does anyone have words to share about Ukiah? (San Francisco, Santa Rosa: renting, find a job)

[nessa1812]

i am new to this forum! i am wondering if anyone out there knows Ukiah CA
..has experience living there.

i am currently researching a new place to move and this seems like a lovely place. my only problem is i have never been there, the only research is that i can find online.

my situation is: i am currently living in S Nevada. since i work from my computer in the arts i can be free to live where i choose - starting next year. this is a wonderful freedom to have so i want to choose wisely and hopefully live somewhere that is quiet and has beautiful scenery yet open minded society. I have never lived anywhere but Nevada/ Las Vegas/ Henderson/ Boulder City for a long time.. it is not terrible here i just really want to try a new environment and really like sound of towns in N. California.

i am traveling there in dec. and the vicinity of mendocino county next month.

anyone with personal advice i would such appreciate. thankyou.

P.S. is december a bad time to travel in this area?? are the roads very wet? thankyou.

[Subie]

I used to live in Lake County (neighbor of Mendocino County) in Lakeport for almost a year.it's pretty common for Lake County people to travel to Ukiah because it has more stores and is a slightly bigger town. It's not very big at all in terms of big Cali cities, however it's cute and livable if you don't mind being kind up in the boonies as they say. It can be very beautiful up there. The weather is decent except for winter where the rainy season comes and it's cold, wet, and gloomy for long stretches of time. However the air quality is great and you feel very "healthy" up there. It's also very quiet.

I believe the nearest big city is Santa Rosa at about 75-80 miles away (about 1.5 hours), and about 3 hours to SF.

If you can handle that, you should definitely check it out. Yes, the roads are wet, but usually not unmanageable.

[azoria]

I lived in Ukiah and Mendocino county for many years.

There is no way to make a living in Ukiah. If you intend to move there and find a job--you can just give that up.

What little industry there once was in Mendocino county, predominately logging and the lumber industry, is long gone. Decades gone.

There are a few jobs in local government, the post office, the school district. They are gems and not given to outsiders and open up only when the current job holder dies or retires.

Ukiah has had a non-existent economy for 25 years. Beautiful place but the nearest job is about 75 miles of bad road away, in Sonoma county.

Here is a link to Ukiah unemployment rates, largely running between 7-14% for the last twenty years. I'm guessing the unemployment rates have shown a temporary decline every so often when enough people finally give up and leave the area.....
http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/dat.../lauMC06463803

Yes, December is wet.

[Dean Trails]

They call the wind,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ukiah!!! Ukiah is a very spirtual place. That said, it is very difficult to find a job there. Great place to be if you do not need a job or income.

Also for what it is worth, Ukiah spelled backwards is Haiku. Haiku is the mystical Japanese poem form that brings serenity and wisdom to the reader.

[MtnSurfer]

Ukiah is small town USA, very different from the CA most ppl think of. A good friend of from college grew up there. But because there are not many jobs and not much to do for younger ppl he did not return. When I visited him and stayed with his family I thought it was Mayberry.

Anyway it can get very cold. When we awoke early in the AM to go surfing we had to scrape the ice off of our windshield. And on the way to coast thru the mtns. there was snow on the ground.

You may also want to explore some of the towns further south like Petaluma & Sonoma. My uncle lives in Petaluma and really likes that area. There are a lot of quaint smaller towns north of SF which may have a more 'open minded' kind of vibe than Ukiah. I would check them out as well. Walk the streets and grab a meal at a local restaurant to get a better feel for some of these areas.

Lastly because of the depressed economy drug & alcohol abuse has been mentioned as a problem up there. Do a search on here for Ukiah. Here is one of many threads discussing it: Fort Bragg & Ukiah.

Derek

[mendoperson]

Many folks describe the 60 mile drive north from Santa Rosa into Mendocino County and the Yokayo Valley as a regression back in time some 50 years. I'll call Ukiah and northward along Hwy 101 the "Redwood Curtain" for its relative isolation and departure from mainstream America (and California).

After living in Ukiah for one year, I believe the following is an objective description of Ukiah and Mendocino County in general:

Unless your work brings you to Ukiah, or unless you have a job waiting for you in Ukiah, there are better options in NorCal. Ukiah's (legitimate) economy is mainly a service industry. Because of a long history and unofficial policy of anti-growth/anti-big business from a segment of the population and elected officials, Ukiah and the rest of Mendocino County is slowly dying. The County's fate was determined when the County Board of Sups refused to fund the construction of the local reserviour, Lake Mendocino. Since the counties to the south funded the project, they own the water rights. A lack of water further limits growth here. A little perplexing considering the abundant rainfall this region gets.

A few positives: the air is almost always clean, little traffic, generally friendly folks, spectacular scenery, proximity to unspoiled nature, and four seasons (inland). There are a few Buddhist communities. There is a nudist retreat a few miles from town.

The negatives are largely economic: High cost of living vs wages, limited housing options (buying or renting), limited job options, limited shopping, few dining options, high utility costs, extreme temperatures from winter to summer, to name a few. A disproportionate percentage of the population survives on welfare. Since so many high-schoolers become pregnant, there is a separate campus for the "babies who have babies." To continue, there is a somewhat suspicious sentiment towards outsiders, especially if you came from a big city. On the coast, locals are especially suspicious and protective.

Regarding the political spectrum of the public, to say that most voters are liberal would be an understatement. On the other hand, anarchism would be more accurate. On the coast, few visitors are aware of what lies in the hills above Hwy 1: Massive marijuana grows, meth operations, and general squalor. The weed has created an underground economy. The hills are also a good place to hide.

On the local cable TV, check-out the public access channel - the local Board of Sups meetings. Pay attention to the comments made by the one Supervisor who sits on the left: David Colfax. Quite scary if our elected officials are a reflection of the voting majority. I will not elaborate further on this, but instead, invite a separate thread on this Board of Supervisors.

So, if you're thinking of relocating to Ukiah, I strongly suggest spending a few weeks here first before making any commitments. Against conventional wisdom, first impressions are not always lasting.

[mcdarlin]

Wow.. reading these posts, who would move to Ukiah??? I recently spent a few hours there and found the locals to be friendly and extremly helpful. Mind you a few hours Has not convinced me to move. However, I did get a good feeling or "vibe" if you will. One elderly gentleman did warn me about the lack of employment opportunities!!!!! Hummmm....something to think about. Ukiah does , on the other hand offer a lot of interseting thing...such as art,culture, History, Parks and recreation, Music venues, I found it to be quit quaint! I plan on spending more time there to see if it is a possible fit for me.

[Joybell]

Here is what Ukiah has to offer: LOTS of wonderful dining choices, (the sushi and Asian joints are amazing), great shopping, (although the boutiques can be a little pricey), friendly people, and amazing scenery.

Ukiah is situated in a valley and the buildings and businesses are augmented by acres and acres of vineyards. A lot of my friends have traveled to different parts of the world and a common thing I hear is, "It was so gorgeous, it reminded me of Ukiah".

The housing is a lot more affordable than other parts of the Bay Area, although yes, jobs can be hard to find. The economy is run on grapes and weed, so if you're not involved in either you may have to wait awhile for employment. (Ukiah is situated in an overlap of the Wine Country and the Emerald Triangle.)

The lakes are beautiful and Lake Mendocino is adjacent to Ukiah. A lot of people own boats and there is a summer scene out on the lake for sure. Reggae festivals happen every summer and are all within an hour's drive.
There's Mendocino College which is located on the north end of Ukiah. They offer a wide variety of art and sport classes, as well as all the stuff you would need for an Associate's degree. (You can obtain a BA in a few subjects as well).

If you're a young person there's only a few places to dance on the weekends. Santa Rosa is the closest big city and it is an hour away. San Francisco is exactly 2 hours away. I'm not sure what that lady who said Ukiah was 3 hours from SF was thinking... she may have been talking about Lake County. It's definitely a 2 hours drive, even with the typical Santa Rosa/ Novato fun traffic.

The only real downside I can think of is that the nightlife is limited. If a small town is what you're looking for I would definitely move to Ukiah.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Joybell

Here is what Ukiah has to offer: LOTS of wonderful dining choices, (the sushi and Asian joints are amazing), great shopping, (although the boutiques can be a little pricey), friendly people, and amazing scenery.
...
The economy is run on grapes and weed, so if you're not involved in either you may have to wait awhile for employment.
...
The only real downside I can think of is that the nightlife is limited. If a small town is what you're looking for I would definitely move to Ukiah.

Well, I would see the lack of employment other than growing grapes or weed as a Major downside. But thats just me. However I guess if you are retired, living from a trust fund or have some other 'I can live anywhere' type job then maybe it effects you less.

Derek

[fatherjohnson]

Nessa I wouldn't do that. My friend was "short-changed" at one of the sushi places there, just a few months ago. Not my kind of town, Ukiah. :-/