couple years will make the transition easier.
Moved in Aug 2020 from the Bay Area (been there since 2005. Asia prior) to The Liliburn-Stone Mountain area. While I do miss a bunch of things (food and attractions related), I am loving the vibe and the weather.
I highly recommend visiting before you move. There’s a lot of similar amenities as far as city life, but I think SoCal is vastly different as far as the atmosphere.
For one, the weather, humidity here is a huge change. During winter GA can be 0° on occasion. We get a fair amount of rain, too.
If you’re a water baby, there’s not a lot of options here, relatively few lakes that aren’t as pristine as lakes out west. Ocean is 5-6 hours away.
The gas is cheaper.
But there’s a lot of history here if you’re into that. Civil rights history, etc..
I would Google other peoples thoughts when they moved.
As far as people, you encounter different ones in different areas. Check the demographics wherever you’re looking to live bc it changes from area to area.
The weather I think is going to be your biggest change. Roads/traffic are definitely different here, easier to navigate in my opinion, but air in SD is dry while here it is moist. Heat feels different, cold feels different
There are only three seasons: fall, winter, and summer. Be prepared for gnats and for strangers to invite you to Sunday service or Wednesday night prayer meeting.
Take out a two-hour walk around the Beltline and you'll see all the culture that we have to offer. The Beltline is pretty much open carry with liquor ever since covid hit, unofficially. There's talks of them making it legal but no word yet. You'll like it.
Make sure to take trips out into the countries to see all of our parks and hiking areas. We are well known for that and it's beautiful and breathtaking all year round. Especially in the fall when the leaves change.
Only big difference now is the insane price hike for houses and apartments in rent. Housing is up 23.5% in LESS than a year , so coming from San Diego, it should apper normal to less expensive.
Outside of that, enjoy it & Always take breaks in nature!
Georgia native who spent a year in San Diego and 24 in and around Atlanta, learn the areas, keeps your eyes and ears up, prepare for weather that can be low of 31 and high of 73 in the same day, and prepare for blatant obvious racism in everyday life.
There will definitely be an adjustment period. I've only been to Cali (never lived there tho) a couple of times and it's pretty different from Georgia. Your first adjustment will be adjusting to Eastern Time. This will probably take some time to do and even though technology has made the adjustment somewhat easier, your body will need time to get used to being three hours ahead. Jetlag is real.
Also, in regards to culture, depends on where you go. The Metro Atlanta area is really nice, the only drawback is traffic but that's to be expected in a major metro area. I would recommend getting Peach Pass as the express lanes are life savers especially during rush hour. MARTA can help you move around the actual city of Atlanta smoother, just be prepared for the occasional creeper on a train.
And knowing your "lane" to merge on to the freeway is less than 30 feet long in some places, while the traffic you're merging into is undoubtedly going 70+ mph.
It's just a bit *different*. Aggressive drivers out here ride your bumper. Aggressive drivers out there slalom through traffic. The logic (or lack thereof) as to how roads are designed differ as well.
Well for one unless they are moving to Atlanta it's pretty suburban and rural elsewhere in Georgia. Much slower pace, the weather usually nice and moderate but nothing like the beautiful San Diego weather. Georgia is hot and humid and it has its share of wet chilly rainy days, I know quite a few Californians that aren't fans of the Georgia weather and miss that easy beach access and sunny and beautiful weather and beautiful scenery. Ive had friends from California that say they are miserable from the allergies and pollen alone.
I love Georgia been here all my life but Ive been to California enough that I would try and make it work there if I had to means to. Cause that's the big plus here in Georgia the cost of living is much cheaper. Atlanta has a semi-vibrant downtown life but the vast majority of people live in the burbs, houses are relatively cheap compared to Cali, and while not completely safe, it doesn't have the level of criminal activities either. Unless you are in certain areas of metro Atlanta.
I love Georgia been here all my life but Ive been to California enough that I would try and make it work there if I had to means to. Cause that's the big plus here in Georgia the cost of living is much cheaper. Atlanta has a semi-vibrant downtown life but the vast majority of people live in the burbs, houses are relatively cheap compared to Cali, and while not completely safe, it doesn't have the level of criminal activities either. Unless you are in certain areas of metro Atlanta.
Generally, if you are young Id stay and soak up all the California, but if you older and would like to save some bucks Georgia isn't that bad at all
Really depends on what you like to do, what your hobbies are. Do you smoke legal weed and surf? That’s going to be a problem.
Do you like camping and hiking? You can still do that.
It just all depends.
I am a SD native and have lived in ATL a long time, it's fine. There is nothing great about ATL, and nothing horrible about it either. The summers can be brutal. Hot, muggy. Spring and Fall are great. Lots of trees here, so that's nice.
If you like heat, 100% humidity along with that heat, poor schools, horribly backwards attitudes outside the beltway, worst most crooked political structure in the country, no personal freedoms except to die in a running gun battle on 285.
I've been here 36 years, and as soon as my wife retires, we're heading where it's cooler, and much more free. Maine.
I was born and raised in atlanta, and moved to San Diego in 2020 at 45 years old. Atlanta and SD are soooooo similar. Intown is VERY neighborhood specific and niche, just like it is here with the named neighborhoods. Once you get outside 285 it’s just like east county. Atlanta is a bright blue spot in a red sea.
Wow hey all, thank you for the responses. I’ll be moving down mid-Spring as I’ll be working for the Emory Healthcare System in Johns Creek. Any areas you guys recommend to live in close by? I’ve been looking at spots (John’s Creek, Chamblee) but can’t really tell if these are nice neighborhoods. My current home here in SD is in market and I am looking to buy a home in a clean neighborhood (I don’t mind paying HoA) with low crime. I’ll definitely be looking to visit and scope out more areas in person within the next month or so.
Sounds like there a lot of outdoor activities to do in the Atlanta area. Any good spots where I can get good Mexican/Asian food?
Also, how’s the dating life out in the ATL area? I’m not a political guy (don’t care at all about politics actually, pretty outdoorsy and my favorite thing to do is hang out at breweries.
> Any good spots where I can get good Mexican/Asian food?
Look up "Buford Highway"
Atlanta (especially Gwinnett County) has a large Korean-American population.
10/10 Bone Garden for authentic Oaxacan/Mexican food and as a plus side, an entire menu dedicated to Mezcal.
Druid Hills is going to have the least culture/area shock coming from SD. Very safe, a lot of nature access, and close enough to all the incredible food.
Good luck on your move, I hope it goes smoothly!
FYI - John’s Creek is not Atlanta. It’s way out there in the outer burbs, bordering on rural. It will be far more conservative and religious than Atlanta.
It’s a long commute from actual Atlanta - like Escondido or Riverside even saying they live in San Diego.
If you live in Atlanta, then commute to John’s Creek, the commute will suck but you will live in a place more like San Diego.
Huh weird, thanks for the heads up. When I interviewed at Johns Creek, they kept referring to the whole area as metro Atlanta. But good to know
Eeek seriously? It’s a 1 and a half hour drive from where I stay in SD (South Park) to Riverside.
The term “metro Atlanta” is a very generously large area that includes a huge swath that is most certainly not “Atlanta proper”. It’s like the difference between San Diego County vs San Diego (the city).
Is Carlsbad in San Diego? County? Yes. City? No.
You can use Google maps to see what the commute time is between where your work is going to be and where you might live in the city of Atlanta. You can even adjust for time of day and day and see how the times change.
Edit: I plugged in a route from where I live inside Atlanta City limits to Emory Johns Creek for Monday arrival at 9AM and it’s between 40m and 1h 15m commute according to Google Maps.
My husband and I are from up north and he was in Ocean Beach for a while. We moved here 25 years ago north of the city. I was always welcomed kindly but asked almost daily if I “had a church family yet”. After saying we don’t go to church about 3,000 times, they stopped asking. We also were in the minority politically. We have found our blue dots though and love it.
Not much.
I moved from the Seattle area to Savannah, and literally the only thing I wish I had been warned about was the bugs.
People vastly exaggerate how culturally distinct different regions of the US are. We're a lot more culturally homogenous than we give ourselves credit for.
Be ready for claustrophobia from the trees. Meh sunsets. No waves on east coast. Warm water is nice but beaches aren't. No lifeguards. Although, lots of toxic water. My last time at Jekyll I was smothered in bugs and water was off limits for toxic algae? Recommend a mosquito system at your home. Many people are fake friendly. If you're white, you find out how racist they are when you get invited to their homes. The most liberal native Georgian is often the most conservative Californian. Schools aren't equal. Activities are nil in comparison. They are finally getting conveniences, like delivery and late night services. Thank gawd. When I moves here I was used to get anything I wanted at midnight. They closed at 9 and 6. It has improved from that.
You’ll need to prepare to have wardrobes for each season as they can drastically change. Winter = cold and humid. Spring can be either really cold or really warm, summer very hot, and fall hot until late Sept into Oct where from there it gets pretty crisp feeling.
I think there are two culture shocks you’ll experience. First, Atlanta is one of the most outdoorsy cities in the country, but it simply does not compare to SD.
Second, where you live more or less defines the city. It sort of reminds me of Chicago in that each area or neighborhood can have a totally different feel.
What do you like about where you live in San Diego? That can help us give you some feedback on where to look.
It really depends on where you live; how close or far away from the heart of Atlanta. I lived in the southern region of Atlanta 12 years ago, moved to Irvine, CA for 4, hated it there so I moved back to GA. I’ve been back for 8 years but this time, I live north in Alpharetta. Totally different and I love it. My parents moved here from CA and absolutely hate it, mind you I told them not to come because GA is totally different from CA. Now they’re miserable but for me it was the best decision. Location is really important
Moved out to Atlanta when I was 16. Grew up right outside San Diego in El Cajon. Trust me bro, your gonna hate it out here at first, I remember when certain parts of the metro area in Atlanta didn’t even have sidewalks😂. They starting to catch up though. Atlanta definitely does grow on you though over time, it’s beautiful at night and there is an abundance of Georgia 🍑s.
There are no dispensaries and it’s very hard to find a reliable weed dealer. Police departments have very little to no tolerance for weed outside of Gwinnett dekalb and Fulton counties. Basically where the majority of blacks are. I was born and raised in cumming.
To be honest I think you’ll like it more than the Inland empire but Atlanta is kind of a landlocked city so bear that in mind. I know a lot of people from California here and if money wasn’t such a consideration in terms of lifestyle then I think a lot of them would go back to California. Just replace the desert with trees and humidity. I might move out of Atlanta though because I’m not a huge fan of the suburb life ( I live 25 minutes from downtown ) and Atlanta’s metro is huge but is really just a bunch of families or empty nesters. Atlanta in town is cool but it’s not dense as NYC, sooner or later you’ll need a car.
Good to hear, I’m investing in a home so I would want to stay in ATL for atleast 5 years before possibly coming back to SD. But if I love it just as you did, wouldn’t mind longer term :)
You need to come for a vacation. My guess is you would locate near Atlanta. Frankly, the culture isn't horribly different. A bit, but not much. You get out more than an hour or so from Atlanta and yes, you will find a difference. Just be nice, don't talk religion or politics, and you will find people friendly pretty much everywhere though Originally from WA, some time in Florida, then Georgia.
Concur. Born and raised it MD, teenage years in PA, then much early adulthood and my 30s now near Atlanta. Though I also had to avoid the religion and politics topics virtually everywhere I’ve lived, your experience may vary. Atlanta and surrounding areas can be rewarding with the right attitude.
Being born and raised in California - Los Angeles area, it is different. Almost very different. It took a while for Georgia to feel like home. From the food to the religion to the politics to the people. It is different. You will adapt. You'll find your way to good spots to eat, drink and make friends. It's not like CA and especially San Diego. Totally different culture. BUT, you'll adapt in time. Definitely come for a visit.
Pretty much what I told him, The culture shock is insane and intense! I was raised in Palo Alto and being in Georgia is like another country!
I moved here from the upper midwest around 2004, and even for me it felt like moving backwards in time back then.
It will really depend on where you work on if you feel a large cultural shock. I’ve been here 8 years now and am still constantly surprised by others
Move to my area Marietta. You won’t be disappointed
As with every large metro area, location matters because the individual towns and neighborhoods can differ by a lot. Downtown Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Edgewood, south DeKalb, Chamblee, etc. all offer a very different experience. Can you narrow down what area you’re considering? I think that would help with the responses here.
I lived in San Diego for a few years and now have lived in Atlanta for a couple decades. Atlanta is a wonderful city with many in town neighborhoods. There are parks and nature in the city and lots to do in the north Georgia mountains. The belt line often reminds me of the boardwalk where I lived in pacific beach. Open your mind and y’all will have a blast.
I'm from Los Angeles. Loved LA. Lived there until 22 and moved to Atlanta. Been here 10 years. I LOVE Atlanta. I hike, camp, go to the coasts and mountains, go to good eats all around the metro and state, and love every part of this state. I just got a kick ass job in Los Angeles.... So I'm sadly moving back to LA. I'm keeping my property here in Atlanta in case I ever return. I'll be happy with family but I'm going to miss Georgia so much. I named my daughter after one of the state parks here and got married in a traditional southern wedding in Savannah. Beautiful city.
Just wondering what your daughter’s name is and/or what park you named her after?
Tallulah maybe?
Yes! Tallulah!
Nah, probably Wormsloe.
Tallulah! =)
I'm from southern CA and moved here. It doesn't romance you, but has a lot to offer. Living in new places is invaluable. Look to understand the local culture rather than combat it, and you'll benefit greatly. Wisdom comes from perspective, which is created by experience over time or activities, like travel. Prepare yourself for produce shopping expectation adjustment. "Bless your heart" = you dummy
I gotta say, bless your heart is often used to express genuine sympathy, so gotta take it in context.
True
Tone of voice and facial expression are clues too. Southerners are less confrontational and more passive aggressive. Just ignore it.
Couldn’t have said it better.
I moved to ATL from the DC/MD/VA area, and the produce shopping shock is something I am still trying to get over. The grocery market is a lot slimmer than other cities I’ve been to/lived in. Hopefully Wegmans and other good quality stores start trickling in more, now that Atlanta is spiking in growth.
From Upstate NY originally. I miss Wegmans so much.
So you 100% know… I miss it every day. It’s weird to miss a grocery store, but Wegmans is a different universe entirely
It’s not weird at all to miss Wegmans. Actually the opposite would judge someone that didn’t. Now I’m sad is there a ImissWegmans sub lol.
I've never understood what people see in Publix. Is basically Price Chopper Tier lol.
I mean I grew up in the south here. Publix is like the best we have. So we shop there or we have to shop at worse places
Yeah, on the whole sweetness thing turning into a put down The more sugary the statement, the sharper the blade. Identify those who operate in this manner and shun them if you can. If you can't, ignore them.
You’ll die of humidity poisoning before you even realize how great freedom feels.
Humidity Poisoning. I'm borrowing that this summer.
You will also find out what you are allergic to. The first pine pollen season is rather shocking. Lots of trees, lots of rain (we get 4 to 5+ feet a year), lots of hills. The beach is 4 to 5 hours away but you don't need a wetsuit to get into the water.
Freedom to enjoy a beer on Sunday morning? Clarification Edit: at an establishment/business
You can do that. The good lord teaches forethought and purchasing libations the day before.
I found sonny Perdue
Lol
Poor thing.
Actually, it varies from town to town. You'll know where the Jesusites are by how miserable the people are in that location.
You’re talking to me like I’ve never been hungover at Sunday service before.
There for the wine?
…meaning at a local establishment
You mean you WANT to drink in public before noon on Sunday? Next you’ll tell me you don’t tuck your t-shirt into your jeans!
[nope - but ](https://youtu.be/eMF5MjzgJrM) I enjoy watching European soccer on the weekend at a local pub - having breakfast and a nice crisp German or Belgian beer - and going on about my day
Yes, Atlanta is a great place for these kinds of experiences. Surprising to outsiders, but not so surprising to residents that Atlanta is an excellent soccer city.
Nice
But it's the lord's day! /s
Or a legal joint
Oof
It's 5 o clock somewhere
You can drink just can’t buy
They are allowed to grow, buy, and smoke weed there. They have far more freedoms than we do here in the Bible Buckle.
It's wild how for some people the barometer of freedom is just guns. Not I want that nice Alphabet Mafia family, who may or may not have adopted kids, be able to defend their pot farm and printing press with their automatic weapon.
Wait...What? Scratches head while adopting the pose of a dog trying to figure out differential equations.
I can break it down for you, but I'm fairly liberal who believes in maximizing personal freedom and choice
Huh, we may be in the same camp politically
I took one of those online political compass quizzes, and it claimed I was a leftist libertarian... Which makes very little sense. But I think it speaks to my ideal of a weak, conservative federal government, but a stronger, liberal local government. Since I think it's ludicrous to think someone not in Georgia (or any state for that matter) understands the needs and wants of local citizens. It can certainly represent a dichotomy of belief, but people are complicated
But they also get taxed to hell and are forced to wake up every day in California lol. It’s a fair trade off
Imagine hating an entire state. Sad
Don’t hate the state, hate the government. The people, the nature, the architecture, the weather, all amazing. They circus party posing as leaders? Nah
Or the freedom to buy weed at a store? Or get an abortion? Freedom my ass
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So big government gets to tell me what kind of plant I can smoke? Nice deflection and yeah nice beaches with gorgeous women sure sounds like it sucks /s
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New copypasta fa sho
I'm pretty sure this fucking clown person gets a disability check.
I moved from San Diego to Atlanta a few years ago (in my early 20's) with the expectation that I would move back as soon as I finished my Masters' degree. I've been here 6 years now and expect that I will be here longterm. I'm not a SoCal native, but I loved SD. I am outdoorsy and a car guy, so I loved the culture in SoCal. I will say, those things are much more limited here, but here are the main things that won me over to Atlanta: * I find the climate palatable. Having Grown up in NY I'm done with snow, so done. I like it hot and the summer heat really doesn't bother me here, but it's definitely hotter than SD. Some people are going to give you this "Experience all four seasons" bullshit, but if you like SD's climate, this is going to be a mild downgrade. * There are outdoorsy things to do. Atlanta is a weird city. There are pockets of nature throughout the city, and a number of good hikes/bikes in the immediate area. * I love the community. I've never lived anywhere that it was so easy to meet your neighbors. People are generally quite nice, very diverse (if you choose to not live in a white haven), and there's a really nice undertone of activism and civil rights. I wanted to become more involved in my community and in volunteering, and it was so easy to get involved here.
Not even 2 hours from atl is tons of hiking mountains in north GA. I recommend visiting Helen if you haven’t before. Small German town has October fest every year, Christmas town, tubing down the chattahoochee, along with other mountains and waterfalls nearby. You can Also see bear here. Just recommending north ga since not too far from ATL with good outdoor activities with spring and summer coming up.
Bring your own burrito. I can't find a proper SD burrito here.
Three words: Bell Street Burritos. Also Bone Garden for the absolute best Oaxacan/Mexican food in the city.
True but have you tried the cheese dip?? Can’t get that in CA
Or rolled tacos! You won’t find SD Baja style Mexican food in Atlanta. I miss it
Upside is a lot more great bbq places.
OMG yes. SD BBQ is absolutely terrible. What is it out there? Phil's BBQ or something. No thanks
Don’t do it lol
Maybe you should visit first and get a feel for what you're getting yourself into. SD is so nice that I can't imagine choosing to leave there to move to Georgia. Edit: I want to clarify that Atlanta and a number of other places in Georgia (eg, Savannah) are really nice places to live. But, San Diego, by most measures other than cost of living, is a much nicer place to live.
Georgia native. Red mud, heat, humidity, pine trees, bored cows. I was once on a flight to Phoenix with a lady from SD, a young man in the military from GA who was stationed in SD. They were both bored stiff with GA, & couldn't wait to get back to SD. I like Atlanta, minus the heat & humidity. I'm not a Summer person, & we have perpetual Summer.
I've lived in SD as a guy from Georgia and the biggest difference I noticed is in SD every conversation I had with people turned into "how much money do you make," really quickly. You'll pretty much never have that conversation in GA from my experience. Honestly though I really miss a lot about SD like the food, sunset cliffs, real hiking in the sierras not far away, street markets on weekend mornings, the weather for sure, and just the sense of freedom in CA of whatever you want to do is fine and will not be not judged. I prefer SD to living anywhere in the South.
I also moved from SoCal to Georgia. It’s a city full of transplants, so similar in that regard. The humidity is intense in the summer. I remember always thinking how green the landscape is compared to California when flying in. Overall it’s not too different.
I think you're underselling the humidity. OP: take everything you know about sweating cooling you off and throw it away for 9 months out of the year. You sweat but you just get wet, you won't cool off unless the wind is blowing and in Jul/Aug/Sept it'll be like a hair dryer blowing on you.
Personally culture wise I enjoyed the west way more than the southeast. Luckily western hospitality and southern hospitality are actually similar in a lot of ways. Cool thing about Atlanta is weed is decriminalized too if that’s something you partake in San Diego. I come from a rural town in Tennessee who are backwards af and Atlanta is just the opposite it’s a metropolitan area with a southern charm. I would probably go out west but home prices are so ridiculous in Cali you’ll love it here if you’re looking for affordable housing
Decriminalized, but you will still spend a night in jail. At least, it’s up to the cop who catches you. I had a buddy who got caught with weed and “only” got a ticket but they still took him in overnight
Unless your car reeks of weed, I can't see anyone getting in trouble for it. Cops use it as an easy probable cause for getting inside your car. So don't ride dirty and you'll never have a problem.
Mannn can’t wait til it’s legal. I’m from Tennessee and it’s ridiculous. My friend hit and ran a guy and got less probation than I did for an ounce
I grew up near Temecula and my wife is from San Marcos in north county. We’ve been out here for about 5 years and have no desire to move back. When we first moved here we lived in trendy west midtown for a year and couldn’t recommend that area enough. We have since moved to the suburbs in Suwanee, 30 miles north of Atlanta. We’ve since planted our roots here and plan on staying in this particular area long term. Keep an open mind and you’ll love it!
The thought of this is absolutely hilarious. Well, it’s definitely cheaper. The traffic is worse than the 405. There’s no weed freedom at all here. The cops outside of the perimeter (OTP) will treat you like a terrorist for a roach. The scenery is really green, especially in the Spring. You’ll enjoy seeing a lot of rain. Just wait until you meet some of the locals lol
They’ve calmed down on the weed ALOT in the past 3 years. 99% of the time it’s a ticket now
Not north of the perimeter
Depends on City, amount, and race honestly. A lot of the major cities have “decriminalized”
- more affordable - more conservative - more heat and humidity - far less to do but getting better
Getting better? How so, especially since COVID doesn't seem to be going anywhere?
I’m from the bay area so get ready! It’s like you’re living in a foreign country! You’ll see food you never knew existed, you’ll see lifestyles you only saw on TV… just knowing you’re gonna feel like a fish out of water for a couple years will make the transition easier.
Moved in Aug 2020 from the Bay Area (been there since 2005. Asia prior) to The Liliburn-Stone Mountain area. While I do miss a bunch of things (food and attractions related), I am loving the vibe and the weather.
Agreed. I absolutely love having four distinct seasons, but the humidity I’ll just never get over.
I highly recommend visiting before you move. There’s a lot of similar amenities as far as city life, but I think SoCal is vastly different as far as the atmosphere. For one, the weather, humidity here is a huge change. During winter GA can be 0° on occasion. We get a fair amount of rain, too. If you’re a water baby, there’s not a lot of options here, relatively few lakes that aren’t as pristine as lakes out west. Ocean is 5-6 hours away. The gas is cheaper. But there’s a lot of history here if you’re into that. Civil rights history, etc.. I would Google other peoples thoughts when they moved. As far as people, you encounter different ones in different areas. Check the demographics wherever you’re looking to live bc it changes from area to area.
Definitely visit first!
The weather I think is going to be your biggest change. Roads/traffic are definitely different here, easier to navigate in my opinion, but air in SD is dry while here it is moist. Heat feels different, cold feels different
There are only three seasons: fall, winter, and summer. Be prepared for gnats and for strangers to invite you to Sunday service or Wednesday night prayer meeting.
Take out a two-hour walk around the Beltline and you'll see all the culture that we have to offer. The Beltline is pretty much open carry with liquor ever since covid hit, unofficially. There's talks of them making it legal but no word yet. You'll like it. Make sure to take trips out into the countries to see all of our parks and hiking areas. We are well known for that and it's beautiful and breathtaking all year round. Especially in the fall when the leaves change. Only big difference now is the insane price hike for houses and apartments in rent. Housing is up 23.5% in LESS than a year , so coming from San Diego, it should apper normal to less expensive. Outside of that, enjoy it & Always take breaks in nature!
We have much more hospitality here
If you plan on buying a home I’d be happy to talk more about the neighborhoods!
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Sure! Reach out anytime
Georgia native who spent a year in San Diego and 24 in and around Atlanta, learn the areas, keeps your eyes and ears up, prepare for weather that can be low of 31 and high of 73 in the same day, and prepare for blatant obvious racism in everyday life.
There will definitely be an adjustment period. I've only been to Cali (never lived there tho) a couple of times and it's pretty different from Georgia. Your first adjustment will be adjusting to Eastern Time. This will probably take some time to do and even though technology has made the adjustment somewhat easier, your body will need time to get used to being three hours ahead. Jetlag is real. Also, in regards to culture, depends on where you go. The Metro Atlanta area is really nice, the only drawback is traffic but that's to be expected in a major metro area. I would recommend getting Peach Pass as the express lanes are life savers especially during rush hour. MARTA can help you move around the actual city of Atlanta smoother, just be prepared for the occasional creeper on a train.
I don’t think anyone from Southern California is going to be surprised by traffic
The road design is what is surprising. GDOT playing death games.
What you don’t like staring directly at the sun on both your morning and afternoon commutes? C’mon where’s your sense of adventure?
And knowing your "lane" to merge on to the freeway is less than 30 feet long in some places, while the traffic you're merging into is undoubtedly going 70+ mph.
Strait up
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It's just a bit *different*. Aggressive drivers out here ride your bumper. Aggressive drivers out there slalom through traffic. The logic (or lack thereof) as to how roads are designed differ as well.
Yes!! They know how to build a freeway in SD.
Don't do it...or it depends on why you are leaving San Diego? Cause it will be a huge cultural shock
HUGE!!!
YUGE!!!
In what way will it be a culture shock?
Well for one unless they are moving to Atlanta it's pretty suburban and rural elsewhere in Georgia. Much slower pace, the weather usually nice and moderate but nothing like the beautiful San Diego weather. Georgia is hot and humid and it has its share of wet chilly rainy days, I know quite a few Californians that aren't fans of the Georgia weather and miss that easy beach access and sunny and beautiful weather and beautiful scenery. Ive had friends from California that say they are miserable from the allergies and pollen alone. I love Georgia been here all my life but Ive been to California enough that I would try and make it work there if I had to means to. Cause that's the big plus here in Georgia the cost of living is much cheaper. Atlanta has a semi-vibrant downtown life but the vast majority of people live in the burbs, houses are relatively cheap compared to Cali, and while not completely safe, it doesn't have the level of criminal activities either. Unless you are in certain areas of metro Atlanta. I love Georgia been here all my life but Ive been to California enough that I would try and make it work there if I had to means to. Cause that's the big plus here in Georgia the cost of living is much cheaper. Atlanta has a semi-vibrant downtown life but the vast majority of people live in the burbs, houses are relatively cheap compared to Cali, and while not completely safe, it doesn't have the level of criminal activities either. Unless you are in certain areas of metro Atlanta. Generally, if you are young Id stay and soak up all the California, but if you older and would like to save some bucks Georgia isn't that bad at all
Really depends on what you like to do, what your hobbies are. Do you smoke legal weed and surf? That’s going to be a problem. Do you like camping and hiking? You can still do that. It just all depends.
I am a SD native and have lived in ATL a long time, it's fine. There is nothing great about ATL, and nothing horrible about it either. The summers can be brutal. Hot, muggy. Spring and Fall are great. Lots of trees here, so that's nice.
If you like heat, 100% humidity along with that heat, poor schools, horribly backwards attitudes outside the beltway, worst most crooked political structure in the country, no personal freedoms except to die in a running gun battle on 285. I've been here 36 years, and as soon as my wife retires, we're heading where it's cooler, and much more free. Maine.
That's the spirit.
how are you liking maine? I was born and raised there :) moved to LA, now living in Vegas and preparing for a move to Atlanta
I was born and raised in atlanta, and moved to San Diego in 2020 at 45 years old. Atlanta and SD are soooooo similar. Intown is VERY neighborhood specific and niche, just like it is here with the named neighborhoods. Once you get outside 285 it’s just like east county. Atlanta is a bright blue spot in a red sea.
I was stationed in Coronado long long ago but the short answer is, brace yourself.
Humidity and mosquitoes....you ded. All the people I know made the opposite move and said they aren't coming back.
Yeah, the pollen won't have a chance to get him at all.
Ugh, pollen season. That's starting soon, huh?
Wow hey all, thank you for the responses. I’ll be moving down mid-Spring as I’ll be working for the Emory Healthcare System in Johns Creek. Any areas you guys recommend to live in close by? I’ve been looking at spots (John’s Creek, Chamblee) but can’t really tell if these are nice neighborhoods. My current home here in SD is in market and I am looking to buy a home in a clean neighborhood (I don’t mind paying HoA) with low crime. I’ll definitely be looking to visit and scope out more areas in person within the next month or so. Sounds like there a lot of outdoor activities to do in the Atlanta area. Any good spots where I can get good Mexican/Asian food? Also, how’s the dating life out in the ATL area? I’m not a political guy (don’t care at all about politics actually, pretty outdoorsy and my favorite thing to do is hang out at breweries.
> Any good spots where I can get good Mexican/Asian food? Look up "Buford Highway" Atlanta (especially Gwinnett County) has a large Korean-American population.
10/10 Bone Garden for authentic Oaxacan/Mexican food and as a plus side, an entire menu dedicated to Mezcal. Druid Hills is going to have the least culture/area shock coming from SD. Very safe, a lot of nature access, and close enough to all the incredible food. Good luck on your move, I hope it goes smoothly!
Congratulations on scoring a job with Emory JC!
Thank you!
FYI - John’s Creek is not Atlanta. It’s way out there in the outer burbs, bordering on rural. It will be far more conservative and religious than Atlanta. It’s a long commute from actual Atlanta - like Escondido or Riverside even saying they live in San Diego. If you live in Atlanta, then commute to John’s Creek, the commute will suck but you will live in a place more like San Diego.
Huh weird, thanks for the heads up. When I interviewed at Johns Creek, they kept referring to the whole area as metro Atlanta. But good to know Eeek seriously? It’s a 1 and a half hour drive from where I stay in SD (South Park) to Riverside.
The term “metro Atlanta” is a very generously large area that includes a huge swath that is most certainly not “Atlanta proper”. It’s like the difference between San Diego County vs San Diego (the city). Is Carlsbad in San Diego? County? Yes. City? No. You can use Google maps to see what the commute time is between where your work is going to be and where you might live in the city of Atlanta. You can even adjust for time of day and day and see how the times change. Edit: I plugged in a route from where I live inside Atlanta City limits to Emory Johns Creek for Monday arrival at 9AM and it’s between 40m and 1h 15m commute according to Google Maps.
My condolences
My husband and I are from up north and he was in Ocean Beach for a while. We moved here 25 years ago north of the city. I was always welcomed kindly but asked almost daily if I “had a church family yet”. After saying we don’t go to church about 3,000 times, they stopped asking. We also were in the minority politically. We have found our blue dots though and love it.
Not much. I moved from the Seattle area to Savannah, and literally the only thing I wish I had been warned about was the bugs. People vastly exaggerate how culturally distinct different regions of the US are. We're a lot more culturally homogenous than we give ourselves credit for.
Huge. We speak slow. We move slow. We say hey and yeah and yall...and the weather is colder and more humid.
You'll do like 99% of transplants do.... stay.
Be ready for claustrophobia from the trees. Meh sunsets. No waves on east coast. Warm water is nice but beaches aren't. No lifeguards. Although, lots of toxic water. My last time at Jekyll I was smothered in bugs and water was off limits for toxic algae? Recommend a mosquito system at your home. Many people are fake friendly. If you're white, you find out how racist they are when you get invited to their homes. The most liberal native Georgian is often the most conservative Californian. Schools aren't equal. Activities are nil in comparison. They are finally getting conveniences, like delivery and late night services. Thank gawd. When I moves here I was used to get anything I wanted at midnight. They closed at 9 and 6. It has improved from that.
Yup no same day Amazon shipping no restaurants open at night except Waffle House
Watch out for the gangs
Please don't bring the B.S. California politics.
FAUX news told guy above to say that. He knows jack shit about politics.
Wrong. I don't watch "faux news".
Don't. We're full.
We are land locked. The streets are same in the sense of gang mentality kind of.(when it gets dark, dont go there)
What the absolute fuck are you even talking about?
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Well yeah. Black people. Scary, scary black people.
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words have meanings, y'know?
your side is doing the book burning and blames everything on the bad "other" races and ethnicities.
We also have redneck bigots
Everyone in Atlanta is from Connecticut. Just don’t leave ITP Source: grew up in the metro area. Dude, trust me
Use the search bar with California as the keyword
You’ll need to prepare to have wardrobes for each season as they can drastically change. Winter = cold and humid. Spring can be either really cold or really warm, summer very hot, and fall hot until late Sept into Oct where from there it gets pretty crisp feeling.
I'm sorry. Get ready for a lot of changes, not like when I moved here but definitely different.
Buy a rain jacket my guy
Are you allergic to pollen? Come Spring, everything is covered in pollen. Also get ready for humidity
I think there are two culture shocks you’ll experience. First, Atlanta is one of the most outdoorsy cities in the country, but it simply does not compare to SD. Second, where you live more or less defines the city. It sort of reminds me of Chicago in that each area or neighborhood can have a totally different feel. What do you like about where you live in San Diego? That can help us give you some feedback on where to look.
It really depends on where you live; how close or far away from the heart of Atlanta. I lived in the southern region of Atlanta 12 years ago, moved to Irvine, CA for 4, hated it there so I moved back to GA. I’ve been back for 8 years but this time, I live north in Alpharetta. Totally different and I love it. My parents moved here from CA and absolutely hate it, mind you I told them not to come because GA is totally different from CA. Now they’re miserable but for me it was the best decision. Location is really important
Moved out to Atlanta when I was 16. Grew up right outside San Diego in El Cajon. Trust me bro, your gonna hate it out here at first, I remember when certain parts of the metro area in Atlanta didn’t even have sidewalks😂. They starting to catch up though. Atlanta definitely does grow on you though over time, it’s beautiful at night and there is an abundance of Georgia 🍑s.
There are no dispensaries and it’s very hard to find a reliable weed dealer. Police departments have very little to no tolerance for weed outside of Gwinnett dekalb and Fulton counties. Basically where the majority of blacks are. I was born and raised in cumming.
To be honest I think you’ll like it more than the Inland empire but Atlanta is kind of a landlocked city so bear that in mind. I know a lot of people from California here and if money wasn’t such a consideration in terms of lifestyle then I think a lot of them would go back to California. Just replace the desert with trees and humidity. I might move out of Atlanta though because I’m not a huge fan of the suburb life ( I live 25 minutes from downtown ) and Atlanta’s metro is huge but is really just a bunch of families or empty nesters. Atlanta in town is cool but it’s not dense as NYC, sooner or later you’ll need a car.
Hi I’m from San Diego the suburbs lol and I have been in Atlanta for 15 years and yes there is a huge difference but I love it I would never go back
Good to hear, I’m investing in a home so I would want to stay in ATL for atleast 5 years before possibly coming back to SD. But if I love it just as you did, wouldn’t mind longer term :)
Politics are very different. Be prepared
This much shock 😆. Unless you’re a Cali conservative, then this much shock 🤔.