A stable, accountable home for men in early recovery
By the Sea Recovery is our structured sober living home for men, located in a residential neighborhood in Rockdale. It gives men in early recovery a safe, supportive place to live alongside others working toward the same goal.
A non-treatment level of care
Sober living is not clinical treatment. It supports clients in early recovery with structure and accountability after clinical treatment, a place to practice recovery in real life.
What structured sober living is
Structured sober living is a substance-free home where people in early recovery live together under shared expectations. It is not a hospital and it is not a treatment program. What it offers is the thing that is hardest to find on your own in the first months of recovery: a stable place to sleep, people who understand, and a daily rhythm that keeps recovery at the center while life slowly comes back together.
The structure is the point. Curfews, drug and alcohol screening, house meetings, and a basic expectation that residents work, attend treatment, or both, are not there to control grown adults. They exist because early recovery is fragile, and structure gives it room to take hold before someone is fully on their own again.
Who it's for
Sober living fits men who have completed or are stepping down from clinical treatment and want structure, accountability, and community as they re-enter daily life. How long clients stay varies, some need a few weeks, others several months.
- Men only, in a quiet residential neighborhood
- Structure, accountability, and peer community
- A bridge between clinical treatment and fully independent living
- Sober living inquiries use the By the Sea number: (760) 216-2077
Explore structured sober living
What Is Structured Sober Living?
Sober living is the bridge between treatment and the rest of life. Here is what structured sober living actually is, who it helps, and how it protects early recovery.
Learn more
Sober Living for Men (By the Sea Recovery)
By the Sea Recovery is PMR's structured sober living home for men in Rockdale. Here is what life there looks like and how it keeps recovery on track.
Learn more
Sober Living vs Halfway House
People use these terms interchangeably, but they are not the same. Here is a clear comparison of sober living and halfway houses and how to tell which fits.
Learn more
House Rules and Daily Structure
Rules are not punishment, they are what keeps a recovery home safe. Here is what house rules and daily structure usually look like in sober living.
Learn more
How Long Should You Stay?
There is no single right answer, but longer often helps. Here is how to think about length of stay in sober living and what the research suggests.
Learn more
Sober Living After Treatment
The step from treatment back to everyday life is where recovery is most fragile. Sober living bridges that gap so progress does not unravel.
Learn moreHow sober living fits the continuum
Sober living works best as part of a larger plan, not in isolation. Many men move into a home like this while still attending an outpatient program, then keep the housing as their clinical hours taper down. It is one of the clearest expressions of our continuity-of-care approach: the clinical support and the living environment reinforce each other instead of ending at different times.
“The beauty of our Continuum of Care model is a consistent treatment team from the beginning of the journey until the client is ready to fly solo. Clients are able to establish trust with their primary counselor, while the team supports them from the first day of care through their transition into the next appropriate stage of recovery.”
Learn more at By the Sea Recovery
By the Sea Recovery has its own dedicated site at bytheseasandiego.com with full details on the home and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is sober living the same as rehab?
No. Rehab is clinical treatment with therapy and, when needed, medical care. Sober living is a substance-free, structured place to live. Many men do both at once, living in a sober home while attending an outpatient program, then keep the housing as treatment tapers down.
Does Present Moments Recovery have a sober living home for women?
Our structured sober living home, By the Sea Recovery, is for men only. If you are looking for support for a woman in early recovery, call or text (619) 363-4767 and we will help you think through the right options.
How do I ask about a bed at By the Sea Recovery?
Sober living inquiries go through the By the Sea number, (760) 216-2077, and the home has its own site at bytheseasandiego.com. If you are not sure where to start, the main line at (619) 363-4767 can point you in the right direction.
What kind of structure do residents follow in sober living?
Homes run on shared expectations like curfews, drug and alcohol screening, house meetings, and a basic expectation that residents work, attend treatment, or both. That structure is not about controlling grown adults. Early recovery is fragile, and a daily rhythm gives it room to take hold before someone is fully on their own again.
How long do men usually stay in sober living?
It varies from person to person. Some men need a few weeks, others stay several months. Many move in while still attending an outpatient program and keep the housing as their clinical hours taper down, so the living environment and the clinical support reinforce each other.
