Water surrounds, sustains, and dwells within us. This is surely among the reasons we love to pause in contemplation at water’s edge. So when we flew out and back into our airport I noticed the traces of water between the airport and UCSB, and the ocean beyond.
0275 Water Traces
At the shiny new airport terminal and on the vast concrete runways it’s easy to forget this is only fairly recently dry land. Whether the ponds are dry in Summer or awash much of the year, the traces are strong. Opposite the ocean is Lake Los Carneros. On the other side of the runway from the creek in the pic above, are these small seasonal ponds on the West end of More Mesa.
0274 Approach Ponds
The vast majority of airliners landing at SBA zip right past this quiet scene, and you might glimpse it if sitting on the left side. More likely you’ll miss it, out-competed for your eyeballs by the ocean, islands, and all the transient human traces. But like the sea, these small bodies of water patiently await our return to origins.
John & Anne Wiley 
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