Ok, as you probably do not remember or care, I was the one who a few months ago had the dilemna of choosing between grad schools in NJ, Philly, and Santa Barbara. Most respondents said “whassamatta you crazy? New Jersey or Santa Barbara? Duh!” and aside from academic issues it was clear that UCSB was the right choice (and not bad academically either, and they threw gobs of money at me).
Anyway, so I’m gonna move to Santa Barbara, and now that we have many newer members, I wanted to fish for more information about the area (more than “I hear it’s expensive”). I’ll be living on the other side on campus (Goleta) in cheap grad-studnet housing.
Has anybody lived there? I’m in Oregon, now, so the west coast thing isn’t a surprise. California might be, though (i.e. drive-thru liquor stores). Fill me in on the dirt. Thanks.
I attended UCSB for five years and opted to live in Isla Vista, the small student ghetto which lies adjacent to the campus. You definitely don’t want to live there because it’s a freaking zoo on the weekends, so good decision on your part to live in quiet Goleta. Rest assured, however, Goleta is no Santa Barbara. It’s a somewhat rundown, strip-mall infested community about 15 miles north of Santa Barbara proper. No matter anyway, since SB and it’s scenic environs are only a short drive away. Other than that it’s a pefectly lovely area to spend a few years. For a “small-town”, the Santa Barbara area actually has a decent amount of things to do, from hiking and beach-combing to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and frequent summertime street festivals along State Street in downtown SB. Plus, you’re only about an hour’s drive away from (shudder) Los Angeles or six hours from San Francisco. Enjoy!
Torgo or pricciar,
Do either of you know what the employment situation is down there? Are there regular-guy jobs to be had, or is it all gardening for the very rich? My husband is in the bike industry but won’t work in a shop for less than 10 an hour, but is thinking about getting into computers or some similar higher-paying but less fun occupation.
I won’t actually be living IN Goleta, but rather in the grad housing north (east?) of Isla Vista in the fields, so I’m not too worried about the I.V. zoo or the rather dreary look of Goleta itself.
Also, what is the weather REALLY like-- what I hear sounds too good to be true and I’m having trouble believing it-- have I been fed a line of recruiting-related fiction by everyone down there? I’m not worried about cold, I’m worried about too hot. There really aren’t any 100+ degree, humid weeks in the summer?
Thanks,
Mitzi
Well keep in mind I haven’t lived there since 1989, but I would imagine the employment situation to be much like that of any other town of similar size. As I recall, back in '89, there wasn’t exactly a swarm of Fortune 500 companies in town. Santa Barbara is not a place where people become rich, it’s where they decide to live after they’ve become rich elsewhere.
The weather is too good to be true but be prepared for disappointment in the summer. The average summertime day in Santa Barbara starts as foggy and overcast and remains that way until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Other than that it’s great.
I just asked the HR person here to find out what the job situation was like. She said unemployment is at its lowest in thirty years. Employers are desperately looking for people. Its a good time to move here, she told me.
I don’t think the weather ever goes above 90 during the summer. I have never experienced humidity. Well, in the winter it rains alot.
As far as the summertime, I haven’t noticed the same fog as Torgo, you get some June Gloom, but other than that its mostly sunny, and if there is any Ocean Haze it burns off by early afternoon.
pat
I’m sure you’re correct, Pat. It has been 11 years…all I remember is there was some summertime fog.
I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned to MK yet the dreaded…TAR ON THE BEACH. If you decide to go for an oceanside stroll, be sure you’re sporting some footwear. If your tootsies do get coated with the slimy stuff, baby oil is good for removing it.