tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716509980377809016.post1336250635466564722..comments2024-03-11T10:20:01.582-07:00Comments on The Rehearsal Studio: At the End of the Road to SerfdomStephen Smoliarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14689767135234237242noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716509980377809016.post-38373945318286738872007-06-06T16:25:00.000-07:002007-06-06T16:25:00.000-07:00Writing as an already ex-Santa Barbarian, I should...Writing as an <I>already</I> ex-Santa Barbarian, I should have explained that I was told about the "Santa Barbara syndrome" in the early eighties, possible even before Reagan was inaugurated. I suspect there was a connection between that obsession with perfection and a lack of cognitive (I shall not even go as far as "intellectual") stimulation. Things felt a lot safer than they now seem to be. However, there was definitely a sense of the <I>soma</I>-induced <A HREF="http://www.huxley.net/bnw/six.html" REL="nofollow">motto</A> of Huxley's <I>Brave New World</I>: "Everybody's happy nowadays."Stephen Smoliarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14689767135234237242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716509980377809016.post-91088322275029975962007-06-06T13:39:00.000-07:002007-06-06T13:39:00.000-07:00"Life in Santa Barbara is perfect"? Puh-leeze. I h..."Life in Santa Barbara is perfect"? Puh-leeze. I have never seen a more self-absorbed community. It reminds me of the fable about the Emperor's New Clothes - everyone so eagerly telling one another how "perfect" it is here, no one notices that the Emporor is naked. Individually, there are lots of nice decent folk, nice weather (if you don't mind a couple of months of gray skies when most places are enjoying Spring and Summer sunshine, not to mention the near constant threat of wildfires and, of course, the ever-present threat of "the Big One" which - let's face it - will come one day as it has several times before). <BR/> Let's be honest - the town doesn't have a decent newspaper, the lone TV station is amateurish to put it politely. Gang violence is rampand and growing and there are serious drug and alcohol abuse problems among the teenage and college student populations. <BR/>There is next to nothing open late at night, other than a couple of rowdy bars on lower State Street and forget about trying to go to a movie after 8PM most nights. Although there are a couple of good restaurants, most are located in shopping centers and lack atmostphere. <BR/> Santa Barbara is, at the end of the day, a sleepy bedroom community, inhabited mostly by an aging and/or retired group of people - half the population has lots of money, the other half does their gardening and housecleaning. <BR/>We moved here two years ago so our son could attend school and I can't wait until he graduates and we can get out of Dodge. (I must not be the only who feels this way - ever notice there are more "FOR SALE" signs per square inch in this town than almost any place on earth). It's been tolerable but I long for some real energy and intellectual stimulation - that feeling of excitement when you step out the door in the morning to start your day. This place has none. That may not be for everyone and I would never presume to impose my values and predilections on anyone but I am tired of people constantly telling and asking me how wonderful this place is. If you like it here, just shut up and enjoy it. As for those who still have functioning brain cells, wake up, open your eyes, look around before it's too late - life in Santa Barbara is far from "perfect".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716509980377809016.post-47141892738620720882007-05-31T10:36:00.000-07:002007-05-31T10:36:00.000-07:00Yes indeed, quite profound. I've struggled with th...Yes indeed, quite profound. I've struggled with this concept for 20 years at least. I gave up many significant career ops to stay and now I find myself wondering if it was all worth it. I'm sure it is what drives the NIMBY attitude for many of us. It is the onslaught of new developements and the unknown impacts the scare the crap out of me that what I sacrificed for will soon be lost to the ravages of the barbarians at the gate. Never thought of it as depression but it probably is. To bad I can't afford a psychiatrist due to the expense of living here. (laughing so hard it hurts)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716509980377809016.post-88540377642035417602007-05-31T09:50:00.000-07:002007-05-31T09:50:00.000-07:00When I clicked on this article via EdHat I expecte...When I clicked on this article via EdHat I expected it to be some trite nonsense, but instead I found something quite profound. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com