If you only listened to the headlines, the Nextdoor threads or the talk about store closures along the Promenade, you might think Santa Monica is in decline. Add in conversations about homelessness and comparisons to neighboring areas like Brentwood, and it can start to feel heavy.
But all the negativity tells only part of the story; it doesn’t tell you what’s right.
I’ve lived in Santa Monica since 2001. This is where we raised our kids. This is where our life happened. We followed the full path, Franklin, Lincoln and now Santa Monica High School.
When your kids have walked to school, grown up with the same families and been shaped by this community, you see it differently. You understand the value of what exists here: excellent schools within walking distance, from public to private, and even Santa Monica College right in our backyard, all part of a system that supports families from early years through adulthood.
Daily life here is easy in a way that quietly shapes everything. You can walk or bike almost anywhere, with new bike paths connecting neighborhoods making it even more accessible than it used to be.
Montana Avenue continues to evolve with new openings, cafés, boutiques and places that keep the street feeling fresh while still familiar. Main Street has its own rhythm, the Pier brings energy and nostalgia, and the beach is always there, just minutes away.
And really, every pocket of Santa Monica has its own version of a main street, with happy hours, coffee spots, fitness studios and local favorites. Even some of the best doctors and services in the country are right here.
Then, there is a Santa Monica lifestyle, which is hard to replace. Mornings can start with a walk along the ocean or a quick coffee on Montana, afternoons filled with work, school or a stop at a local market, and evenings can be as social or quiet as you want. From casual dinners to something more special, from community events to live music, everything feels close and connected.
Is Santa Monica perfect? No; no city is. But when I look at what this community has given our family — the education, the friendships, the access and the everyday ease of living—it is hard to imagine trading that for something less controversial but less meaningful. This is where our kids grew up, this is where they will come back to, and this is why, after all these years, we’re still here.
This is home.
Charlee Nessel is a licensed broker. Learn more about her and Dan Nessel at nesselhomes.com.
