Living in Eureka - 2019 (Monterey, Arcata: rent, neighborhood, cost)

[tikkasf]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

What leads you to suggest Fortuna? I've been leaning more toward the towns that are closer to the university, but I'm open to considering anything.

I just noticed it was a town of about 12,000 with some healthcare choices. I have never been to Fortuna. I was curious to hear what those in the area might have to say about it. Arcata likely is the overall best fit for what you seem to want. The one possible downside that comes to mind though, is the housing market could be a bit tighter in Arcata due to CSU Humboldt being located there.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

The rain; I expect it won't run out of water within my lifetime, and being wetter even than most of Western WA, I don't expect it to go up in smoke, either. Though there are no guarantees that it won't get drier, like Western WA has in the summers/late spring.

The stable rents (relative to Bay Area, and Puget Sound region). Presence of the university. Presence of lots of Indian tribes. The gorgeousness of it.

Ruth, I know you were thinking about the Monterey Bay for a while. Did you decide further south is too risky for potential fires? What are your thoughts on the Oregon coast? How about between Humboldt and SF? Just curious.

Derek

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by tikkasf

I just noticed it was a town of about 12,000 with some healthcare choices. I have never been to Fortuna. I was curious to hear what those in the area might have to say about it. Arcata likely is the overall best fit for what you seem to want. The one possible downside that comes to mind though, is the housing market could be a bit tighter in Arcata due to CSU Humboldt being located there.

Yes, and Arcata, rumor has it, has a more serious homeless & druggie problem, than McKinleyville and the Trinidad vicinity. Fortuna has better health care availability? How so? More primary care docs? It doesn't have its own hospital, does it?

Thanks again. I've also tentatively looked at Ferndale.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Ruth, I know you were thinking about the Monterey Bay for a while. Did you decide further south is too risky for potential fires? What are your thoughts on the Oregon coast? How about between Humboldt and SF? Just curious.

Derek

Well, I love the Monterey Bay region, but a) it's too expensive unless I win the lottery; rents aren't stable, unless I go inland a bit, b) how crowded it is scares me. If there were ever a national emergency (tsunami, fires, take your pick...), people would die on the roads. c) I already have a toehold there, in Santa Cruz, through an in-law, so I can always take time out from wherever I settle down, to enjoy a break in the area free of charge (as I do now). I guess I decided that would be the most practical. But yes, for awhile, I was allowing some serious dreaming about Monterey itself, thanks in part to your photos!

I did consider Ft. Bragg briefly. But then I read they'd had a serious problem with water shortage during the drought. I understand that they solved that, but still... It doesn't inspire confidence. (One of my motives is to stake out a reliable water supply for the remainder of my lifetime, if such is possible.) Besides, there's kind of nothing to do in Ft. Bragg/Mendocino, lol. I like Santa Cruz & Monterey in part because of good jazz/music venues, and the presence of a UC.

Oregon coast? Meh. See Ft Bragg & my "nothing to do" comment. Granted, parts of it are beautiful, but it's too isolated. Humboldt isn't the same type of "isolated", because of the presence of the university, and it has a much higher population. It has some interesting pockets of activity here and there.

[eureka1]

Fortuna is a cowtown with few services, Ferndale has none.. Just visit for a week or two and all will be clear.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by eureka1

Fortuna is a cowtown with few services, Ferndale has none.. Just visit for a week or two and all will be clear.

Thank you. Gotta admit, Fortuna isn't the image usually conjured in my mind by the term California "cowtown".

[tikkasf]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Yes, and Arcata, rumor has it, has a more serious homeless & druggie problem, than McKinleyville and the Trinidad vicinity. Fortuna has better health care availability? How so? More primary care docs? It doesn't have its own hospital, does it?

Thanks again. I've also tentatively looked at Ferndale.

I was going by what I read in regard to a healthcare provider in Fortuna.


https://health.usnews.com/best-hospi...spital-6930745.

[tikkasf]

In my exploring about via Google St View, I think Eureka would be my first choice to consider moving to in that general area of Humboldt Co. For myself, I think I would less likely get bored in Eureka.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by tikkasf

Attachment 216598In my exploring about via Google St View, I think Eureka would be my first choice to consider moving to in that general area of Humboldt Co. For myself, I think I would less likely get bored in Eureka.

Thank you for sharing! I was not aware of Redwood Memorial Hospital! I'll look into it some more. In the future, please feel free to share any info or material you come up with on Humboldt & its constituent parts, that's of interest to you. Eureka does look fun to explore.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Well, I love the Monterey Bay region, but a) it's too expensive unless I win the lottery; rents aren't stable, unless I go inland a bit, b) how crowded it is scares me. If there were ever a national emergency (tsunami, fires, take your pick...), people would die on the roads. c) I already have a toehold there, in Santa Cruz, through an in-law, so I can always take time out from wherever I settle down, to enjoy a break in the area free of charge (as I do now). I guess I decided that would be the most practical. But yes, for awhile, I was allowing some serious dreaming about Monterey itself, thanks in part to your photos!

I did consider Ft. Bragg briefly. But then I read they'd had a serious problem with water shortage during the drought. I understand that they solved that, but still... It doesn't inspire confidence. (One of my motives is to stake out a reliable water supply for the remainder of my lifetime, if such is possible.) Besides, there's kind of nothing to do in Ft. Bragg/Mendocino, lol. I like Santa Cruz & Monterey in part because of good jazz/music venues, and the presence of a UC.

Oregon coast? Meh. See Ft Bragg & my "nothing to do" comment. Granted, parts of it are beautiful, but it's too isolated. Humboldt isn't the same type of "isolated", because of the presence of the university, and it has a much higher population. It has some interesting pockets of activity here and there.

Yeah, the high cost of housing was one of the main reasons we left. However, for the decade+ we lived there, it was really awesome, even better than we had expected. So that made it harder to leave even if not 'practical' longer term. It's nice that you have a relative down there where you can visit and stay. We loved the live jazz scene! Oh my, how I miss that. I found a small club in Portland that has jazz performances and took my wife there. But nothing beats the big annual festivals like the Monterey Jazz Festival or the 'free' Next Generation Jazz Festival.

I know what you mean about smaller coastal towns with nothing to do. Plus, they are seriously lacking in services like decent medical care. Although I love 'visiting' the Oregon coast for its natural beauty, I'm not sure I could ever live there. Monterey was probably the perfect sized town for us with lots of activities while not being over populated.

I would be cautious regarding the availability of good medical services in the Eureka area based upon a number of data points including feedback from other locals. If you ever need a specialist or some kind of advanced treatment/services, it may require a long flight/drive to the Bay Area. Here are a few articles discussing the problems:

Nonprofit group gives Eureka hospital poor safety rating

Viewpoints: Lack of doctors in Humboldt reflects rural problems with access to health care

Even folks in Monterey sometimes prefer to drive to Stanford and other well regarded medical facilities for treatment, surgeries, etc... Fortunately, its not that far along with a number of other decent local options.

Derek