Cheapest place in California, with organic food, access to nature... (Los Angeles: salon, to rent)

[Hubcap_halo]

Hello,

I'm a semi disabled writer who needs to spend a year or two living
somewhere that's a tough combination to find: inexpensive cost of living and a healing place with access to beautiful nature.

I'm considering the SW (Albuquerque, Tuscon), but I've never lived in total desert before so I thought I would see if California had a town that might be a little less extreme in terms of summer heat.

I've lived in Minnesota, Seattle and New York so I can stand the cold. But the damp of the Northwest is bad for my condition, so drier is better.

Of course the Palo Alto climate would be ideal but I couldn't afford a closet there.

A friend recommended Bakersfield, but now I'm seeing reports that it's very conservative and an armpit.

I can live in a smaller town without a lot of art or hipness. I just need healthy food and nature (I like nature trails, trees, rivers, lakes, ocean and perhaps I could love the high desert, I don't know) and a few like minded alternative health people, liberals, etc....

Any thoughts?

[CA central coast]

MMMMMMM.....Well, you may want to look into northern CA coast ( North of San Franciso). Like Eureka or Arcata. The Redwoods. How cheap? not sure. Shasta area is another consideration. Redding.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Hubcap_halo

Hello,

I'm a semi disabled writer who needs to spend a year or two living
somewhere that's a tough combination to find: inexpensive cost of living and a healing place with access to beautiful nature.

I'm considering the SW (Albuquerque, Tuscon), but I've never lived in total desert before so I thought I would see if California had a town that might be a little less extreme in terms of summer heat.

I've lived in Minnesota, Seattle and New York so I can stand the cold. But the damp of the Northwest is bad for my condition, so drier is better.

Of course the Palo Alto climate would be ideal but I couldn't afford a closet there.

A friend recommended Bakersfield, but now I'm seeing reports that it's very conservative and an armpit.

I can live in a smaller town without a lot of art or hipness. I just need healthy food and nature (I like nature trails, trees, rivers, lakes, ocean and perhaps I could love the high desert, I don't know) and a few like minded alternative health people, liberals, etc....

Any thoughts?

wow, you don't want much, do you? I am leary as to where in Calif you could come close to finding what you want..the interesting thing, you seem to not like the idea of Bakersfield because someone said it was conservative.

I think, if I were you I would look in the Albuquerque area, we lived there 7 years, it would fit your life style as close as anything. Those cost of living would be much less than in California..

Nita

[FresnoFacts]

The first place that popped into my mind for some reason was Three Rivers, just south of Sequoia National Park along the Kaweah River.

Three Rivers is only about 2,000 or 3,000 people but the city of Visalia with 100,000 people is only a 30 minute drive for more services and activity.
//www.city-data.com/city/Three-...alifornia.html
It sits in the foothills just above the orange growing belt. Depending upon where you are in the area you could get either a dusting of snow or no snow in winter. Summers rarely go above 100.

It is becoming an interesting hideaway, a mix of cowboys, tourists, and a few Hollywood people. There is a small artist colony as well as some back to nature types. Organic food is available in the area.

You should be able to rent a place there for between $500 and $1000 a month depending upon location and size.

Here are a couple of articles about the area
The Sierra salon - Los Angeles Times
The Getaway: Three Rivers, CA - LAist: Los Angeles News, Food, Arts & Events

And a link to the local weekly paper.
The Kaweah Commonwealth Online - Weekly News

[westwind15]

Redding and the Shasta County area have a lower cost of living than much of the rest of the State, and are certainly surrounded by nature - Shasta, Mt. Lassen National Park, and on and on. However, summers there are HOT, and the job market is terrible there right now.

[JWilsonT]

Since you're considering New Mexico, take a look at Silver City. High elevation so the summers are not bad and it cools down at night. They have a wonderful natural foods store in town, too. Another suggestion would be Spokane, WA. Cost of living is lower there and again, Huckleberries is the local natural foods store which is excellent. You'll need to check out the weather to see if it fits your requirements.