Eureka/Arcata? (Chico, McKinleyville, Fortuna: real estate market, rent, violent crime)

[TheDragonslayer]

Forgot the pictures. Here they are.

[eureka1]

Originally Posted by treeluvr

Hello,

I grew up in California and am (as always) missing it. I lived in various places around the state (from Del Mar to San Francisco) when I was younger. However, I have always been drawn to the rocky shores and redwood forests of the North. I'm considering a move to northern California. As a way to keep myself happy while I accumulate the funds (and knowledge) for a move, I'd like to read about northern CA.

I'm looking for books about northern california--Humboldt or Del Norte areas in particular. I am not so interested in tour guides--I find many of these. Rather, I'm looking for books that provide culture and place information in a "good read" format. Even novels that give the character of the region would be welcome.

Anyone have recommendations?

Thanks

There's a new book just out by Ray Raphael and Freeman House
called "Two Peoples,One Place" available through the Humboldt County Historical Society and maybe elsewhere. You could try Amazon-their website has a keyword feature. The Historical Society is a real deal, For $25 a year you get four quarterlies full of history, photos etc AND a discount at their bookstore. They have a website. Have fun and come visit us!

[treeluvr]

Originally Posted by eureka1

There's a new book just out by Ray Raphael and Freeman House
called "Two Peoples,One Place" available through the Humboldt County Historical Society and maybe elsewhere. You could try Amazon-their website has a keyword feature. The Historical Society is a real deal, For $25 a year you get four quarterlies full of history, photos etc AND a discount at their bookstore. They have a website. Have fun and come visit us!

Thank you! I'll check out the Historical Society. I recently did a search on Amazon and found a few books concerning the history of the region--ordered a few.

Would love to come and visit, but I'm currently being very tight-fisted with my funds. However, I have visited several years ago, so it's not completely foreign to me.

I had been researching Maine as a potential next move (and place to retire), but I think northern CA has everything they do (ocean, trees, low cost housing, no crowds, and no jobs) and more--and it will feel more like home to me.

One thing about Maine (maybe it's their long hard winters) there are a number of people who make their living by writing about the region, either fiction set in Maine or about the land and people of Maine--makes for an entertaining way to learn about the region. I was kind of hoping that a beautiful place like Humboldt county (and with weak economy) might inspire residents to write for a living.

[eureka1]

There are MANY local writers here, lots of writing groups, and a friend of mine even tried to start a literary agency here a few years ago. Didn't work but he tried. The fiction writer Raymond Carver (the movie "short Cuts" was based on his work, lived here in the '70 and there is a rumor that Thomas Pynchon lived here, quitely, for a few years. Not quite as cold as Maine but there ARE similarities!

[treeluvr]

Originally Posted by eureka1

There are MANY local writers here

Yes I realized that after looking at the "bookstore' page of the Humboldt Historical Society webpage--lots of history in there.

[vortex3]

Raymond Carver attended Humboldt State. The short story collection, Where I'm Calling From has several stories set in the Arcata area.

[treeluvr]

Originally Posted by vortex3

Raymond Carver attended Humboldt State. The short story collection, Where I'm Calling From has several stories set in the Arcata area.

Sounds good--I haven't read Raymond Carver, but I will now!

[norcalwish]

What's the weather like in Humboldt right now? I'm driving from east coast to west in 2 weeks and i heard its been really bad up there? I'm going to Fortuna area.

[patrz]

Thanks Dragonslayer.
Now I have names of towns to look into. I hate the heat of the Sacto. valley and although I don't want to live in "Oregon" weather, Humbolt sounds like there is a place for everyone. Thanks.
We are looking for a modest 2 bed. home for about $200,000 Cash.

[NorthernCalifornia]

The key thing about coastal Humboldt weather is that it doesn't fluctuate much. Odds are that it will be between 45 and 53 degrees all day in january. In summertime and fall you're more likely to be between 60 and 65 or so.

You get used to it. Humboldt is about the people and it's not an obvious, in-your-face kind of city. Would take more than a year to know the place, that's for sure.

As for crime Arcata is more dangerous than Eureka in terms of random crime and violence. Eureka has plenty of thefts and domestic violence and wannabe drug dealers fighting each other but all in all it's rather safe. A random rape for example is unheard of in Eureka. It's also a much bigger city than Arcata, with a population around 40k whereas Arcata is about 8k plus another 5-8k when school is in session.

If homeless people shock you well, welcome to America!