Leaving Santa Barbara
We are finally back in the Northwest. And for the first time since moving here, I feel out-of-body in this town. Alien, despite the familiar surroundings. It’s probably just the drastic weather shift.
In many ways, Santa Barbara was a bit of a homecoming for us. IZ is a Santa Barbara boy. He drove us by his old homes and knew every backstreet to the town. No maps needed! For me, the topography of the canyons is familiar… as I grew up with very similar landscapes. The Oak scrub savanna is much like the little alpine lake of my youth… we just didn’t have palm trees everywhere. While I didn’t grow up in Santa Barbara, I spent a great deal of time there during my undergraduate work. It was always a toss up each break—do I head for Montecito or do I head for Laguna? The American Rivera usually won out.
It’s hard not to love a world of permanent sunshine. Yesterday found us stuffing suitcases with souvenirs and rumpled laundry, headed back to the wet. I was ready to leave, but not to come home. As we took our last transport to the airport I found myself wishing for a do-over… for a chance to head back to Santa Barbara. To sink into the big king bed surrounded by the pale blue of our hotel room and just rest. One last stroll on the beach. One last glimpse of terracotta and palm fronds.
Perhaps never to leave.
October 5th, 2007 at 5:08 am
Welcome back. Thanks for the visual tour. Now I know that Santa Barbara is gorgeous. All sunshine, all the time doesn’t sound like a bad plan ….
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I know, it’s a plan I’m scheming for, that’s for sure!
~W
October 5th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Looking forward to heading back ASAP.
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Agreed!! ~W
October 5th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
I get that sense of cognitive dissonance when I return to a place that is different then I left it…same thing when I go to work or go into a movie theater in the daylight and then it’s dark when I leave the building…like almost missing the step at the bottom of the stairs.
I like Santa Barbara too. I always thought it was an appealing draw that UCSB had it’s own lagoon.
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I graduated from a sister school of Westmont… in retrospect, I should have transfered! There are dozens of graduate programs in the area… not that I need another useless degree.
~W
October 5th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
We are going to Huntington Beach for a meet, and I am looking forward to it already. I hope the weather will be decent. By then, I’ll have had enough of this gray, rainy crap!
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Oh, Huntington Beach is amazing. It’s much further South, of course, and a different vibe… but so beautiful. And, I know you don’t like shopping all that much, but just the same, amazing shopping to be had.
~W
October 6th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
While I can totally appreciate the beauty of SB, I couldn’t wait to leave when we lived there.
I am a shorts and t-shirt wearing, Ford Aerostar driving, no make-up, no cute hair-do, no jewelry girl…..ya know, a NORTHWEST chick. I didn’t fit in and people were not nice if you didn’t have a Beemer.
I did enjoy our strolls on the beach where there was a naked guy. We’d always wonder if he had sunscreen on.
And my oldest chick had some wonderful friends who we still stay in touch with. 
I’ll stick with Cannon Beach.
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It’s not for everybody… but neither is Oregon.
~W
October 7th, 2007 at 8:04 am
I attended Music Academy of the West during college one summer. Santa Barbara is a heavenly place to practice one’s cello for 4-6 hours a day, as well!
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I bet!! ~W
October 7th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Follow your heart, dear Wende. If you and the Wonder Boys want to be there, then that is where, by all means, you should be. I am a true believer in following your heart. Of course, I think I’m half gypsy….lol.
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Thanks Paula… for the time being, it makes an excellent vacation destination. Already planning our next trip! ~W