Clearlake (Sacramento, Oakland, Santa Rosa: new home, unemployed, to buy)
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Actually, yeah, I am. It really makes it easier to see more run down areas as "charming". Plus, my kids & I deserve it, we've barely scraped by for so long & we're all happier right now. Maybe in a couple more years you should come back - most of lakeshore dr & the lakeside will be done. It really does look better along there, & up into clrlk park & the mtns. just stay close to the water, away from the other side of the hwy. And Konocti resort is all new w/a small casino even, & check out this sunset. I also feel close to gma here.
That doth not sucketh! Yes, the potential for that area is tremendous. When I lived in Sonoma County (to which I'm returning in about 2 weeks), I thought of Lake County as blistering hot. After 16 years in Austin, I laugh at myself. Lake County has a wonderful 4-season climate with very moderate temperatures MOST of the year, some really hot days in summer, but the nights cool off much more than in the south and it's NEVER as humid as it gets in the eastern half of the country.
So now my only complaint about the area is that it's really hard to get to without puking on those winding roads. But maybe that's a GOOD thing, cuz it keeps the place from being overrun by tourists every weekend.
I missed your previous post and didn't realize you were probably moving there for a while.
There are leaves that turn, indeed, but it's nothing like the Rockies or northeast. There are native trees, mainly bigtooth maple, that turn really beautiful colors, plus some imports like liquidamber (sweetgum, as they call it in the south) and a few others. But don't expect anything too spectacular. Maybe there are a couple spots where there are groves along the wettest slopes of Mt. Cobb or Mt. St. Helena that are kinda intense, but I don't recall any specifically.
Right now I am planning on moving out of Utah in the next 2 – 4 years and looking for a Mediterranean climate, and build a vineyard/ranch. Solar power, wells, and etc sounds like a great idea right now.
I am not worried about the so-called hot summers, because it gets hot here too. I am looking forward to the mild winters, the early spring, and late falls. Being close to the Ocean, and the Redwoods is a blessing too.
I see 20 acre lots up for sale around the lake in the hills for $65,000 and up.
I don't know what the deal is, but the price sounds right.
I look forward in investing into a tractor, truck, propane tanks, wood stove, solar power, and etc. Off the grid would be nice!
It would be funny if I took a vacation for a week, and when I come back all the cranksters have dissected and stolen my house. Oye!
I don't know though, from all of the research I have done on the climate, it looks like it is comparable to Italy and France. With 90 degrees as the average maximum High for the year, 31 degrees for the average minimum low in the winter (www.weather.com , www.weatherunderground.com) (broken link), and decent prices for land. May be good people will start migrating there soon.
I'll tell you what . . . Utah sucks. Too much traffic, expensive land, oprresive nieghbors, and no wine or beer.
The point is the dream of a secluded Mediterranean ranch for less than the price of a 2 bedroom house here, sounds like a dream come true. Yet the talk of the type of people and bad economy is a bit crazy too.
May be I build a fence, and get Rotwilers, work at home off of a satellite, and get insurance for my house?
My mom, aunt, and brother all live in Clear Lake. My grandmother lived there when it use to be called the Highlands. I would go there for the summer when I was a teenager. There or Utah
I have fond memories of my vacations there. Mom lives in a trailer in a trailer park next to the lake...so does my aunt. My brother and his family live on a hill towards the edge of town. They really like it there. My brother has worked the same job for years. His wife works at the school. There kids have been in trouble though. Hanging out with the wrong crowds. But I think that can happen anywhere.
The lake is beautiful and I do enjoy sitting by it when I'm up there. Also it is one of the best Bass lakes and there are lots of Bass boats up there every year. It is a poor man's area. And where lots of poor folks go to retire. But my mom feels pretty safe there. They took away the senior's bingo and that really fired mom up Now she has to go all the way to one of the casinos to play bingo.
Homes are very affordable there. As far as the drug scene goes...yeah it is there. But the mood in the town isn't like the BAD part of a larger city. There is still a country feel to the area and it is beautiful...not like a BAD inner city ugly.
But you do have to watch who you make friends with like anywhere. Well got to go.
Very Nice in Lake County. Summers ARE HOT(100 degrees is common esp. in July), but there is always the Largest natural lake in california to swim in. I Have been coming here for years, untill moving here in 2000. No more mercury than in the ocean, I've been eating the fish and swimming in the lake, and I don't glow in the dark. As for "biogal" : I LIVE HERE IN CLEARLAKE. I get to wake up every morning and see the lake, and sometimes even bald eagles. If a July average high of 93 degrees, and an average low of 59 degrees are "too hot" consider the Rivieras, or the surrounding hills which both offer daytime temperatures around 10 degrees cooler than lake level, astounding views of the lake, as well as dramatic, dazzling sunsets. Not dirty meth lab convicts here. Good access by highway(Don't take 29 through Napa though), and small town spirit, where you can make an impact on your community. Kickedback lifestyle dominates here whith lazy summer days, and cool early spring mornings. Not too much rain(Avg. 28 inches for Lakeport) compared with other Nor Cal locations. Also more affordable than you might expect. I recommend coming to Lake County first before you make your decision. And I recommend coming in Late May(Avg. High 75-85 degrees) to avoid the heat of the summer, spring rain, and the crowds. Late September is also nice for the same reasons. If you like flowers, and spring colors, and don't mind brisk mornings(35-45 degrees) then come in April; if you prefer warmer, late April/early May are also nice. Visit here First!
Last edited by norcal5453; 10-25-2006 at 02:46 AM..
Reason: add info
I'll tell you what . . . Utah sucks. Too much traffic, expensive land, oprresive nieghbors, and no wine or beer.
Interesting comments. I'm drifting off topic but my experiences in Utah have been fantastic and I was able to find booze just about everywhere. I agree with you about the traffic, but that's only a problem in the urban corridor along the Wasatch. There's a lot more to Utah than that string of cities. Would I live there? Probably not because SO MANY people say negative things about the social climate due to the Mormon thing, but that state is so freaking BEAUTIFUl that I plan to spend a lot more time there, especially the south-central area which is just other-worldly.
Here are some more comments about Utah. The local canyon by my house costs $3 dollars to get in to. The small lake (pond) has an average of 50 people fishing at it a time, which is enough to cross over lines with your neighbor almost every time. Motor cycles echo through the canyon, and make your ears ring. True nature is not close to the city.
I live in Utah valley. You cannot buy any type of beer or alcohol on Sundays. The maximum percent of alcohol in beer from the grocery store is 3.2 percent. That is 3.2 percent corona, natural ice, Heineken and etc. To buy a beer or normal standards costs 2 dollars at the local liquor store. The local liquor store is open Tuesday - Saturday 12 - 7, and if you want to buy alcohol on other days times, or you want a better selection, you need to drive 30 minutes to Salt Lake.
NOW I STRESS THAT UTAH ISN"T A BAD PLACE BECAUSE OF THE ALCOHAL RESTRICTIONS! I bring this up as part of the politics that make this place oppressive and unlikable.
Okay more things about Utah. They give so many tickets that it isn't funny. The town maintains its beauty by tickets. DUIs, parking, registration, and etc are not hard to get here. Trust me on this!
And by the way! The traffic here is horrible. The traffic reminds me of Vegas. Every one and their mom are moving here from California, and paying cash for a nice house that would cost millions in California. The population is Out of control! Traffic is horrible. I had to go to Salt Lake Yesterday, and I saw at least 5 wrecks, and at least 7 cops giving tickets. And by the way it takes 2 cops to pull over 1 car here.
More things about Utah. It is F'n cold in the winter and it is in the upper 90's with weeks of 100's in the summer. I am getting ready to go scrape off frost off my window right now. It says its 29 degrees out side. Freezing.
It reminds me of skiing. Greatest skiing in the world; however, Paying 50 for a lift ticket is like rape in my opinion. It's all about this paying for nature thing out here. Yeah We have a lot of nature, but you have to have permits, camping passes, state certified stamps on your alcohol, and if you don't have all your vouchers and passes, you get a ticket.
Oh by the way did I mention traffic is horrible here? I am dreading going to work because I know the traffic is going to be bad.
My point on joining this forum:
It would be nice to move out to a Mediterranean type place, and by some afrdable land. I hear a lot about the problems in Clear Lake, yet may be one day it will clean up it's act, and have people who move out there who really appreciate it and will take care of the place.
It would be nice. Clear lake to me is a dream. A dream of my own vineyard, mild winter temperatures, Mendocino and the coast, fishing in the boat with out people cramping your style, vegetable gardens that don't get wiped out from a freak, but normal late august hard frost, and land that doesn't cost millions to own.
These dreams are no longer realities for me where I live. I realize for you all to think about Clear Lake as a Dream is ridiculous, yet for me it is motivation to defrost my car, and put up with the BS of the city and the politics.
Thanks For Your Time.
PS
I didn't even touch on the Mormon subject! That would be a novel!
Clear lake to me is a dream. A dream of my own vineyard, mild winter temperatures, Mendocino and the coast, fishing in the boat with out people cramping your style, vegetable gardens that don't get wiped out from a freak, but normal late august hard frost, and land that doesn't cost millions to own.
Just be sure to visit there for a while before believing your dream will come true in Clearlake. It might, I'm not saying it won't! But every place has its problems. If you're able to afford having your own vineyard in Lake County then you're doing a lot better than I am financially, so you should be able to make the best of the place.
One thing to keep in mind --- population pressures are everywhere in the USA except the north central states. There is simply no way you can escape crowds, have a nice climate, AND pay reasonable prices. I agree that Clearlake is relatively "undiscovered" in this regard but don't count on things staying that way for much longer. The USA is dedicated to the concept of growth being positive, and one of the foundations of economic growth is population growth.
Wealth cannot be accumulated without large numbers of people (most of them poor or working class) --- any basic economics study will demonstrate this, and you can easily see from the policies of our governments at all levels that we're a growth-oriented nation that eagerly seeks to add yet another hundred million to our recently attained 300 level. I believe this is foolish and will ultimately prove to be the downfall of human civilizations (like my apocalyptic view? ) but most people don't think about the future beyond their own personal fortunes for a single generation. We're a selfish species that is pillaging our planet and the future of our descendents in order to maximize our own pleasure from moment to moment.
What does that have to do with Clearlake? Enjoy it while you can. No place is safe unless it's virtually uninhabitable due to climate or other geographical problems.
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After 16 years in Austin, I laugh at myself. Lake County has a wonderful 4-season climate with very moderate temperatures MOST of the year, some really hot days in summer, but the nights cool off much more than in the south and it's NEVER as humid as it gets in the eastern half of the country.
) but most people don't think about the future beyond their own personal fortunes for a single generation. We're a selfish species that is pillaging our planet and the future of our descendents in order to maximize our own pleasure from moment to moment.
