The Secret Life of Tierrasanta: Surprising Side Hustles and Hidden Talents Next Door

You think you know your neighbors… but behind those stucco walls and manicured yards, Tierrasanta is full of surprises.

Tierrasanta has always had a reputation for being quiet, neighborly, and—let’s be honest—a bit vanilla. But peel back the layers, and this “Island in the Hills” is bursting with colorfully unexpected characters doing extraordinary things behind the scenes.
 

The Navy SEAL Who Paints in Peace
One longtime resident off Calle de Vida spent 20 years in the military—and now spends his mornings painting dramatic ocean scenes in oils. “I used to jump out of helicopters,” he laughs, “now I paint them.” He quietly sells his art through an Etsy shop that’s picked up buyers in four countries.
 

The Author You Didn’t Know Was on Amazon’s Bestseller List
A mom of three living near Tierrasanta Elementary wrote a romantic suspense novel during the pandemic. She self-published under a pen name and now brings in more income from her writing than from her full-time HR job. “Nobody in the PTA knows,” she says, “but I’ve had over 40,000 downloads.”
 

The Teen Dog Whisperer of Rueda Drive
A 15-year-old high schooler started walking neighborhood dogs as a way to make weekend money—but within a year, she had created a mini-empire with a waitlist. She now manages a team of three other teens, offering walking, boarding, and puppy socializing. Her flyers at the Rec Center bring in consistent leads.
 

The Karaoke King of Santo Road
Every Thursday night at a dive bar off Clairemont Mesa Blvd, a mild-mannered Tierrasanta accountant becomes “Rick the Mic”—a crowd-favorite karaoke host with his own following. “I’m boring by day,” he says, “but I’ve got a little rock star in me.”
 

The Cottage Cook Who’s Secretly Feeding Half the Neighborhood
An older couple near Mission Trails has quietly been running a homemade tamale business from their kitchen. “It started with just family,” they say, “but now we’re making 200 tamales a weekend.” Word of mouth keeps their weekends booked—and the freezer stocked.
 

Moral of the Story?
In Tierrasanta, you never know who’s living next door: a global influencer, a master chef, or an undiscovered artist.
So the next time someone tells you this neighborhood is “quiet,” just smile… and know better.
 

Have your own secret side hustle or talent? Let us know—Tierrasanta wants to know what you’re really up to.