What's the truth about Santa Maria - Orcutt? (Fresno, Berkeley: mortgages, attorney)

[CalBerkeley2002]

I hear a lot of good and bad things about Santa Maria. Especially from GreatBasin (please don't jump in greatbasin, we all know you hate Santa Maria). But I'm looking for an unbiased opinion - perhaps someone who lives there now or has in the past? If you have a good income (+$100,000) certainly there are parts of the town that are nice where one can enjoy the nice weather and scenery, right? I assume there are school districts that are better than others as well, can anyone point me in the right direction in terms of where one should live if they are interested in moving to the area? Unlike greatbasin I enjoy a culturally diverse place and people speaking spanish does not bother me...hablo espanol tambien. Thanks everyone.

[greatbasinguide]

Poor Guy, must be very young. I do not hate nor have I expressed a dislike for Santa Maria. Nor for Mexicans. It must be sad to see the world in terms of black and white.

Santa Maria is flat, boring, and full of gangs. There is culture in Santa Maria, PCPA and that is about it.

It has lovely neighborhoods, fine parks and great people, some of whom are white and some of whom are hispanic. Our family attorney is Hispanic, Mother's doctor is Black, so much for assumed prejudices.

There is no real scenery to view, aside from cabbage fields, Mt. Solomon to the south and Figueroa to the east.

My family has been in Santa Maria for over a hundred years, we certainly can be considered a pioneer family who helped create Santa Maria.

CalBerkeley, There is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in your philosophy.

If I had to move back to Santa Maria, I would move to the southside and or Orcutt.

[CalBerkeley2002]

Originally Posted by greatbasinguide

Poor Guy, must be very young. I do not hate nor have I expressed a dislike for Santa Maria. Nor for Mexicans. It must be sad to see the world in terms of black and white.

Santa Maria is flat, boring, and full of gangs. There is culture in Santa Maria, PCPA and that is about it.

It has lovely neighborhoods, fine parks and great people, some of whom are white and some of whom are hispanic. Our family attorney is Hispanic, Mother's doctor is Black, so much for assumed prejudices.

There is no real scenery to view, aside from cabbage fields, Mt. Solomon to the south and Figueroa to the east.

My family has been in Santa Maria for over a hundred years, we certainly can be considered a pioneer family who helped create Santa Maria.

CalBerkeley, There is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in your philosophy.

If I had to move back to Santa Maria, I would move to the southside and or Orcutt.

I'm the one who sees things in black and white? Please! All one has to do is look through your posts to get a feeling of where you stand. Don't want to get into that argument though, thanks for the advice - South SM or Orcutt. Appreciate the help.

[greatbasinguide]

I suggest you actually read what I wrote. Oh, and they don't like turtlenecks, berets and little beards in Santa Maria, you will need Wranglers, a huge belt buckle, snap button shirts and a real hat. And a Ford F250.

[CalBerkeley2002]

Originally Posted by greatbasinguide

I suggest you actually read what I wrote. Oh, and they don't like turtlenecks, berets and little beards in Santa Maria, you will need Wranglers, a huge belt buckle, snap button shirts and a real hat. And a Ford F250.

That shouldn't be a problem, I've been living in Houston,TX for 2 years now. That stuff comes standard issued when you cross the New Mexico/Texas state line.

Anyone else who may live in SM or has lived there recently feel free to pitch in here. Thanks.

[greatbasinguide]

Oh, and dump the VW bus

[CalBerkeley2002]

Originally Posted by greatbasinguide

Oh, and dump the VW bus

OK old-timer, that's enough computer time for you - go back to widdling wood on the front porch as you talk about "the good ol' days." PS. I'm from Fresno, not a hippy to be seen for hundreds of miles. I have a geology degree, not liberal arts - in case you haven't heard Berkeley produces more than just California's future liberals. Again, you have to keep up with the times, I know it's hard, but things progress over the course of 20-30 years.

[Greenchili]

And its a nice town. I live in Lompoc, and Id hate to hear Greatbasinguides
take on it! Its really not a bad town, Ive never had problems shopping
and hanging out there. They have some nice new homes there, and prices
are dropping! Weather is very nice, never too hot or cold, and that is no
exageration! It does have alot of fields and agriculture, as does Lompoc.That
does NOT bother me, its better than crowds,traffic,pollution,etc. Really, check out the areas when you can. Orcutt is nice enough, its basically an
extension of Santa Maria IMO. One mans paradise is anothers hell. Right?
(Runs from incoming )

[SoCalif]

It appears Basinguide's reputation is proceeding him. Santa Maria is a fine town to live in. I've lived here pretty much all my life. There are some very nice neighborhoods in Santa Maria. If you make over $100,000 a year, you should be able to get into one of those neighborhoods.

As far as gangs go, I don't see them, nor have I ever had any encounter with anything or anyone resembleing a gangster. Being Hispanic doesn't make you a gang member. I live the American dream, and am very happy to call Santa Maria my home. We have great weather here, it's seldom too hot, never too cold. We have a nice junior college in Allan Hancock J.C, I live close to some nicest of the beaches in all of California without having to pay beachtown mortgages, I live relatively close to some very nice lakes in Nacimiento and San Antonio where I take my boat out with my family. We're almost halfway between LA and SF (a little closer to LA).

I would recommend living in South East Santa Maria for anyone planning on moving here.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by SoCalif

There are some very nice neighborhoods in Santa Maria. If you make over $100,000 a year, you should be able to get into one of those neighborhoods.

My question is how do you make $100k up there? I've been through that area many times and I don't see a whole lot of industry other than picking vegetables or fast food/retail. And yet housing prices are almost as high as LA/OC.