Isla Vista goes through a transformation in June. Most of the students who live in the area during the school year move out, leaving a feeling of peace and cleansing in their wake. Before the calm sets in, however, things tend to get messy. There is a week designated for move out in which anything and everything ends up on the curb or in the middle of the street.
In the past, move-out week has been a chance to find a treasure amidst the trash. Two years ago, I picked up two desks and a bureau in good condition. My husband found a Jacuzzi, mini refrigerator, a vacuum cleaner, and bikes. Unfortunately, this year’s curbside offerings weren’t noteworthy. I’m not sure if this was due to people leaving in waves (some people’s leases ended at the beginning of June, others just last week), the fact that students have finally gotten wise to the fact that they could save money by carting their furniture with them, or that people had decided to give unwanted items to the UCSB GIVE Sale, an annual event. Whatever the reason, I drove up and down the streets looking for a find but was disappointed. When I worked at the GIVE Sale, however, I saw a lot to pique my interest.
Giving to the GIVE Sale