Arcata? Is it Trustafarians & Zillionaires? (Eureka, McKinleyville: environment, rental, job)

[willdufauve]

From what I've read, of all the places in America I would probably like Arcata a lot. I've never actually been there, or known anyone from there, I just like reading their local newspaper and the humorous Police Report column.

I probably don't know what I'm talking about (in this instance) but what's it really like in Arcata? Friendly? Laid back eccentric hippie artist/musician creative types? Do you have to be a trustafarian zillionaire to afford it?

Thanks in advance. I mean...Peace...whatever.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by willdufauve

From what I've read, of all the places in America I would probably like Arcata a lot. I've never actually been there, or known anyone from there, I just like reading their local newspaper and the humorous Police Report column.

I probably don't know what I'm talking about (in this instance) but what's it really like in Arcata? Friendly? Laid back eccentric hippie artist/musician creative types? Do you have to be a trustafarian zillionaire to afford it?

Thanks in advance. I mean...Peace...whatever.

Generally speaking most hippies in rural norcal are one of the following:

- trustafarians
- homeless / runaway / meth addict
- pot growers

[NorthernCalifornia]

Arcatans are typically teachers, small business owners and people like that. Many do arts and crafts, paint, etc. The town is about 7500 people without the Humboldt State University population which is about the same. The school is known for Natural Sciences so you have a good number of soil biologists and people like that around. The town features several environmental activist non profits and organizations. The university students are often from southern california and have a bunch of money but the school has a relatively older student, average age being over 26.

If you like smaller "communities" where you'll eventually meet everyone and don't require too much hustle and bustle Arcata can be a fun place. It's not an island, the rest of Humboldt County is less deliberately "quirky" but not hugely different if you're coming from far away. Eureka, 7 miles south, is the center of the area, population around 40-45k. It was recently voted the "best small arts town in the US" for what that's worth.

As for the area it's a beautiful natural environment, located on small bay, redwood and other trees everywhere. It's very green year round (VERY green), not especially warm on the coast (nor cold). You don't move there to make a million in a corporate job or to meet the fashion designers and PR reps or hollywood celebrities. It's a small place, rooted in a logging and fishing history, with rural characteristics (tweekers, etc) and is far from major cities.

If you want to live in Humboldt money won't be a factor. Arcata-proper (which is tiny) can be more expensive due to fluctuating student populations especially around August.

[willdufauve]

Originally Posted by NorthernCalifornia

If you want to live in Humboldt money won't be a factor.

Thanks, NorCal. Would you have any idea about rents in Humboldt? We're not rich, artists/teachers looking to retire away from New England winters, and even further away from New England conservatism.

[NorthernCalifornia]

humboldt.craigslist.org will give you a rough idea of rents. keep in mind that in Arcata the areas between the university and plaza command a premium due to student influx. rental costs have gone up in recent years for assorted reasons and there will be wild fluctuations in the amounts charged so don't be surprised if you find a much better place for less money than what seems to be the going rate or conversely someone trying to charge obscene amounts for the area, hoping to snare a clueless out-of-towner.

if you were to move there i'd suggest finding a comfortable, shorter-term situation (month to month is not that difficult, non-property managers are typically fairly informal) so you can get to know the area. after a few months of driving around and getting to know the area you'll have a much greater ability to judge where you'd like to be.

[TheDragonslayer]

If you are not renting in Arcata proper, but in McKinleyville which is about 2 miles north, or Fieldbrook which is a little inland, Samoa and Manilla on the coast, you can rent a small house for $900 to $1200 a month. The Pacific Coast Trail goes through Arcata, through Mck and on to Trinidad, I have friends that use that trail to commute between the towns for work. In your first post you described Arcata perfectly. It is a very artistic community with a very diverse population. I believe the newspaper that you are reading is the Arcata Eye.

[nanannie]

I will be there soon to look around Arcata and the coast up to Southern Oregon, then over to Shasta. Can you recommend any nice places to stay?Towns to zip thru or avoid ? towns to linger ?

[NorthernCalifornia]

stop in and around Orick. underrated.

[nanannie]

Thanks, I will check it out.

[Yurt]

Originally Posted by TheDragonslayer

If you are not renting in Arcata proper, but in McKinleyville which is about 2 miles north, or Fieldbrook which is a little inland, Samoa and Manilla on the coast, you can rent a small house for $900 to $1200 a month. The Pacific Coast Trail goes through Arcata, through Mck and on to Trinidad, I have friends that use that trail to commute between the towns for work. In your first post you described Arcata perfectly. It is a very artistic community with a very diverse population. I believe the newspaper that you are reading is the Arcata Eye.

the PCT goes through arcata? thats news to me. doesn't it go through shasta area....