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12-02-2008, 08:04 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Dec 2008
10 posts, read 5,649 times
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How is the commute from Ventura to Santa Maria
I plan to take a 9-month assignment in Santa Maria, but nothing in Santa Barbara county impresses me. I'm more of a city type of guy. Santa Maria seems too small and from what I gather here on the forums, it has a crime issue. Santa Barbara is too pricey. The Ventura/Oxnard/Camarillo area seems perfect for me; given what I would like from a town.
With that being said; how is traffic on the 101 going north to Santa Maria in the mornings? Also, would any of you see it as a needless commute?
Marc Allan
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12-02-2008, 08:17 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hampton Cove, Huntsville, AL
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That's a very long, long way to go. It might be the prettiest commute in the world but it is almost two hours one way. Also, I think there is quite a bit of traffic going from Ventura to Santa Barbara. I remember reading there was quite an issue for people who work in Santa Barbara living in Ventura for housing affordability (as if Ventura was cheap).
Even Goleta would be more than an hour to Santa Maria.
No way should you do that commute.
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12-02-2008, 08:23 PM
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keep on...keepin' on
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: here and there
1,177 posts, read 123,916 times
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I second that. much too long of a commute. you'll get tired of it real quick no matter how beautiful it is.
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12-03-2008, 08:00 AM
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Senior Member
Status:
"Make your words sweet. You may have to eat them someday!"
(set 8 days ago)
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Whiteville Tennessee
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2 hours if you dont hit fog around Carpenteria/Summerland or Goleta. I think you should do a little more research. Santa Maria is no better/worse than any other central coast town. You may wish to check out San Luis Obispo also. Good luck! 
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12-03-2008, 09:40 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Southern California
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How's the commute? Insanely bad!  I knew someone who commuted from Solvang to Oxnard and didn't like the commute (did like Solvang though!). 101 is the long way around, 150 traffic at that length of commute would be intolerable.
I agree with another poster, SLO is the way to go, however that town may not be enough of a "big city" for you... I would visit first.
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12-03-2008, 09:53 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
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You would take a 104 mi one way commute based on housing prices?? Granted you're only doing it for 9 months, but do you really want to put 56,000 miles on your car in less than a year?
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12-03-2008, 11:07 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
313 posts, read 350,624 times
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You should really look into San Luis Obispo... commute time would be around 35 minutes, maybe more, but you'd be in a reverse commute, so traffic wouldn't be bad.
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12-03-2008, 02:42 PM
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Formerly 'cre8'. Now just a character.
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Shallow alcove hidden from the telescreen
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The a.m. commute between Ventura and Santa Barbara alone can be tough. That stretch is only 30-40 miles but with normal traffic takes more than an hour. God help you if there's an accident, truck overturned or something like that when it can take 3 - 4 hours. Same thing with the p.m. commute back from SB. It can be a nightmare.
Between Santa Barbara and Santa Maria wouldn't be bad with a northbound a.m./southbound p.m. That's a "reverse commute" situation, but it's also 75 miles from SB to SM. From Ventura to SM, as others here have pointed out, is more than 100 miles one way.
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12-03-2008, 03:44 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Apple Valley Calif
3,530 posts, read 2,077,049 times
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Santa Marie is a great town. Were I you, I'd live there, close to work, and commute to the party towns when the need arises. You would be doing far less driving, and you could sleep later...
SM has the best food in the country...
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12-03-2008, 05:35 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Orange County CA
5,476 posts, read 4,885,978 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donn2390
Santa Marie is a great town. Were I you, I'd live there, close to work, and commute to the party towns when the need arises. You would be doing far less driving, and you could sleep later...
SM has the best food in the country...
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Beef? Where's your favorite?
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