Michelle Staufenbiel
Santa Barbara from the clocktower (Photo: Photopippo)
By Michelle Montalvo Staufenbiel
Recently U.S News & World Report published an article titled, “125 Best Places to Live in the USA.” Low and behold, our very own Santa Barbara has made the list.
As a member of this community, I would like to take a moment to rejoice in the fact that our city is awesome. Well, to be specific, it is ranked number 73 out of 125 metro cities. So not quite the very best according to this arbitrary ranking, but close enough.
The city that made the very top of the list was Austin, Texas; which did have a bittersweet effect for me as my sister recently decided to move to Austin, Texas. She attempted to persuade me to move with her, her fiance and their animal farm. Obviously, the thought of not living in the same state as me was devastating, for she is leaving behind her favorite person, but as her favorite person it is my obligation to forgive and support.
As she tried to convince me that Texas would be “great” and “not that far”, she brought up a few aspects of Austin that U.S News mentioned in their article: booming music scene, no income tax, great outdoor opportunities. Well ok, it is not hard to fall head over heels in love with an environment like that.
As noted in U.S News & World Report “the median sale price for a single-family home in Austin is well above the national median”. But considering how expensive major cities in California are such as San Francisco ranked number 7 and San Jose who made 14 on the list, Austin is still a more financially sound option for young adults and new families. With all of this talk of finance in mind, it is important to connect once again to the city we hold in our hearts: Santa Barbara.
In the report on Santa Barbara, there was a mention of the rise of individuals working locally but living elsewhere due to expensive housing. It is no surprise then that the city of Santa Barbara is often called a “Playground for the rich and famous”, after all, Oprah Winfrey does have a house located in Montecito. Though I have yet to run into Oprah, I still have faith that one day I may get lucky.
To declare that Santa Barbara is a perfect place would be biased as well as wrong. I still have yet to find a Chinese restaurant I adore, but along the way I did discover other things I love. It was here that I discovered rock climbing and realized that with enough hard work I can do a pull-up. It is here that I make the point of going outside and breathing in the fresh air, instead of staying trapped inside.
Some of the aspects of Santa Barbara that draw many towards this community is the sandwich effect of being wedged between the Santa Ynez mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It is a “paradise,” one built for active individuals who love the outdoors. A Saturday can be dedicated to a hiking outing with friends. Another day can be spent surfing in that huge puddle we call the Pacific Ocean.
Santa Barbara brings out the desire in many to be outside and engaging with the world around them. Not only is it all accessible, it’s irresistible and, call me biased, but Santa Barbara should at least be ranked in the top ten. Right?
Michelle loves to Rock Climb (if that wasn’t obvious by now) and is currently freaking out about the current season of Game of Thrones.
Santa Barbara was one of the best places to live back in the late 70s. Back then people were embarrassed to say that they’d come here from someplace else. As for Austin: I was watching a movie the other day and the one character lambasted Austin repeatedly. He said that Austin has become a travesty of what it once was, overrun with newcomers and that the traffic was abominable. Sound familiar? What made me laugh was when the guy said, “And thousands of people gather every night to watch a bunch of bats come out from under a bridge.” Ha. That’s the only reason I would go to Austin—-to see the bats. (Plus. Let’s not forget Austin is in Texas. Ugh. Texas.)
If you have a Trust Fund that provided you Santa Barbara real estate with a “grandfathered in” $600 per year Property Tax or a Trust Fund account that pays out $300K per year, then yeah, SB is a cool place to live… The rest of us second guess our decisions every time we pull off the Freeway off ramps and get confronted by gutter rats. Or write our Annual Property Tax Check to the County Auditor for $10,000 , not so much…
Yesterday we had to call 911 on someone breaking in entering into the next-door neighbors, I went to the 99 Cents store and had someone completely screaming in my face about milk, someone who I never had spoken to. It was frightening to even go there. This morning there was a man who fell out of his wheelchair and everybody was just walking by him at Jack-in-the-Box on Milpas. The other night I went to eat on State Street and saw a man pooing behind the bus stop down Haley from state. Its truly paradise.
Completely agree with you, Namasteyogi. Do not agree with Michelle the rock climber. Besides being pretty, not much to write about in regards to Santa Barbara. This town shouldn’t even be in the top 100.
Rex said it..so true. Santa Barbara is stunning visually but the quality of life has plummeted for sure.
I’ve lived in numerous cities across the globe and while Santa Barbara may not be what it once was from all the comments I read, it is still a great place. Every place changes, and will continue to, so it becomes how to adapt to changes or to venture to somewhere else that fits what you want.
SBATLIEN. Unfortunately, a lot of people move to Santa Barbara with the attitude of “It’s better here than where I’m from,” and then they proceed to turn Santa Barbara into the place from whence they fled.
COASTWATCH. Or, if you’re like my neighbors who moved here and purchased a house in recent times you think you’re entitled to be the inconsiderate bullies of the neighborhood because you pay that $10,000+ in property tax.
Des Moines, Iowa, is ranked #5 and Grand Rapids, Michigan, is #13. Santa Barbara was also bested by Fort Wayne, Indiana; Buffalo, New York; and Anchorage, Alaska. Which should tell you something about the validity of this bogus survey.
I totally agree with Rex.
For the newbies who so love to say “June Gloom” and such, my s.o. coined a new one for you people: Graypril.” Enjoy.
JAK. “narrower minded than average” Where’s the hyphen? Not just awkward wording, but what’s the basis for this slight?
Some people say the locals are rude, we’re not. It’s comments and the attitude that basically say if you don’t like the changes we’ve made to your hometown you can move that leave us baffled and angry and somewhat defensive so of course we seem rude.
Weather, community size and not knowing where to go are the reasons I stay. Exceptionally high taxes, filth, and community government’s inability (or unwillingness) to prioritize major concerns for the last 5 decades from elementary schools ranked in the bottom 5000 statewide and homelessness to replacement of antiquated infrastructure reduce everyone’s quality of life. Weather! Great weather!
Going to a new place doesn’t always mean one has fled another place or one place is better than the other. Most are not colonialists. The world is greatly connected and opportunities and perspectives shift allowing change as a positive outcome. I realize many disagree.
Well, seeing all the dumb a** personal license plates that have SB in them it must be great. “lov in SB” “esq SB” . “surf SB” “loser SB” I figure they are all getting ready to move to San Bernardino.
Your state representatives, which include Hannah-Beth Jackson and Monque Limon, are demanding all single-family residence lots can now become four-plex units. Santa Barbara will quickly become another Oxnard or Ventura and lose its uniqueness entirely.
At one time Santa Barbara had more psychotherapists per population than any other city in the Nation. Living in paradise was not the answer either. Life satisfaction is far more than weather.
Parking in 5 Points during Christmas shopping must not have been a question otherwise SB would be dead last.
Santa Barbara is amazing if you avail yourself of the things it has to offer- if you haven’t hiked, taken a day trip to Santa Ynez, touched the sea (let alone paddle out), ate at one of the nice downtown restaurants with a buddy for lunch on a great day, well, you’re just paying a lot of money for the weather only.
Get out and use your membership- the only things wrong with Santa Barbara are the things that California in general keeps getting wrong policy-wise.
If it’s too expensive and you aren’t accessing the sea and nature as much as you’d like then yes you should consider moving someplace cheaper. Santa Barbara and California in general are very expensive places and aren’t getting any cheaper.
LOVE the “Graypril”!! I’m born and raised here (almost 55 years) and own a biz here. I’m obviously not leaving any time soon and have learned to work with what SB is – and proudly so. As for the weather – yes, it can be unpredictable…we do have those 80 degree Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years but it’s unusual. You can pretty much guarantee the May Gray/June Gloom, that every few summers we’ll have a “bummer summer” where it doesn’t get warm until late August and that we get a heatwave as soon as school starts in September. The rest is go with the flow. Don’t like it…move. I’ll take this “unpredictability” vs. snow/tornadoes/hurricanes any day of the week.
In this thread: People who don’t hike!
I have lived all around the world. Nothing is as it once was. But SantaBarbara will ALWAYS be HOME! If your not happy here,Leave! Hope you find happiness somewhere. Good Luck! BYE-BYE!
You must never have tried to even get close to the parking lot at Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu during the Christmas season. There the streets around it become ‘parking’ lots at that time!!!
Some of us, even long time residents, can no longer physically do the things you mention. Can’t afford to move either.
My doctor wouldn’t be happy with the results if I did hike. He’s seen me walking on level floors, without rocks! 😉