I'm from here and still live in the mountains. The 60s spirit has waned. I wouldn't say SC has hippy vibes anymore. Just take a walk down pacific avenue and look around, compared to 20 years ago.

As a resident of nearby Capitola (and not far from Pleasure Point where Tom Lehrer bought a home), I absolutely love the winter in Santa Cruz County. I can enjoy the natural scenery and many of the tourist attractions without dealing with the crowds and the traffic.

I’ve been living in Santa Cruz County for 12 out of the past 14 years; 1 year living in graduate housing at UCSC, 4 years in Capitola, two years away in the East Bay, and then the past 7 years in Capitola again. UC Santa Cruz brought me to the county, but even after graduating I stuck around for quite a while. I enjoy the tranquility of Capitola, and I feel it’s a nice retreat from Silicon Valley while being close for meetings and events. Hybrid work helps a lot; I wouldn’t want to drive over Highway 17 every day, though.

I’m going to miss living here; I’m preparing for a move back to the East Bay since I will start a full-time tenure-track teaching position at Ohlone College in Fremont. No more hybrid work; I will be in the classroom at least four days per week. I’m looking forward to finally engaging in my passion for teaching full time after nine years in industry, but I can’t do Highway 17 every day, so I’m going to need to move from Capitola. I’m sad I’ll have to give up the nice weather and the soothing morning coastal fog, but I will always have great memories.