Unrelated UCSB post..
When I was in the AF, stationed at Vandenberg AFB, I'd drive down to UCSB to go to the beach b/c there was a state park nearby with real grass next to the sand. I could lay on the grass and then RUN across the hot sand to go into the COLD ocean water!
Couldn't go in the ocean on base b/c of the dangerous currents that would pop up out of the blue!
I tried to be active with the AGD SB chapter but it was too far..about a 1-2 hours, I think.