Eureka/Arcata? (San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley: low income, insurance, houses)

[thomasw98]

Originally Posted by TheDragonslayer

The crime rate is higher in Eureka because that is where the county seat is, the county jail, 2 hospitals and a large infrastructure for a city of 28,000...

Some very useful information. Thanks. I especially appreciate the suggestions of the other smaller cities which are warmer, as I am still a bit worried about all the rain and fog.

I plan to visit the area in July 2008, so the weather will probably be very nice in Arcata and McK, but I will also take a look at the other locations you mentioned for comparison.

Thanks!

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by thomasw98

I plan to visit the area in July 2008, so the weather will probably be very nice...

Don't count on it.
The weather on California's North Coast is best in September and October.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by Fat Freddy

Don't count on it.
The weather on California's North Coast is best in September and October.

Fat Freddy is right. In July be prepared for fog and temps in the upper 50s. Maybe a little nicer in McKinleyville.

[migrjo]

Do I remember correctly that "Utne" listed Arcata as California's most enlightened city in 1997?

Do you Arcatans (?) agree?

Michael

[TheDragonslayer]

Arcata is much like Berkeley in attitude and culture, it is a very enlightened small town. It has a fluid population due to the large amount of students from Humboldt State University. McKinleyville is much warmer than Eureka, unless you are at the airport, which sits atop a bluff. This past summer was absolutely gorgeous, hardly any fog, temperatures in the 70's to upper 80's on the coast and easy 100 plus within 15 to 50 miles going inland to Willow Creek, Fieldbrook, Weaverville and Blue Lake. Just like San Francisco, one year may have little fog and the next nice and warm. In the past almost 8 years of living here in McKinleyville, there was only one lousy, cool and foggy summer, even Eureka has days that are in the 70's nearly every summer. I lived in the Central valley in Pittsburg for 20 years and endured the extreme heat of summer and the cold thick fog of the summer, I lived in Berkeley and Oakland for 10 years and the interior part of Humboldt county in the Garberville area for 7 years of outrageously hot and humid summers and soaking wet, cold and snowy summers. I would say the climate here in McKinleyville and the Humboldt bay area is much like the climate of the Berkeley and Emeryville area of the S. F. bay area and at its foggiest like the Cliff house in San Francisco. I do not like the heat so for me it is nice here at coast, it is never too cold or too hot, if I need the heat in the summer, it is but a short drive inland....................... Again and again, I tell everyone that a trip up here is the best way to find out what it is like. Once you are past Ukiah the driving is easy, if anything you will need to use your cruise control to keep from going a lot over the speed limit. Traffic can be so scarce that without another car to gauge your speed by, you will just take off and fly. At night 101 is practically empty and you can drive in the fast lane with your brights on most of the way from the bay area to Eureka, over 300 miles.

[thomasw98]

Originally Posted by jjpop

Fat Freddy is right. In July be prepared for fog and temps in the upper 50s. Maybe a little nicer in McKinleyville.

Actually, that's even better news, since I would like to get some feeling for the "miserable weather" in the area that everyone talks about.

Based on Dragonslayer's description, McK is sounding more and more like the right place for me. I like the student feeling of Arcata (and might even try to teach and/or take some classes at Humboldt State), but it might be a little too grungy for me. Anyhoo, I will be there next summer and check it out.

I am also going to look at some of the small cities/towns in the area that Dragonslayer suggested...but I am skeptical whether I would be comfortable in places with populations of only 1000 or so (I currently live in a city with population of 20+ million!). Fortuna, at around 8000 people, might be a nice option though.

Thanks!

[Tony from Europe]

In Arcata is snow ! ! ! ! !

[TheDragonslayer]

Sometimes it snows, it snowed everywhere here on the coast 2 years ago. It was not much, maybe an inch or so in the hills at 500 feet. McKinleyville got a freak snow storm last winter that left up to 4 inches at the airport. Right now we have snow in the hills at 2500 feet and higher. The Trinity Alps at over 9,000 feet and Mount Shasta at 14,000 plus feet is only several hours away. We have a lot of wilderness areas and state parks surrounding us for those that like outdoor activities like hiking, camping, boating, rafting and swimming to name a few. I myself am a home body, but I do like to take long summer drives up to the mountains. The best way to experience our county and what it has to offer is to take a vacation here. Go on to google earth and take an overhead view and that way one can see where all the state and national parks are located. Look up Trinity national park, Six rivers national park, Mount Shasta, Kings Range-Lost Coast, and a plethora of coastal state parks.

[outasightoutamind]

Is there alot of hospitality jobs in Eureka/Arcata area.
I work as a Front Desk Manager at a beach resort now in Florida. My husband is the Chief Engineer at the same resort. We both would like to move to the area. Along with the skill mentioned above we have other workable skills to fall back on. Just to name a few fishing/processing (worked for Pacific Shrimp Newport, husband fished for Arctic Alaska fisheries Seattle) manufactoring, retail, restaurant (cook, server) etc. I am not saying we are smarter then the average bear, just a couple of folks that are looking to slow down with a good cup of coffee. We would eventually like to build our furniture and sell it on the side like we do now, nothing fancy just a hobby certainly not looking to start a multi million dollar company.
Have read alot about the area. Not afraid of the rain/fog etc. Lived on the Oregon coast for many years. Oregon is a great state but its a bit depressing for me now.
We are also looking into Washington State. Leaning toward Northern California.
Eureka seeems nice, driven thru on the way south to SF. In laws live in Central Ca.
Wanting to split in half. Kind of the best of both worlds. Living in SE now, no longer the fun it used to be. To many big spenders coming in and ruining beachs. Is this a problem there?

[TheDragonslayer]

Big spenders are not a problem here. Outasightoutamind, you sound like the perfect people for here, there are a lot of hospitality jobs here. Tourism is 1/3 of the county's gross revenue, industry another third and pot the last third it is a big business here believe it or not. We are the Emerald Triangle for a reason