Where to live in far northern California?? (Redding, Santa Cruz: real estate, motel)

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by SSIwillbebrokeby2010

Oh yah, my name. I guess I'm stuck with it. I'm was trying to draw attention to the problems of Entitlement's being out of control.
It has caused the California State Budget to cut back on our State Parks. And the schools, teachers, and roads.
Not the Retirement Social Security folks. They worked and earned.
It is these out of control Entitlements that have to be looked at that are swollen beyond control. If one is to look at SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and see how it is growing and growing, and how Mental Other is the largest amount of people on SSI now, it is beyone me how they can keep paying for it...
Sorry to get off the thread. Just wanted to clear up my name choice, it was during the Cal State Budget Cuts.
I think Bandon by the Sea is the best place on the planet, really. I want to check out Coos Bay a bit more though.
The place I have been waiting for a transfer NEVER goes up. Bet you would know why, it's Lostin, Oregon. I LOVE that little town. It looks almost exactly like where I live now.

Now I get the name. It is a shame with budget cuts. I do hope you wind up in your little heavan. Peace

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by wburg

I lived in Arcata for four years. It's beautiful and interesting but very weird--the area is described as "behind the Redwood Curtain" because it is so remote from pretty much anything else. It really is its own little world.

Getting a job will be tough. Many HSU graduates want to stay in town, so you end up with people with master's degrees making burritos. Land prices are high in Arcata because it's a college town.

The air isn't all that clean if you take into account the sulfur dioxide from pulp mills. It's less noticeable in Arcata or Ferndale but in Eureka one day in three the whole town smells like a dirty diaper. You eventually learn to tune it out but cancer rates are kinda high downwind from the pulp mills.

Thanks, thats some info I wasnt aware of. I knew about the pulp perfume in Eureka, but didnt know it was severe. Whats your opinion of Fortuna, Ferndale and MckInleyville. Same?

[TheDragonslayer]

The pulp mill cut back to something like 30 percent of its prior output, most of the mill have also been cut back. I remember the rotten egg odor of Eureka almost every time we went to Costco, now it is not as bad. Arcata is pretty much laid back like Berkeley. Arcata and Eureka are actually 6 miles apart, separated by predominantly farm land. McKinleyville is about 3 miles north of Arcata's square. McKinleyville is a very manageable city to get around by car, bike or foot, it also has the county airport [ Eureka/Arcata airport ], it is at the north end of town, making it at least 16 miles north of Eureka. McKinleyville does not have any saw mills or pulp mills and is the fastest growing city in Humboldt county.

Redding is 143 miles east of Arcata on an extremely windy mountain highway [ 299 ] that exceeds elevations of 3,000 feet three or four times. No one can get to Redding from Arcata in 2 hours, it is impossible, 2 hours and 45 minutes and one would still be breaking the speed limit most of the way. I have done it in just over 3 hours and that was trying to keep at 55 mph, it is not easy, on some of the curvy sections it is not possible to do much more than 40 or you may go off the road and into the river.

Crescent city has both a Walmart and a Home depot that we do not have here and it is only 69 miles more north, it takes a little more than an hour to get there. Right at the north end of McKinleyville is Trinidad and from there north it is breathtaking on the coast highway 101, at times it hugs the coastal cliffs. Here is a picture of the coast from Trinidad looking south toward Clam Beach in McKinleyville.

[nanannie]

Once again thanks Dragon. I often print your responses for our travel folder.

[Dary]

Everyone, what do you think of the rain/drizzle situation around Eureka? I've been reading other posts that make it sound like fog central. I realize that it's a coastal area and you have to accept that, but is it difficult to live in? Although I really hate Southern California, I am used to it's sunny weather....

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by Dary

Everyone, what do you think of the rain/drizzle situation around Eureka? I've been reading other posts that make it sound like fog central. I realize that it's a coastal area and you have to accept that, but is it difficult to live in? Although I really hate Southern California, I am used to it's sunny weather....

Another place suggested was around Paradise for that very reason. The rain/drizzle is there in the coastal areas NW, no question. It sure helps keep things green and beautiful, but if affects many. I was told to check out the area Paradise about 14 miles from Chico. Nicer weather, still beautiful, and affordable. Mild Seasons too

[TheDragonslayer]

Here is a city data listing for McKinleyville, California. I googled my town and this came up, it happened to be by city data forum.

McKinleyville, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news

[Guevera]

This is going to sound harsher and more personal than I mean it to be, please keep that in mind.

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to my home. Now go move somewhere else.

SoCal people headed north are destroying my precious home. The last thing we need is another SUV full of city people and their offspring. The idea that 300-400k is reasonable to spend on a home in Arcata is why it's so damn difficult for me to buy a house in my own home town.

So, having (collectively) destroyed all that made the rest of California such a nice place to live, you'll just head north and buy up our little piece of paradise?

Timber's virtually dead, the fishing industry is in such lousy shape you just want to pull the plug and end the suffering. Hell, even the pot business is hurting a bit.

Census bureau says between 2000-2006 the county lost 3.7% of it's jobs, and has a median household income of $33k a year. That's two Burger King salaries -- though it's more likely four part time jobs with no benefits.

But these poor saps are supposed to compete for property with this hoard. A seemingly countless number of socal transplants who, having already fouled their own nest and now determined to inflict themselves on a new region, come equipped with bank accounts bloated from the sale of bubble-inflated tract homes in some hellish valley burb, and in the process they drive property values up to levels previously seen only in San Francisco.

People considering that move should thank god most of the natives are too stoned to provide a truly appropriate welcome or are too screwed up on meth to actually pull it off.

Of course, if it's my parents house you're interested in spending 400 grand on, then I take it all back

[nanannie]

I think your harshness came through loud and clear. Its not "YOURS" and if you think its a wonderful place to live, others will to. As my friend in Telluride always told me, you cant move to a town and close the gate behind you.

[Guevera]

Actually, it is mine. And I didn't move there, I was born there.

Of course, as with most groups, individually many recent arrivals are wonderful people. I count a couple among my best friends. Collectively, it's what my college professors called a "tragedy of the commons," and it's gotten significantly worse in recent years because of the housing bubble.

That bubble never had any economic impact in Humboldt except for driving up property values, it came almost entirely from people moving in from outside after selling bubble inflated homes elsewhere, and it hasn't popped like other places because of the continued demand from outsiders moving in. It's ridiculous that Arcata prices are higher than city prices.

So for all you looking to escape the city, don't take it personally, but why don't you check out the Shasta? It really is a great area. Honest