Do Humboldt County dwellers welcome newcomers? (Santa Cruz, Laguna: transplants, rentals, house)

[geckogrl]

Do the local areas - Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, Fortuna, Fernadale - rely on Tourism at all? I wonder if an art gallery would be welcomed, and if so, where? Do residents see new business startups as some sort of panacea or rather as a contributing factor to their current problems? I checked the local newspapers online and I don't find an opinion either way. I suppose the best way to find out is to go there. I wonder if the attitude is similar to that of Oregonians not wanting California transplants = Humboldt County dwellers not wanting newcomers. Any advice?

[ferretkona]

I love Humbolt county, but it is not really much of a tourist destination. A lot of art galleries in Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, Laguna Beach, Mendocino.

I have many friends who show their work and they show in high tourist areas for the exposure and foot traffic.

[geckogrl]

Thanks, ferretkona. I am looking for a local art scene that's burgeoning and perhaps not yet oversaturated as is the case with Carmel. I love the Monterey Peninsula but thinking that I could never afford the price of rentals there. I recently found out that they have sprayed for the LBAM moth and will be continuing every month beginning next March indefinitely. I'm a bit concerned about that and I wonder how it will affect the health of the community, environment, economy, etc. Thanks again, though for the info.

I do wonder if people are more welcoming in Eureka - McKinleyville - Arcata and if the area is more for retirees.

[Joe_Ryder]

It's pretty much a college town. HSU is a very highly rated Liberal Arts university and they happen to have a killer Marine/Science department. It's not very touristy. It's nicknamed the Forgotten Coast. At one time it was an important lumber port and logging was it's chief industry. The climate tends to be cool and foggy most of the year.

I don't think anyone would mind an art gallery. Personally I'd be looking more toward Arcata than Eureka. Go for a visit. People aren't overly friendly or unfriendly. They just go about their business.

Wages are pretty low by CA standards but so is housing. Many of the residents are students. The University is part of the CSU system and very affordable. If you're planning to go there to get rich, I'd recommend one of the more high-dollar and trendy coastal areas to the south such as Carmel.

[eureka1]

There is a VIBRANT art scene here and many,many galleries. You should come check it out. The Ink People and the Humboldt Arts Council mays have some stats for you.. There is an annual publication called the Palette (sp?) that lists a lot of the arts activities. There is no specific predjudice against "outsiders" except, like everywhere, people expect you to stay put and pay your taxes for a while before trying to change everything. Environmental politics here is brutal. This is a low wage area and unemployment is higher than the average for California. A lot of the newcomers ARE retirees from the Bay Area who can afford the $300 K a house costs now. Feel free to PM me if you want more info.

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by geckogrl

...I wonder if the attitude is similar to that of Oregonians not wanting California transplants = Humboldt County dwellers not wanting newcomers.

The only way someone is going to know that you are a "newcomer" is if you tell them.

In Oregon they can tell from the California license on your car, but if you are a Californian moving within California who is going to know or care?

[TheDragonslayer]

Well, if you are a new comer to our area and smell the pulp mill, you say " eww, what is that smell" After a while you get used to it and it is just one of our background smells. Like cows, forests, the ocean to name a few. As of right now, I know of one gallery in McKinleyville and there is plenty of room for more. We are a very diversified community , Arcata is the University town, and our coast is called the "Lost Coast" not the forgotten coast and it is the section of coast from Ferndale south for about 50 miles to Shelter Cove. Tourism is a strong part of our economy in the summer time. If one is into art, it is beautiful and breathtaking up here, it inspires one whether it is painting or photography or any other art. Please do come up north and visit us here, it is like going back twenty years in time.

Martin

[California2Carolina]

Humboldt is a very artsy scene. In downtown Eureka they have a thing called "arts alive" once a month where the Old Town shops and art galleries stay open late with hot chocolate etc. People in Humboldt are fine with new peole as long as new people don't complain about the slow pace or try to make huge changes to the city (ie Walmart is banned) Good luck!

[geckogrl]

Thank you for all the replies. Wow! Very interesting. It seems like there could be woodsy folk and then at the same time I have this picture of meth addicts roaming the streets. That scares me a little. Maybe North/West Marin (Pt Reyes) is more artsy yet rural but not with all the drugs/crime...it sounds a little like the downtown Santa Cruz meth addict problem. I just don't know though. Decisions. I suppose there could be a sailboat in the Caribbean in my future to get away from it all... yeah, i'll become a pirate.