No.Calif coastal beach towns w/ low cost of living? (Santa Cruz: house, tree)

[Steve97415]

Sure. Cost of living is inversely proportional to employment potential and overall livability. You can buy a decent house in Smith River for under $200k, but what would you do with your time and...would you want to live there at all?

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by susanra

CoyoteSkye,
Any coastal beach town in northern California, all the way up to Oregon, with a reasonable cost of living. For example, I read of an alternative culture, 'hippie' coastal beach town in northern California a couple of years ago, but I can't remember the name.

Thanks for your response!

I'm not familiar enough with the coastal communities once you get north of San Francisco to give you good advice.
I'm wondering if you are referring to Humboldt county which is way up north and there certainly are hippies ... a strong ganja growing area but, from what i gather, there is also a lot of meth (which seems to be everywhere now) and very high unemployment.
It's my impression that there's a fairly strong gun "culture" up there (no surprise ... they're everywhere too) which i find really problematic (as does my dog) but someone may come along and correct me if i'm wrong about that.
It's also brrrrrr and damp.
There are people who are aware of the Humboldt county communities that post regularly on this forum.
The responses you get regarding the Humboldt area may be discouraging.
Or maybe you're thinking of the town of Mendocino? (which is in the county of Mendocino ... up there but not way, way up there).
If you're someone who is a bit off the map, ie; alternative (as i am) just take it with a grain of salt and wait for some positive replies that may come along.
I'm in Santa Cruz county (at the "top" of the Monerey Bay - less than 2 hrs south of San Francisco) which is great and you may appreciate it very much if you like a place that is open and tolerant but rentals are expensive here (more and less so depending where you are in the county) although there are opportunities for those of us who are not flush with $$$ if you can live simply/humbly and you're flexible and open to, perhaps for awhile, being somewhat transient until you can find a nest to settle in which can definitely be challenging here.
Santa_Cruz_County,California

[Hawk J]

Cambria Pines is a beautiful area (close to Hearst Castle).
We spent our honeymoon there.

It was long ago. I don't know what cost of living is...


Best of Luck with your search.

...

[eureka1]

If you intend to live ENTIRELY on $1k or so Social Security you will have a hard time in any coastal areas because the cost of housing is higher in the coastal areas. A lot of other things are more expensive here because everything has to be shipped a long way. There IS a mobile home park in Smith River but you would need a car and I don't know the rental rates. You need to find a town that has section 8 or subsidized senior housing and focus your search on those places, would be my suggestion. Avoid Crescent City, like Smith River, it's dreary and crime-ridden. If you expanded your search to include areas just an hour inland you'd have a lot more to pick from. Good luck!

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by eureka1

If you intend to live ENTIRELY on $1k or so Social Security you will have a hard time in any coastal areas because the cost of housing is higher in the coastal areas. A lot of other things are more expensive here because everything has to be shipped a long way. There IS a mobile home park in Smith River but you would need a car and I don't know the rental rates. You need to find a town that has section 8 or subsidized senior housing and focus your search on those places, would be my suggestion. Avoid Crescent City, like Smith River, it's dreary and crime-ridden. If you expanded your search to include areas just an hour inland you'd have a lot more to pick from. Good luck!

Yeah, I agree with this as well. My mother was on section 8 housing and it was quite a good deal for someone on a fixed income. The other consideration when looking at a good place to retire is proximity to good, capable medical care. If you are out in the boonies getting competent health care can become a real issue.

Derek

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by susanra

For example, I read of an alternative culture, 'hippie' coastal beach town in northern California a couple of years ago, but I can't remember the name.

That would be Arcata, home of Humboldt State University. I wouldn't
rate it as being affordable although it's cheaper than Santa Cruz.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Pacifica if you act fast (hit particularly hard by the real estate slump).

Of course realize that much of it has a definite blue collar ambiance (which may be attractive, depending on what you are after).

If I were to go bargain hunting along the immediate coast I'd strongly consider it.

[NorthernCalifornia]

It really depends on size. North of SF the biggest city on the coast is Eureka. Next down would be Ft Bragg and Crescent City. Smaller towns like Mendocino, Shelter Cove and Trinidad are also options. South of SF you have Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Moss Beach, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Big Sur. Those are all much more expensive but not entirely prohibitive.

[cheif-narragansett]

its the lower california now in borders of mexico its very cheap and hippie too try silent cape

[rickers]

Originally Posted by cheif-narragansett

its the lower california now in borders of mexico its very cheap and hippie too try silent cape

What in the heck are you babbling about here, you make no sense at all.