@GMC2918 I remember you choosing between Milton and Cate, and I hoped you’d choose Milton so I had a chance with Cate’s WL. 
Much of Cate’s appeal to me is its location—the nature, the weather, the different outdoorsy activities… and Carpinteria is the avocado capital. 
I have Carp saved as a town on my weather app, and it’s making me hate MA more and more. :-"
Oh I’m sorry @stargirl3! That decision really did come down to the wire.
Funny Milton/weather story - GMCkid joined an accepted students video conference soon after M10, which had a student panel & you could ask questions etc. Anyway, they had it set up at a conference table in front of a large picture window. The weather that day was awful, and GMCkid was so distracted by the sight of students outside obviously battling the elements, carrying heavy back packs and looking a little miserable! She thinks about that now I’m sure, from the warmth and tranquility of her hammock…
Carpinteria hosts “Avocado Fest” every Fall. I really hope that it all works out for you!!!
hey @thacherparent we are neighbors. hammock under a lemon tree sounds pretty good right now
If it keeps snowing like this, we may have to leave through the upstairs window to go outside.
@GMC2918 and @ThacherParent
I couldn’t agree more about what our son is experiencing as a first year at Thacher. Every single night, after study hall is spent outside socializing on the grassy “knoll”.
Being outside away from cell phones and gaming is such an integral part of Cate and Thacher. Beach v Horses… The happiness gap from our older son’s winters at Andover is very evident.
We’ve spent 5 weekends there visiting from Massachusetts and Ojai recharges our batteries. While the travel is more effort than staying in New England, the sun and warmth impact is priceless layered on top of the emotional warmth of the school culture.
Interesting discussion as I vividly remember my own NE boarding school experience and the winter “doldrums” when my grades dropped every February. 
As I write this, my first year Cate student is sleeping under the stars at an Outdoors backpacking trip on her first 24 hour “solo”. All she has for company is her sleeping bag and a couple poetry books. We are still constantly in awe about the types of opportunities students get exposed to at BS and what these youngsters are willing to try.
Oh, and the first two days of swim practice included body surfing at the local beach. Life is good.
Oh, so that’s what that text from my daughter meant- “no cell for the next 24- solo- ttyl”
Thanks for clarifying 
http://www.ojaiphoto.com/Ojai/Ojai-Valley-Photos/
Dreams for the dead of winter…
So beautiful !!
On behalf of everyone who shoveled snow this morning, I’d like to rename this thread: The Torture Thread.
^So sorry to have started - one of the reasons DD loved Cate was the kids all seemed so relaxed, laidback and happy. Those gorgeous surroundings obviously play a part in that.
just for the record, everyone is not longing for the California sun, my kids are obsessed with all snow sports, would never consider a school where they were not a possibility…
@LifeLongNYer, one of my daughter’s fears about going to Cate was that she would miss the snow and winter (her favorite season)! She says that she doesn’t, but she DID sign up for the school ski trip in January, so maybe just a little bit
Lived in San Diego for 16 years and both kiddos were born in SD. I still reminisce over 75 degree days in Jan/Feb. Now we are back in NH shoveling almost daily, wearing winter coats five months out of 12. Don’t ask why we left. It’s a long story. DD/DW made the long flight to visit both Cate and Thacher in early November. DD is a dancer and loves to ride. So Thacher was very high on her list. DD also visited Cate. Yet the lack of a mature dance program made Cate kind of an afterthought. When DD saw Cate’s dorm rooms and how each room had a patio, some with hammocks, surfboards, views of mountains, ocean, etc., her mindset/dance objective quickly changed. She noted the laid-back and friendly student atmosphere at both campuses. She loved Cate. DW loved Thacher and Cate. Both spectacular settings and such a welcome change from the NE BS’s. So yes, weather (and year round outdoor programs) was a huge factor in her decision to apply to Cate. Attending BS where parkas and Bean Boots are not required is very attractive to DD. I asked her, “what about the long plane flight(s)?” She smiles, “Dad, but look what it’s like once you get there.” Hoping for a revisit during late March. Oh yeah, we will still have plenty of snow on the ground here.
At my school, at least right now, “I hate snow” is a universal conversation starter—between students, teachers, and both.