The Parallel Lives of Isla Vista Seniors and Students
ISLA VISTA, CA - A 1927 yellow Bugatti racer reigns over the other cars in the dirt lot of a dorm-style building in Isla Vista. For the vehicle’s owner, 77-year-old Bill Cropley, the iconic vehicle is more than just a car – it’s a way of bridging the divide between two opposite communities in a beachside college town.
​
Cropley is one of 200+ residents of Friendship Manor, Isla Vista’s only retirement facility. Just a few blocks over, thousands of UC Santa Barbara students pay hundreds and even thousands to pack into tight apartments. With the ocean to the west and mountains to the east, it’s no surprise that Isla Vista is one of the most densely populated areas in California.
What is surprising, though, is Friendship Manor’s continued presence in the stereotypical college town. Originally a UC Santa Barbara dormitory constructed in the 1960s, the building was offered up for sale following a student enrollment drop brought on by the 1970 Isla Vista riots. Shortly after in 1973, the former “College Inn” was transformed into an independent-living facility for senior citizens.
Over 50 years later, Friendship Manor is still standing – although most UCSB students are oblivious to its existence. Isla Vista’s oldest residents are hoping to change that.
Back to the Dorms
​
Friendship Manor is an independent senior community, rather than an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. This means that no nursing staff or medical support are on the premises; instead, amenities include consistent meals, recreational activities, and social support. Residents have their own apartments and may come and go as they please.
To say the Manor is unique from other retirement communities would be an understatement. For one, the building looks and feels dormitory, scattered with narrow hallways and cramped bathrooms. While this design is a deterrent for some, it’s a major selling point for others, who rely on affordable prices reliant on the building’s more antique features.
“Most [residents] are living on a social security, and like students, they’re on a fixed income,” explained Patricia Fabing, marketing director for Friendship Manor.
Friendship Manor accepts Section 8 Housing Vouchers, the federal government financial assistance program for low-income, elderly, and disabled folks. As of 2019, 4.9 million people aged 65 and older lived below the poverty line, and that number is growing, according to the Congressional Research Service.
“I have people who have homes and rented them out and are still able to live here because our rents are low. They come for the social aspect or they come so that they’re safe,” Fabing said.
"Very definitely the throwaway of society for sure, are poor seniors.
For seniors with financial difficulties, finding somewhere affordable to live that also offers meals and social support – like Friendship Manor does – can make the difference between a nutritional, healthy lifestyle and an unstable one. And while government support exists for low-income seniors, there’s a group just above them that are often left to fend for themselves, says Fabing.
“There are many that don’t qualify for government help services and that can’t afford some of the higher-end retirement communities, it can get very expensive in those places too,” Fabing explained. “Very definitely the throwaway of society for sure, are the poor seniors.”
Still, Friendship Manor houses folks from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, including those who don’t necessarily need the lower rent options. Many residents are widowers or senior orphans, meaning they’ve lost their partners or children, says Fabing. For them, the social support system of Friendship Manor is often the biggest attractor.
"Sometimes seniors come with a lot of stuff."
A Lifestyle for the Young and Old
​
At first glance, one might assume college students and Friendship Manor residents live completely different, incomparable lives. But in reality, there are plenty of ironic parallels between the two communities.
From communal eating in the dining hall to lounging by the pool, dorm-style living creates inherent similarities for students and seniors. Limited space also means limited storage, and while college students may be more accustomed to under-bed drawers, many seniors struggle to downsize.
“Sometimes seniors come with a lot of stuff. A lot of Christmas ornaments, you know, things they’re attached
to,” Fabing laughed.
Much like college students, Isla Vista seniors frequent thrift stores and online forums to find affordable furniture.
They even buy secondhand items directly from UCSB students – creating a symbiotic relationship of furniture
trading in the community.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
George Ruben, an 85-year-old resident, often looks to UCSB students for discounted prices on good-quality furniture. “A lot of this furniture came from the students in June,” Ruben said excitedly, gesturing to his fully decorated apartment.
​
Details as specific as favorite eateries and pastimes stand out as through-lines between the two communities. For Crowley, local smoothie shop Blenders is in the Grass is a go-to for refreshment on a weekend afternoon. He’s always sure to bring his recyclable Blenders cup (for the discount, of course).
​
Like students, Friendship Manor residents enjoy utilizing UCSB’s campus bike paths, beachside hiking trails, and outdoor recreational areas. “I just like people watching, that’s what I do,” said 66-year-old Ananda Dalidd, whose favorite pastime is hanging out by the campus picnic tables.
Residents Theresa and Bobby play horseshoe on the Friendship Manor premises.
Same Street, Different Stories
Challenges of Isla Vista Living
​
Of course, housing senior citizens in a town designed for young people occasionally presents its challenges. The beachside community of Isla Vista isn’t exactly known for its slow-paced, careful lifestyle. According to Friendship Manor residents, students tend to whiz by carelessly on bikes and skateboards, putting older folks at risk of getting injured.
“We noticed when we’re riding our bikes, the kids are so fast, compared to us,” said 62-year-old Jane Kohler. “And so, we have to really be on alert and try not to ride on the weekends.”
These concerns are not new. Back in 1988, a 93-year-old Friendship Manor resident was struck by a bicyclist outside the facility. After he fell and fractured his hip, he was confined in recovery for over a year, according to a 1988 Daily Nexus article. Isla Vista Foot Patrol and members of UCSB Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority rallied to promote cycling safety, especially surrounding the Friendship Manor premises.
​
“If you could just imagine it was your grandparents that were being affected, then maybe you could relate better,” explained then-President of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Tracy Hall.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Photo Credit: UCSB Alexandria Digital Research Library, Daily Nexus 1989
"The students don't know we're here, but we certainly know they're here, you know?"
Almost 35 years later, the issue of common courtesy surrounding senior mobility remains an ongoing conversation in Isla Vista. “A lot of the bicycles just shoot out of the driveways, drivers that are not really watching for older people, skateboards – that has been a challenge,” Fabing explained.
“Students have so much going on in their heads, and they don’t expect to see old people with a walker. You just don’t expect to see it in a college town,” she said.
For Kohler, being a good neighbor means being cognizant of older folks, even in a bustling college town like Isla Vista. She urges college students to give those in walkers extra room and more time whenever possible.
“The students don’t know we’re here, but we certainly know they’re here, you know?” she said.
Getting to Know the Neighbors​
Kohler is right to assume that most UCSB students don’t know about Friendship Manor. However, a smaller subset of student volunteers have spent hours with the residents through a variety of activities.
Fourth-year student Sophie Robinson first learned about the Manor as a freshman through her sorority, Delta Gamma. As a volunteer, Robinson would arrive 30-45 minutes before meals to help serve food to residents. Then, she’d take a seat with them at the table.
“I thought being around a bunch of college students would deter them from wanting to be here, but they actually really like interacting with all of us, learning about our classes, our plans for the future. That really surprised me,” Robinson said.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Robinson recounts a particularly rough morning when she popped her bike tire on the way over to a Friendship Manor breakfast. She’d been stressing over a Chemistry midterm, and was thinking about “a billion different things.”
When she got there, however, her mood was immediately lifted by the spirits of one friendly resident – who she connected with over a conversation about family dynamics.
“I get up, and she gets up, and she hands me this little slip of paper. It says ‘You made my day, now pass it on.’ I still have it, in my jar of nice notes,” Robinson said.
Prior to COVID, volunteer opportunities extended far beyond meal distribution. Students would come out for “Senior Proms,” “Gorgeous Grandma Days,” and Valentine’s Day dances. Annual Halloween parties were popular among students as well.
“Students would dress up and our residents would dress up, and I’d get the biggest pumpkin I could get. And people would guess the weight of the pumpkin and we’d have prizes for best costumes,” Friendship Manor Activities Director Chris Rendessy reminisced.
Unfortunately, the pandemic brought most of those volunteer opportunities to a screeching halt. Friendship Manor was fortunate to never suffer a major COVID-19 outbreak, according to Fabing. Meanwhile, cases skyrocketed in the neighboring community of Isla Vista, reaching over 1,000 total by February 2021.
With cases now on the decline, students are trickling back into Friendship Manor once again – but not to the same capacity as before. Meal serving is no longer an option for student volunteers, but holiday event opportunities have returned to the Manor’s schedule.
As a fourth-year, Robinson was able to return to Friendship Manor for the first time since her sophomore year for the 2021 Halloween Dance.
“I put on a really fuzzy sweatshirt and bunny ears, and we took turns working behind the counter to serve food. We’d switch off and go interact with them, and they really enjoyed it,” she explained. “They’re as curious about our lives as much as we are about them.”
For third-year transfer student Grace Finch, volunteering at Friendship Manor in Fall 2021 helped her develop a new perspective during a challenging period of her life. She'd been walking down El Colegio Rd. in Isla Vista when she stumbled into the Manor, curious about what was inside. Then, she filled out a form and started volunteering.
“I was kind of soul searching, I didn’t know what I wanted to do because I just switched
my major. I was also dealing with depression and found that going over and volunteering
was kind of therapeutic in a way,” she explained. “They’ll give you life advice, and they’re
always so positive, whereas I was just really negative at the time I was going,” Finch explained.
Fabing hopes the student-resident dynamic will return to what it once was, with the help and initiation
of UCSB students – who have a lot to learn from the residents’ wealth of knowledge.
“This is a little microcosm of the world,” she said. “I think we’ve had every representation here, every kind of
person here. It’s just been a fascinating study in behavior, even mental illness. The physical things that happen
to people, but also the optimism that people can rise to.”
One thing is for certain: Friendship Manor residents take full advantage of the beachside lifestyle. Each weekend, Crowley and Ruben – who co-own the 1927 Bugatti – take the flashy yellow car out for a spin through the streets of Isla Vista, waving to students along the way.
If they’re lucky enough, some students may even get to take a ride – getting to know the neighbors they never thought they needed.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
"This is a little microcosm of the world."
Photo Credit: Sophie Robinson
The exterior of Friendship Manor facing Camino Pescadero in Isla Vista.
Resident Bill Cropley and fourth-year Ashley Rusch taking a spin in the 1927 Bugatti.