You can also consider Gaillardias, lantanas, bougainvilleas, chlorophytum comosum, lavender. As mentioned already by Carol, first year, these plants will need a bit more watering till they get established.
These days in Cali..brown is the new green. In some areas in Sacramento they do cash for green, to encourage homeowners to do more water-wise gardening. Don't know if San Diego county does the same. And another thing with San Diego, when the Santa Ana winds come, it really gets drier, wild fire hazard is high, so the typical meadow-look is not recommended.
