Mendocino (San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Rosa: rentals, houses, purchase)

[bluestocking12]

Is this the best forum for questions about Mendocino? Dh and I have a long history with Northern California and are approaching retirement. Wondering what it's like to live in Mendocino full time. Many thanks!

[movinon]

You might have more luck on the general California forum. I live in the Sacramento area so found your post when checking out this forum.

I haven't lived in Mendocino but have visited. It's one of my favorite places as I love the craggy Northern California coast. My big concern with living there would be the limited medical care. I'd hate to have to go to Ukiah or Santa Rosa for major medical care. I have family in Eureka and that's what they have to do . . . well, that or San Francisco for some types of treatments. I wouldn't want to have to traverse that twisty (albeit beautiful) road every time I needed something that wasn't available locally, either.

Your budget, as has been discussed in your posts in the Retirement forum, may be adequate. It really comes down to wants vs needs. Mendocino would be a quiet life, if that's what you're craving. Have you checked out rentals there or in Fort Bragg which is right next door to Mendocino? I know nothing about the rental market but I do know that the houses are much more expensive to purchase in Mendocino than in Fort Bragg.

I hope that helps a bit. Good luck on your search for the right place to take root. I must add that there are many areas of Northern California that are less expensive than the major metros that everyone thinks of when they think "California". Your budget might be just fine, again depending on what your expectations are and what your lifestyle will be like in retirement.

[Petunia 100]

My brother has lived in Mendocino county (Willits) for about 20 years now, so I have visited many times.

What sort of information are you looking for? The best way to get a feel, of course, is to visit the area.

[bluestocking12]

Dh and I have spent many years in Northern California. Dh grew up in Palo Alto, I went West to go to college (that's where we met). We had a fantastic run in San Francisco, Marin County, Berkeley, Tahoe, and the North Coast. It's all very familiar and only recently have we talked about moving back. When we moved to New England (which was home to me and was where we both wanted to raise our daughter), dh settled right in and was an honorary Yankee. That said, we *both* get the magic about California. Most people on these boards, it seems, talk only about money and investments. My focus is on art and music and reading and living simply in paradise. My question was mostly about having social life in Mendocino, but we have many "happy places," we'll see where we end up!