Santa Paula, so far

I'd like to introduce you to our new hometown. Everyone, Santa Paula, Santa Paula, everyone. If all goes to plan, this is our town for the next... forever. This is where our kids will grow up and graduate high school, and come home to on breaks from college. This is where I hope to have a yard nice enough to host their wedding receptions. You get the idea--we're in this for the long haul. It's exciting! And scary. But mostly exciting! (But a little bit scary.)

I've realized that anytime I've talked to anyone about this place it's felt a bit like a sales pitch. Weird, right? But I think that's for 3 reasons: (1) no one knows anything about SP! Some have heard of it, and a small handful of people we know have actually been here. And before Jared discovered it a few months ago, I was in the never-heard-of-it camp. (2) I might still occasionally feel the need to convince myself that it's where I want to spend the next 30 years of my life. (3) I want you to move here and be my friend.

On that note, here is a list of things we love (so far) about Santa Paula!

* Warmest welcome EVER. Everyone we've met has been so kind and friendly and has told us how happy they are that we're here. Wow, thanks.
* The weather. I don't have to tell you how perfect the weather is. I want to tell you. It's perfect.
* Old friends & fam. So good to be just a 1-2 hour drive away. (Have I mentioned that yet? Oh, a million times?)
* The beach. 20 minutes away. Yes.
* It's absolutely gorgeous here. It even smells good! Lemon and avocado groves line the freeway. We live in a valley surrounded by mountains that are foggy in the morning. Blue skies and sometimes ocean views in the afternoon.
* On the other side of those mountains are LA county (to the south) and Santa Barbara and Ojai (to the north). We're in good company.
* Rent for our 3 bedroom house in SP < rent for our 2 bedroom (really, 1 bedroom with the living room cut in half - and made into a cave - to make a 2nd bedroom) apartment in NYC.
* Mexican food. The one cuisine that NYC does not nail. Jared's a pretty big Mexican foodie, and here he's in Mexican food heaven.
* Main Street. There's a really cute downtown that hosts community events all the time, it seems. Jazz & art festival, citrus festival, classic car shows every first Friday, holiday parades, the small-town works.
* And finally, the Santa Paula Library...

I'm still learning/desperately trying to learn about good places to take the kids. The Santa Paula Library is definitely my favorite kid-friendly place in town, so far. The kids & I ride bikes there once a week (at least) for storytelling. There is a huge area for kids with a play house, a puppet stage, and a few sit-and-read spots. We try not to make too much noise, but don't feel icy stares if we do.

Note how Isaac tried out every chair in the house.

Really, the only problems I have with the library are my own 2 kids! Their favorite activities are to pull books off the shelves by the armful, climb the bleacher seats during story time and hide in the house when it's time to go. They're not obnoxious, just active. Oh, and 1 1/2. (Or is that what I just want to believe?) Regardless, we'll keep going and eventually they'll get it.

Things about Santa Paula that I'm still getting used to:

* Small town. I think I like it, but I'm not completely sure since I don't really know what it means.
* Spiders. Actually, I will never get used to spiders. Never.

Hope to share more about what we love about our new hometown. As soon as I find out what it is.