Oh Hi There, Ventura
When you close your eyes and take three deep breaths...
In
Out
In Out
Innnn and ouuut
Where do you see yourself?
Colors:
Yellow, Green, and Orange transform into fresh citrus hints lingering in the air
Specks of rock, rubble, and Earth, in its smallest form, are transported elsewhere
Carried by the wind, yearning for stillness to rejoin its kin
Another three deep breaths
Red, Brown, and Blue hues envelop the senses
Fresh, bright, with green protruding
Plucked from its stems, seed embroidered, sweetness
Hints of sea salt as a finisher -
I was born and raised in Ventura, California. The city you pass on your way from LA to Santa Barbara - where the 101 and Pacific Coast Highway merge to bring you North, but veer right onto California Street, and you’ll find yourself in downtown Ventucky Ventura. COVID-19’s nostalgia stuck, and the pedestrian sidewalks won the war against car stalls stretching and connecting from storefront to opposing storefront.
City Hall is perched atop the hill with a looming point of view - a straight shot through downtown to the rolling ocean waves peeking out at the bottom of the boardwalk. On a busy weekend sitting and people watching, you’d see it all - natives sauntering, families converging across generations, blanket stares with gentle smiles and nods when eyes meet with courteous verbal exchanges as they pass one another.
You’ll see no big brands or retailers, rather a smattering of small boutiques filled with past treasures waiting to be discovered again. Teens are exploring and tampering with their identity; strolling through build-your-own charm bracelet sections while peering with curiosity, tempted by the tattoo parlors and all their piercings.
Bright neon lights announce the vibes and the cuisines; conversations rolling over one another as the aromas tell the real stories. High and low shops, businesses, and apartments lean on one another; owners revolving, names altering, with some foundations expanding over the years.
At first glance, the royal blue bleeding into orange requires a squint to clearly make out the name “Sun Coast Real Estate Downtown” etched into the glass. Behind the glass, on occasion, calls are being made, clients are met, and meetings are held. Passing by, you and your entourage pause and evaluate the price and pictures of homes posted on the window. A future dream perhaps hangs on your mind for a moment, and then the doubt creeps in, “Won’t be able to afford that. Can’t believe THAT costs that much. Guess I’ll keep renting.”
Like so many others who share my generation, experiences won over future investments, subjugated by instant gratification - time is money, and convenience is always worth paying for…until you look around one day, with so many shiny, pretty possessions, yet no real place to plant them. So you decide to pause, pivot hard, and leave the nation’s capital where you’ve called “home” since leaving for university all those years ago.
The pivot is professional and personal; after moving your possessions from DC to SF and boomeranging back to DC, the mergers and acquisitions bring you all over the world, yet every time you’re back, feet and legs clinging onto stray sand while the rays beat on your arm out the window driving home from Solimar Beach, you smile and quietly wonder, “Is there anyplace quiet like this? Like Home?”
Your childhood friend looks at you deeply over a latte at Simone’s, “Why haven’t you considered joining your Father’s brokerage? What’s his retirement plan?” You joked about how “Nepo Nate” flows so smoothly, and the transferrable skills from tech and revenue operations could help bring some light and youth into an older generation’s way of operating.
Real Estate builds Wealth, they say; but generations working towards the same thing yet often in opposition to one another piqued my professional curiosity, and my intuition and gut aligned. It was time to move forward in a place that felt backwards - for me - and maybe for others, too.
Seeds planted generations ago led to my family settling in Ventura in 1976, and the transformation my Father shares rivals the transformation I’ve seen. Not only in the price of homes, but the magnitude of the problem - there aren’t enough to go around, and the barrier to entry is too high for the majority.
That doesn’t stop us, though. It shouldn’t. It’s our turn, and our parents want us to have what they have. More even.
So what does it look like moving back home, working with family, and learning what is on your non-negotiable list of needs, wants, and dealbreakers - for your homes and more importantly, your heart?
Oh Hi There, Let’s Explore it Together, Vicariously - Until we meet IRL.
Vulnerably and Authentically,
Nepo Nate
