Not sure I understand about you traveling to find out where you want to live. Don't you need to stay in San Diego for your job?

Anyway, this is something I could do. I went to Santee lakes for a week when my wife and kid were pissing me off. There are a lot of full timers there. Very nice and safe. They have every amenity that you could want. It was cheap. Something like 800 a month. Some things would suck. Like going to the on-site laundry. Maybe putting up with the weekenders but, they do keep the long term people in one area. Security was everywhere. All gated and i bet the full timers look out for each other and they are mostly older.

I enjoyed going out and walking the lakes. Talking to different people. Not having the typical stresses you have at home. (chores) The vacation atmosphere even though I went to work every day.

If you want to be by the coast there is a place off of the 5 just north of Balboa and one on the 8 near La Mesa. Haven't been to these so I do not know if it is nice or how much they cost.