Where to live in far northern California?? (Los Angeles, San Bernardino: fit in, low crime)

[Dary]

My husband, baby and I currently live in San Bernardino and we're from Orange County originally. We're planning on moving in summer 2009 as we're so tired of the horrible smog, outrageous housing costs, crime and the Southern California attitude (plastic surgery, materialism, etc.) Even though we were both raised here we want to raise our children in an area that we'd feel safe letting them ride their bikes around the block by themselves. We're looking for a town in far northern California that is safe (safer than San Bernardino anyways), with lower housing prices (hopefully around $3-400,000) where we could also get some land (hopefully 2 acres or more). We'd like clean air and a healthier attitude towards living. We're very liberal people and not very religious but we're easygoing and tend to fit in well even among conservative people. My husband is a school teacher and I'm a stay at home mom. We've been recommended towards the Grants Pass/Rogue River, Oregon region, but we would prefer to stay in California as my husband's teaching credential is from here. My family is also in Southern California so it would be nice to stay in the same state. We are very active outdoor people and would like mountains, lakes/rivers, maybe 1-2 hours from the ocean with little snow. I've looked into Eureka but have heard that it's economically very poor. I've also looked at Redding but have heard that the heat is unbearable (I've had enough of that in San Bernardino!) Am I totally naive to think a place like this exists in California? Do I need to move to Oregon? Thanks in advance!

[nanannie]

We used to live in Oregon. We arrive in N. Calif. in June to check out Arcata,Fortuna, Ferndale etc, then over to Mount Shasta. They are not 'boom' towns, but have all the qualities we (and you by your description) desire. Housing is far more affordable and it seems to have a live/let live/be kind to the enviroment/no hummers allowed mentality we like Have to check it out first. I am very excited about it. Last year, we checked out the towns ofMedford and Grants Pass and were dissapointed (though certainly the surrounding countryside was beautiful).Schools left much to be desired. Ashland was very nice, but very $$$ for housing.Brookings/Gold Beach gorgeous scenery, but not much of a town, and not much for a kid to do I thought. Also, hubby did tire of the Oregon rainrainrain.We also didnt get the hoopla of Bend/Sisters. Different strokes. Good luck to you.

[TheDragonslayer]

The Humboldt Bay region sounds like it would suite your family fine. The largest town is Eureka at 28,000, Arcata at 17,000, McKinleyville at 15,000, Fortuna at 7,000 and Ferndale, Trinidad, Blue Lake, FieldBrook, Bayside, Manilla, Samoa, Fields Landing are small towns. Erureka is the county seat and location of much of the big shopping, Arcata has a State University, McKinleyville is the fastest growing town in the county, Fortuna is the friendly city and Ferdale is a victorian village that was featured in the movie " Majestic " with Jim Carey. The air and water here is very clean. The price of everything is high here except for property, $300,000 will buy one a new 3 b3droom home on a city lot, $400,000 can buy one an older home with 1 to 2 or more acres here in McKinleyville. We also have good schools and low crime rates. Our average rainfall is around 45 to 50 inch's of rain here on the coast and up to 225 inch's in the southern coastal section of the Humboldt coast. There are many more small towns in the county that I have not mentioned, the whole county is 130,000 people with a total area of 4,052 square miles of which 1.5 million acres is combined public and private forest in production. I moved here from the S F bay area in 1992.

[SSIwillbebrokeby2010]

I was in Eureka and Arcata a few months ago. Eureka and Arcata are right next to each other and it kinda' seemed like one whole city.
I had the best Veggie Tamale in my life off a wagon there at the square in Arcata.
I'm in the mountains outside Redding, Ca., and it takes me 2 hours on the 299 West to get to Arcata, unless there is road repair or weather or stop in Weaverville or the Bigfoot Museum at Hoopa.
I want to find a small town WITH land on the coast there in Humboldt or Oregon.
My friend transferred from Humboldt State to Oregon State and is really happy in Oregon.
I like grayer weather because of a rare problem with sensitivity to light. So that would not bother me on the gray days of Oregon.
Redding is the only place around for me to shop. It is way overgrown now.
I do not know what is drawing people to Redding, but it is getting like a mini Los Angeles, or at least on it's way to being a mini LA.
I grew up in LA and would NEVER want to re-live that horrific lifestyle ever again!
I did go to McKinleyville, but not as much as I wanted to. Had to get back inland to get back to work.
I would be transfering from an existing job that has an opening your way.
I am looking for that older home, on land to grow food on.
I would consider a manufactured though, they seem to be very energy efficient.
I loved the 'old hippie' style of Arcata. The colors of paint on the buildings, the painted buses, kewl, the dreds, nice organic food, vegan, it was fun.
I could not live right in the town of Eureka or Arcata though, I really want the rural lifestyle I have become used to. The town I'm in has barely 200 people.
Everyone has alot of land around them, except for in the micro mini part of the main town.
The drive on the 299 West out towards Eureka and Arcata which shows up first is beyond beautiful. Scary in spots though.
The Buckhorn is either fun or scary or both. I have not been able to make up my mind on that Buckhorn and I have driven it many times.
I'm also looking at the 'State of Jefferson' area. Like Etna. And, of course, MT SHASTA.
I have to hurry up and make up my mind.
I am leaning towards Oregon. The coast, northern coast of Oregon. Astoria to Cannon Beach area. Wow!
Most of the Oregon coast is beyond awesome.
Is the coast up there further north of McKinleyville at all similar to the Oregon coast?

[Dary]

Thanks everyone for your posts! Nanannie, do you think you could let me know what you think of Arcata, etc., after your visit?? My husband is going on an exploration trip of his own in July and I think I'll send him that direction after the advice I've received

Thanks again!

[nanannie]

I'll be happy to Dary. We will be back from our exploration around the 14th of june. I have gotten tons of excellent info from Dragonslayer. Thanks again.

[nanannie]

Thanks for the input "SSiwillbebroke"( hey,thats not positive thinking -how about SSiwillbehappyinmynewhomeby2010?). I agree with you, Cannon Beach,Manzanita etc WOWIE ZOWIE, "and a fool hath said there is no God". VERY $$$$ to buy there though. I havent been to the Northern Coast of California yet. As far south Oregon we were was Ashland,GP,Medford and over to the Oregon Coast. My family is still in Oregon as they love the rain,doesnt bother them one bit.

[SSIwillbebrokeby2010]

Oh yah, my name. I guess I'm stuck with it. I'm was trying to draw attention to the problems of Entitlement's being out of control.
It has caused the California State Budget to cut back on our State Parks. And the schools, teachers, and roads.
Not the Retirement Social Security folks. They worked and earned.
It is these out of control Entitlements that have to be looked at that are swollen beyond control. If one is to look at SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and see how it is growing and growing, and how Mental Other is the largest amount of people on SSI now, it is beyone me how they can keep paying for it...
Sorry to get off the thread. Just wanted to clear up my name choice, it was during the Cal State Budget Cuts.
I think Bandon by the Sea is the best place on the planet, really. I want to check out Coos Bay a bit more though.
The place I have been waiting for a transfer NEVER goes up. Bet you would know why, it's Lostin, Oregon. I LOVE that little town. It looks almost exactly like where I live now.

[wburg]

I lived in Arcata for four years. It's beautiful and interesting but very weird--the area is described as "behind the Redwood Curtain" because it is so remote from pretty much anything else. It really is its own little world.

Getting a job will be tough. Many HSU graduates want to stay in town, so you end up with people with master's degrees making burritos. Land prices are high in Arcata because it's a college town.

The air isn't all that clean if you take into account the sulfur dioxide from pulp mills. It's less noticeable in Arcata or Ferndale but in Eureka one day in three the whole town smells like a dirty diaper. You eventually learn to tune it out but cancer rates are kinda high downwind from the pulp mills.

[SSIwillbebrokeby2010]

I wondered what that was. Now I know. Yes, Arcata has that lumber mill there. It sustains the town as well as the Casino.
It is just too crowded for me. I'm over here---->>>taking the 299 W towards Redding.
Up in the Mountains of Trinity.
It's hard to get to work and back sometimes. But, I have alot of animals. I will have to bring them with me wherever I go.
I am glad to get some insight into Arcata. I thought that that huge Lumbermans building there, was that in Eureka or Arcata? It is so strange!!! What is it for?
Is it like a Gentlemans Club, all Private or what is that huge place, there in the Bay or Harbor....