Now I'm just a washed up has-been Marine NCO, but if I could do it over again, I'd have gone to the west coast when I got orders stateside after my tour in the RoK. I went to New River because as a still pretty boot LCpl I bought into the whole East/West Coast USMC rivalry and the Hollywood BS. I also wanted to be close(r) to home. I've never spent any appreciable time in Norfolk/Oceana, but it definitely seemed very SW centric, big Navy blue from my outsider's point of view. I visited San dog for a couple weeks earlier this year and I fucking loved it there. I'm a Boston boy through and through, but I think I would have enjoyed a couple years out there as a young Marine in my early 20s. Beautiful weather, plenty of good trash to see and do, gorgeous women everywhere. Frigging libo heaven!! My best friend lives near Point Loma, and the areas near his place were nice once you got out of his neighborhoood. It definitely seems like the kind of town that you need to be choosy with where you live, though. I call his neighborhood "Foot chase central". Best of luck with your decision, sir!