I missed this comment earlier! Would love to hear your thoughts when you get back! Also; if you’re driving from SF there’s a great little place to stop for coffee or an matcha along the way called Cafe Aquattica.
Hi! New reader here :) I’m a designer and creative director and enjoyed this topic so much- I’m torn now, I have always bristled at the idea of HOAs because they squash creativity, but the thought of being able to live in such a peaceful and beautiful space is so tempting. Good food for thought!
Hi! Welcome and thanks for reading 🤎 I agree, I have always hated the idea of someone telling me what I can/can't do with my property BUT I do think in the right context, an HOA/some kind of governance, when done with certain ideals in mind, can result in something really special. And certainly my street in Grand Lake could benefit from having a few rules to keep the peace (it's a bit wild west up there and my neighbors often have trucks and trailers parked out front...)
Thanks for sharing—have never been and loved reading about Nantucket. This exactly!: "Here, the limits give rest and calm. The level of visual stress on Nantucket may be lower than anywhere else this side of the Rocky Mountains, and this has to be due, in part, to the degree to which new architecture conforms to certain important conventions initiated by older buildings." It feels like the US is so starved for community but we also aren't willing to ever give up our personal freedoms.
Glad you liked, the history of the island is super interesting. And I agree with you about the community vs freedom paradox, I just read this last night re: the deterioration of local community: https://www.afterbabel.com/p/community-based-childhood (sorry to spam you with links 😬)
I went to a museum exhibition about Sea Ranch a few years ago and I do remember finding it very interesting and peculiar. I get the architectural beauty and admire the commitment to a unified way of living, but I can't help but wonder how exclusive and unwelcoming it must be. Reminds me of when my friends and I were gawked at in the Hamptons when we were at a private beach (which we were entitled to with our rental home!).
All that being said, I do live in a HOA community and find a lot of upside to community living. Maybe it's just different once you're on the inside.
FWIW, we haven't found the Sea Ranch community to be exclusive or unwelcoming on the whole. While being Asian owners under age 40 puts us in the minority, everyone we've chatted with in person on hiking trails or at community events has been nice.
The only thing that has made us feel unwelcome is the hostility towards short-term rentals (STRs) from some homeowners who don't rent out their homes. Luckily, we've witnessed that primarily on the community listserv and not from anyone we interacted with in person. To be fair, negative sentiments towards STRs are part of just about every city and community where they exist, and they're not correlated with having design guidelines, an HOA, or rules.
As Teresa pointed out, the Sea Ranch community is shared by full-time resident-owners, long-term renters, part-time owners who operate STRs, part-time owners who don't, short-term renters, and non-paying guests. Although some people who oppose STRs want to blame every off-leash dog, bag of dog poop left on a trail, or rambunctious child at the pool on a short-term renter, the reality is that it's a community of over 1000 homes, and nobody in Sea Ranch can definitively label you as an owner or renter when they see you.
I've never felt that the rules were an inconvenience, though I rolled my eyes the two times security called me early in the morning because our guests committed the minor offense of hanging towels or swimwear conspicuously outside. Most of our guests seem to already know what type of place Sea Ranch is and are willing to follow the rules. Many of them tell us that they visit Sea Ranch regularly with their families and rent different homes each time. Only one group has complained about there being too many rules.
Yes, I could definitely see the community being a bit exclusive—that said, I don't think it's anything like the Hamptons or similar enclaves for the extremely wealthy! I would say as far as second home destinations go, Sea Ranch is accessibly priced. It's also financially accessible to visit—my friends' Airbnb for example is ~$600 a night for 3 bedrooms—I feel like it's hard to find a hotel stay that's under $200 per couple anywhere these days.
A high percentage of people who have homes there rent them out part time, I think in part because SF is pretty far (3 hours). It would be hard to make it up there every weekend. There aren't a ton of sights to see in the area or anything—it's more about enjoying the serenity and nature, so I think it really attracts a certain type of person. My feeling was that people are happy for visitors to be there, as long as they, too, are really respectful of the ethos of Sea Ranch.
We went to sea ranch earlier this year for the first time! Truly the attention to detail at every home is next level. It was a very relaxing trip of walking around and enjoying the stunning scenery.
Despite growing up in the Bay Area it’s only recently come on my radar! Def need to explore more of the northern coast—such a pretty part of the state.
Glad you had a chance to experience Sea Ranch with us!
By the way, you can plant hydrangeas and whatever non-native plants you want if you have an enclosed front yard, as long as those plants are fully within your walls. :) We don't have an enclosed yard though.
Thanks for having me (and my mom lol!) I had a whole side story about how only really good friends invite your mom to tag along but it got too long and unwieldy. Know that I and my mom are v appreciative. Can't wait to visit again!
Yes! I actually feel like it took me until the second half of my life to start to learn the overwhelming importance of designing our environments, but now I can’t unsee it. Thank you for reading ❤️
I just planned a visit to Sea Ranch because of this post! Thank you for such an interesting article :)
I missed this comment earlier! Would love to hear your thoughts when you get back! Also; if you’re driving from SF there’s a great little place to stop for coffee or an matcha along the way called Cafe Aquattica.
Thank you so much! I’m really looking forward to it.
Community v isolation. Indeed.
Hi! New reader here :) I’m a designer and creative director and enjoyed this topic so much- I’m torn now, I have always bristled at the idea of HOAs because they squash creativity, but the thought of being able to live in such a peaceful and beautiful space is so tempting. Good food for thought!
Hi! Welcome and thanks for reading 🤎 I agree, I have always hated the idea of someone telling me what I can/can't do with my property BUT I do think in the right context, an HOA/some kind of governance, when done with certain ideals in mind, can result in something really special. And certainly my street in Grand Lake could benefit from having a few rules to keep the peace (it's a bit wild west up there and my neighbors often have trucks and trailers parked out front...)
Loved this! The other place I can think of in the US is Nantucket and it’s charming as ever (despite being overrun by rich a-holes these days 😤) https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/02/arts/architecture-view-a-rigid-building-code-preserves-nantucket.html
Thanks for sharing—have never been and loved reading about Nantucket. This exactly!: "Here, the limits give rest and calm. The level of visual stress on Nantucket may be lower than anywhere else this side of the Rocky Mountains, and this has to be due, in part, to the degree to which new architecture conforms to certain important conventions initiated by older buildings." It feels like the US is so starved for community but we also aren't willing to ever give up our personal freedoms.
Glad you liked, the history of the island is super interesting. And I agree with you about the community vs freedom paradox, I just read this last night re: the deterioration of local community: https://www.afterbabel.com/p/community-based-childhood (sorry to spam you with links 😬)
Ooh v good food for thought. I love your links!
I went to a museum exhibition about Sea Ranch a few years ago and I do remember finding it very interesting and peculiar. I get the architectural beauty and admire the commitment to a unified way of living, but I can't help but wonder how exclusive and unwelcoming it must be. Reminds me of when my friends and I were gawked at in the Hamptons when we were at a private beach (which we were entitled to with our rental home!).
All that being said, I do live in a HOA community and find a lot of upside to community living. Maybe it's just different once you're on the inside.
FWIW, we haven't found the Sea Ranch community to be exclusive or unwelcoming on the whole. While being Asian owners under age 40 puts us in the minority, everyone we've chatted with in person on hiking trails or at community events has been nice.
The only thing that has made us feel unwelcome is the hostility towards short-term rentals (STRs) from some homeowners who don't rent out their homes. Luckily, we've witnessed that primarily on the community listserv and not from anyone we interacted with in person. To be fair, negative sentiments towards STRs are part of just about every city and community where they exist, and they're not correlated with having design guidelines, an HOA, or rules.
As Teresa pointed out, the Sea Ranch community is shared by full-time resident-owners, long-term renters, part-time owners who operate STRs, part-time owners who don't, short-term renters, and non-paying guests. Although some people who oppose STRs want to blame every off-leash dog, bag of dog poop left on a trail, or rambunctious child at the pool on a short-term renter, the reality is that it's a community of over 1000 homes, and nobody in Sea Ranch can definitively label you as an owner or renter when they see you.
I've never felt that the rules were an inconvenience, though I rolled my eyes the two times security called me early in the morning because our guests committed the minor offense of hanging towels or swimwear conspicuously outside. Most of our guests seem to already know what type of place Sea Ranch is and are willing to follow the rules. Many of them tell us that they visit Sea Ranch regularly with their families and rent different homes each time. Only one group has complained about there being too many rules.
Hope this helps!
Yes, I could definitely see the community being a bit exclusive—that said, I don't think it's anything like the Hamptons or similar enclaves for the extremely wealthy! I would say as far as second home destinations go, Sea Ranch is accessibly priced. It's also financially accessible to visit—my friends' Airbnb for example is ~$600 a night for 3 bedrooms—I feel like it's hard to find a hotel stay that's under $200 per couple anywhere these days.
A high percentage of people who have homes there rent them out part time, I think in part because SF is pretty far (3 hours). It would be hard to make it up there every weekend. There aren't a ton of sights to see in the area or anything—it's more about enjoying the serenity and nature, so I think it really attracts a certain type of person. My feeling was that people are happy for visitors to be there, as long as they, too, are really respectful of the ethos of Sea Ranch.
TYSM for the thoughtful comment!
what an idyllic place <3
So peaceful & dreamy! 🧘♀️
We went to sea ranch earlier this year for the first time! Truly the attention to detail at every home is next level. It was a very relaxing trip of walking around and enjoying the stunning scenery.
Despite growing up in the Bay Area it’s only recently come on my radar! Def need to explore more of the northern coast—such a pretty part of the state.
love reading you aren't allowed to have large floatation devices or toys in the pool haha
Right? I kind of felt like I was a main character in a movie, with no one else there in this very aesthetic pool and the drizzly ocean views beside me
Loved
Thanks for reading! ❤️
Loved this. That pool and signage!
Makes you think how much more creativity and design we could infuse into the little things ⚡️
Love this piece!! Love Sea Ranch!!
The best!!
Glad you had a chance to experience Sea Ranch with us!
By the way, you can plant hydrangeas and whatever non-native plants you want if you have an enclosed front yard, as long as those plants are fully within your walls. :) We don't have an enclosed yard though.
Thanks for having me (and my mom lol!) I had a whole side story about how only really good friends invite your mom to tag along but it got too long and unwieldy. Know that I and my mom are v appreciative. Can't wait to visit again!
Maybe you can fit that into another post in the future! :D
Really enjoyed this piece. Design is about so much more than just aesthetics! But obviously the aesthetics are important too 😝
Yes! I actually feel like it took me until the second half of my life to start to learn the overwhelming importance of designing our environments, but now I can’t unsee it. Thank you for reading ❤️
Well this was a fabulous read, again. Loved this ❤️
More jealous than ever of your coastal California living!
Loved learning about this! Cohesion is 😘👌🏽
I’m told they took inspiration from Scandinavia but since then, designers/architects from Scandinavia have also come to study the community! ✨
Ohhh yes I can see the influence! 🇩🇰
As a fellow member of The Brand Police™️, this read was such a joy. Would love to exist in such a charming community space someday.
I feel like there are so many of us on the force on Substack 😆 feels good to be with my people