Looks like paradise, feels like a small town
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1/3/2007
I've been living here for over 5 years now, and I both love it and hate it. You're truly fortunate if you live here, and also trapped economically and geographically.
Santa Barbara is extremely expensive, but a middle-class person can live here if you make rent your first priority above, say, any leisure spending. If your combined household income is above $100K, buying a condo might be do-able. If you're a working class kinda person, you may find yourself living with 2 roommates in a quirky house just to afford it, or you and your partner living in a 1-bedroom apartment. It's a great place to live or retire if you're well off. This town is actually quite small, so anonymity is impossible, but big enough that you have several choices of entertainment, from a mid-size downtown area (complete with nightlife), to lots of access to hiking, surfing, kayaking, etc.
The attitude in Santa Barbara is all of these things: conceited and conservative, liberal and enviro-friendly, community-minded, classist, preppy, and anti- anything related to eyesores like strip malls or walmart. There's a world-class farmers market, great local theatres, a decent Indy newspaper, cool Festivals. There's also not a Target for 40 miles, and a mind-boggling lack of ethnic diversity. You're more likely to spot people who'll spend $1K on a doggie sweater or couture jeans (or a celebrity!) than someone with an eccentric color of hair, or an 'adult' store. On the other hand, I feel safe here, and the freaks n' geeks are around if you really get to know people. I've seen folks come out for peaceful protests and gay pride events, but I've also seen more Beamers and trust fund brats than I cared to.
Santa Barbara: low on excitement, danger and diversity; big on yoga, scenery, and high-class living.
Abhd | Santa Barbara, CA