In terms of things to do there's not much for city people like clubs and stuff. However there's a lot of nature to explore so if you are into outdoor activities it's pretty nice. Just be sure to secure decent jobs first because housing is a bit high here compared to wages.
By nightlife do you mean clubs? Because there are always parties, tons of live music, drag shows, burlesque, festivals. I’d consider that night life. Ya there are no clubs but there are plenty of bars and establishments with dancing, cocktails, etc.
Ya there are no cheesy clubs but there is a shit ton of things to do always, especially for a county with a small population
This sub tends to highlight the negative over the positive these days. So I would reserve judgement until you come check things out for yourself.
I moved to Humboldt in my late 20s from SF. I thought I’d be here 6 mos. It’s going on 25 years at this point and I don’t foresee leaving anytime soon.
I’ve traveled a decent bit of the planet, and the concentration of natural beauty and opportunity for outdoor activities here is world class. And nowhere in the world has forests like our old growth redwood.
However, there’s definitely a bit of culture shock on arrival if you’re a longtime city or suburban dweller. And it’s definitely not for everyone. The pace of life is a lot slower. And if you like crowds you’ll have to hunt for them.
The club scene is pretty much nonexistent. The food scene, while greatly improved from 25 years ago, still leaves a lot to be desired. But we have our gems if you know where to look.
We do have a comedy club which brings some great performers through town. Live music is hit or miss, depending on your preferred genre.
I recommend learning to cook some of your favorite ethnic foods (aside from Mexican) if that’s a high priority for you.
In that vein, we have some of the most amazing year-round produce and locally raised meat. It ain’t cheap, that’s for sure. But if you have the budget, you will always be happy with what you find at the Farmer’s markets (very active). During the summer there’s one pretty much every day somewhere in the county, and the Arcata market runs yearround.
We also have some great CSA farms - which is basically a weekly fruit & vegetable box you get yourself from your farm of choice. Amazing value and it’s a cool thing to know your farmers and share in the cultivation process.
Healthcare is definitely where we have issues. Specialists come and go with frequency, so if you need specialized care, you may have to travel a lot. But if you’re healthy for the most part, you can find a primary MD if you look outside of Arcata/Eureka, otherwise get on a waiting list now. Open Door just opened a new clinic in Arcata so hopefully they will be expanding their patient rolls.
If you like art, Eureka will surprise you with their dedication to supporting visual arts. Public murals everywhere. Arts Alive is an event the first Sat. of every month where they shut down 2nd street to traffic, open all the stores and have an open air art party. Buskers and live music, galleries on every block. It’s a grand time.
In that vein, you just missed the Kinetic Grand Championship (held every Memorial Day weekend). It’s the triathalon of the art world, amazing human-powered sculptures travel 52 miles over land, sand, sea, mud, rivers and dirt roads from Arcata to Ferndale. It’s an amazing event that you will never forget.
If you like to backpack or MountainBike, we have trails galore. The Lost Coast Trail is on most avid backpackers bucket list and having done it myself, it’s a life changing experience. The local MountainBike club is quite active and we have some amazing trails and more being built.
If you love the beach or explore river swimming holes , you could go to a different one every week and still not repeat for a couple years. And you’ll be alone at many of them. So if you’re looking for solitude we have it.
Ocean and river kayaking abound here. Fishing is not quite what it used to be - but there still plenty of opportunities to get your tackle wet and hopefully eat well afterwards.
There’s 2 climbing gyms in Arcata (though you have to be a Cal Poly student to go to one of them), and bouldering opportunities nearby.
We also have annual rodeos in several places. Car racing at Redwood acres. Classic car shows. 4x4 and dirt bike clubs. Shooting ranges. … and cute annual town festivals with parades the likes of which haven’t been seen in most of the country since the late 20th century. Annie & Mary Day in Blue Lake is my favorite - July 14th.
What we don’t have much of are big box stores or chain restaurants. And most of us like it that way. We shop local and tend to be nice to one another in public.
Once you get out of the cities, people in passing cars wave to each other. I know every one of my neighbors at least 3 blocks in all directions. The sense of community here is palpable and that’s something that’s really gone missing in many parts of this country.
I certainly love it here, but it may not be your cup of tea.
I moved here at 29, I am now 36 and planning on leaving within a few years. It is beautiful but there is basically no healthcare and decent paying jobs/careers are much more challenging to come by.
Please consider the fact there's not enough Healthcare workers there, so clinics are extremely backed up. I knew someone who waited 7 years for a PCP in Humboldt. I had to drive 5 hours out of county to see my PCP when I lived in Humboldt. My roomie had to drive to Redding for any medical or theraphy appointment. Unless it's the emergency room, you likely won't receive medical care in a timely manor in Humboldt. I love Humboldt, I lived there for 4 years and I would never go back not even to visit. Bless anyone who's not disabled and can make it work, my disabled (and poor) ass had to move far away.
Good job security as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), same for halthcare, dentist, veterinarian.
If you like outdoors, tons to do. Beautiful nature. Free community events. Lots of volunteer opportunities and groups.
Population is maybe 45,000 if you combine Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyville. Not sure if you've lived in an area that size before.
Dislike: long waiting lists to get doctor, dentist, veterinarian. Have to drive to Bay Area for healthcare specialists.
Moved here in my late 20s from the Bay Area, since that time my desires have changed a bit:
Used to drive me crazy that there was limited late night food options (I was spoiled by postmates)
Public transportation is limited, problem was solved by getting a reliable car
Food costs are slightly more expensive/limited options but then I discovered smaller stocked stores that aren't really advertised (Little Japan, Asia's Best etc)
Major artist events; used to be able to just plan to attend, now it's a weekend away from home to attend generally.
That being said, now in my late 30s, I'm quite happy to not have immediate access to things but the need to travel for GOOD medical care access is the big ticket item I wish we could solve.
It's very beautiful here, but be healthy or otherwise the beauty won't matter for all the out of area trips you'll need to take. And as a woman, I'd be terrified to have any pregnancy related issues. Pretty much a guarantee to be shipped down to the Bay.
If you like the outdoors- you will have plenty to do. Hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, swimming, et al. are all available in abundance. The weather remains cool and temperate year round along the coast, which can cause some people to struggle (SAD) but others really love it when it’s overcast 60° in the middle of summer.
But as others have stated, this is an economically depressed area for the most part. Wages are low compared to most other parts of California (and the west coast in general), while prices are higher than some places due to our really remote location (it’s about 3-4 hours, on a good day, to Redding, Grants Pass, or Santa Rosa). Healthcare and most social services here are lacking significantly. Almost all civil service departments are understaffed and underfunded for their actual needs, which translates into an underserved population. We also have a housing problem. With ocean on one side and protected redwoods on the other, there’s very little room for expansion outward, and the municipalities here don’t like to embrace 21 century urban design- as in parking structures or buildings taller than 3/4 stories. The result is a very expensive and competitive housing market- especially for rentals.
Overall, it’s not a bad place to live, if you can find a good job that pays decently. However, there’s likely better places a little further north- such as Grants Pass, Medford, or one of the coastal cities in Oregon if you want to be by the ocean. Wages and cost of living will be more in line with each other there. As much as I have enjoyed my 4 years in Humboldt (I moved here from Irvine), I will likely be moving away within the year for a new job in my career field where I will be paid significantly more money in a slightly lower cost of living area.
Oregon coast towns share a lot with the Emerald Curtain in that there are similar economic and social problems due to logging busts, inequality, meth, etc. Living in inland Washington or Oregon and day tripping to the coast or the Cascades are attractive options for active people whose careers need more of a population to sustain.
I drove down the Oregon coast last weekend. Astoria and the surrounding areas looked like they were doing fine. Lincoln City was busy and full of tourists. Even Newport appeared to be on the up swing with a lot of new construction being done. Same in Coos Bay.
Not to say these places are perfect but they are worthy of consideration as an alternative to Eureka, which is at the beginning of an economic downturn.
That’s good to hear. My experience is that when the broader economy is in the dumps, the tourists don’t come. Glad there is some investment happening now, I hope it is for the benefit of the community rather than the vacation home set.
I wasn’t referring to that area at all. I’m referring to the recreation benefits of coast access, Cascades access, and city things to do when living in between them, more near the I-5 corridor than what you’re talking about. Obviously no place is perfect, but in relation to OP’s preferences, one could do much worse when choosing a place to settle down.
I have briefly lived in Spokane, it's called the Inland Empire. It is the high desert, rent is increasing while wages have not. It is fully of angry MAGA, a very high crime rate (like the Tri-Cities and Yakima) relative to the population. The outdoor recreation, unless you go to Northern Idaho and all that, is limited to the high desert. Most reasonable people would not consider living in a place with low wages and high rent (hey, isn't that rap on living in Humboldt) an attractive option. And it takes around five hours to drive from Spokane to Seattle on I-90.
As a social worker specifically it’s a hard area to work in due to all the homelessness and addiction that you wouldnt typically expect to find in a place this small and rural
I moved here from SoCal in my early 20’s, moved away for a few years, and moved back because I missed it. I’m in my early 30’s now, I’ve traveled quite a bit and Humboldt is just a hidden gem. There’s lots of outdoorsy things to do, and there’s lots of late night things to do. If you like EDM, punk, folk, and reggae then there’s a scene for you. We have Northern Nights Music Festival, Reggae on the River, Grand Kinetic Race, oyster Fest and a bunch of other fun stuff that happens year-round. We also get a good amount of bands that stop here when they are touring between SF and Portland. Also, this place is huge on hobbies, circus, and arts. So if you’re into that you’ll find a group to join some where.
Just check flights from ACV, they are limited to SoCal and can be expensive, also currently no direct flights north, so you’d have to fly to SFO to get to Seattle etc.
Lived there as a couple with my partner for three years and it was an ok place to settle down. Not much to do other than hiking and nature seeing. Which is great!!! But, it was harder to have date nights or participate in other activities due to restaurants closing at 8. There’s work but not much pay, rent is decent, but it is hard to find medical or even vets that would see you. Always a hella long waiting time. People are somewhat friendly but it can be hard to find community. Very cliquey.
I highly recommend flying into Eureka/Arcata from the Burbank Airport. Fly via Avelo Airlines, they have the most affordable flights and they’re always offering $20-$30 off coupons! I also recommend renting a car from the airport since there’s no Uber/Lyft services.
If you are self sufficient this is the place to be. If you like going out or having food options forget about it. Medical/dental options suck. Weather is perfect tho. Housing is cheaper but income is lower than other parts of ca. if you’re a needy person you may struggle to get your needs met here.
I am a social worker and definitely jobs here. I make a decent wage. The issue for me more so is that there are only so many types of social worker jobs here. I feel limited in the opportunities available to me. In a city obviously you’d have more opportunities and more diverse jobs. That’s going to be true for any industry though coming to a small area. If you have not experienced rural life, it might be surprising and take a bit of adjusting. I’m not sure what opportunities there are for landscape architecture and hospitality.
People say there is nothing to do, but we moved out here from the Bay Area and we go out more than before. There is always something going on a weekend and it's often less than a 30 minute drive. Sure things aren't as fancy but there is always some sort of art, music and food going on some where on the weekend. Just more Humble. And if there isn't there is always a hike or beach to be had. Although Monday and Tuesdays are extremely dead, and in the winter mid week is hit or miss.
In the BA we rarely ever went out as the traffic was always a nightmare and my commute even worse.
My partner and I moved there a couple years ago and had kids. If your kids need any decent medical care or like ours needed to be in the NICU (or specialist followup care) you will be travelling 5 hours south to SF a lot. Ultimately it was unsustainable for us so we ended up moving home back east.
I (24F) am in the same predicament with my partner (27M) we’ve been living together in Humboldt for 2 years. He has lived here for almost 10 years and has the loveliest of friends up here and feels like we’ve created a little family/community here.
ADVICE: you can def have a life here. River days are what I look forward to, and I don’t mind cold/rainy because I love fashion and love to layer lol. When things feel stagnant we start finding random things nearby to go to (next weekend we’re going to a rodeo)
DILEMMAS LIVING HERE:
It feels like unless you have been raised here or have great connections, receiving healthcare is difficult. And finding a well paying job coming out of college is even harder (in LA I had the best jobs with great employers before receiving my BA) Now I spent the last 2 years working my butt off receiving bare minimum from employers with boomer mentalities. Don’t love how small the job market is out here and the pay.
TLDR: SAME, I want to build a future with my mans but idk if I am comfortable with being poor forever and not having immediate access to healthcare by choosing to STAY in a place that feels comfortable and is beautiful.
I think you’d be able to find work and I wouldn’t say there’s nothing to do, especially if you love nature. It’s nothing like the city but there are shows and festivals and things, although I always say it’s important to be able to make your own fun.
The one thing I’d caution is that we’re remote. We have one airport and flying to LA would probably mean connecting through San Fransisco. We’re also notorious for flights being canceled due to fog.
The drive in and out goes through some mountainous, winding roads that can get completely blocked in the winter due to mudslides and downed trees. LA or Seattle is a 15 hour drive, I’ve done both ways and it’s a *little* rough haha.
No. It’s gorgeous!! But if you try to move you’ll get stuck, the housing and job market sucks. Not worth it unless you’re just passing thru (as a 6 year transplant)
Lived there for a spell. Honestly one of the most beautiful places on earth. The sea, the forests, the rivers, mountains, the wild folk! Lol! In many ways still the lost coast! Most people like it that way. Go check it out!
Don’t make this mistake. There is a terrible housing crisis. Even harder when moving out of state. I doubt you will find good housing. I love it in Humboldt but another concern the health care is nonexistent
I came out here from philly almost 10 years ago now. Just never left. If you like nature and outdoor stuff there's no where else in the continental US I'd rather be. It's a slower pace of life for sure which annoys my east coast brain constantly in public. I always see a nonstop barrage of comments about Healthcare and veterinarian services being nonexistent but I've not had an issue. Granted I rarely use either but I have a doc thru open door and a vet for my dogs and it wasn't THAT hard to secure either of them. Housing is of course rough. But there's a fair bit of turnaround with students coming in and out. Generally you'll have better luck finding a place with a sign out front than thru a prop manager or craigslist.
Both of your career plans are needed highly there, I wouldn’t worry about job security so much Humboldt does have its issues county wide with healthcare and cost of living and all that but your main thought should be where exactly do you want to live. I wouldn’t recommend Eureka or Arcata, too much happens there and a lot of tweaker activities, I personally picked Fortuna to avoid a lot of the issues related to crime and it’s 15-20 minutes away from Eureka if you needed to go to Costco or work there. Fortuna is mostly older people and it’s pretty conservative, myself not really a hardcore conservative I was able to blend well and Fortuna didn’t have a lot of the crime issues the other towns have. I never really had any issues there personally.
Like another commenter said that they love Humboldt but wouldn’t ever come back to visit I’m in that same exact boat, a big thing with Humboldt county is things not working and incompetence, they’ll be days phones don’t work, ATM’s don’t work, random things don’t work or things and places will just be randomly closed and you realize the cost of living there vs other places it’s just not worth it. The best way to explain it is Humboldt is basically its own country it’s very big it’s out completely out of the way, you don’t accidentally end up there you have to drive hours on a curvy road whatever direction to get there and even when you hit the county line your still an hour from Eureka whatever direction you come into. It’s like its own country that is pretty much cut off from the rest of the world and is very poorly ran. Healthcare and “official” type stuff just forget it, Redding or Santa Rosa is your best bet. If you have to call the county or city about anything it’s just incompetence at its finest and you’ll just be passed onto the next person and the next till you just give up lol.
I wouldn’t recommend “settling down” in Humboldt maybe rent a spot and try it out for a couple years and see if you really wanted to, most people I know who moved there (I lasted a little longer lol) most people would move there for like 2 years and get over the “things not working” and incompetence and no night life stuff and leave and never come back lol. It does get boring after some time, you stop caring about the redwoods and the ocean eventually and then everything just pisses you off till you leave lol
When I first moved to Humboldt I thought that would be my forever place moving there at 20 years old and a few years in I started to hate it and everytime I left to go visit my parents or a friend out of the area I didn’t want to come back, I’d take my sweet time before I made it back up there lol.
It is absolutely beautiful and honestly probably one of the most beautiful areas in the country but if you take the scenery out of the equation it’s honestly just an old rundown dysfunctional shithole with little to no opportunities that’s cut off from the rest of the world.
Last thing I really noticed when I left Humboldt I forgot food actually tasted good, the food up there is mid tier and below and they’ll want $20 bucks for it and a tip on top.
There is an abundance of work as a licensed social worker - and landscaper for that matter! It’s a funky place but we love it. We do have jobs in education/psychology…came here for a year 22 years ago.
You both grew up in cities. You’re compromise to this is to suggest moving to an isolated, rural area. You’ll both be bored. Also it will be really difficult for both your families to visit or for you to visit your families.
I'm from SoCal and have friends from Washington. There is stuff to do, but it rains here more than Washington. My friend explained that it's more 'weepy' in Washington, but she's never dealt with storms like we have here. I visited Washington (Tacoma area) and understand what she was talking about. Not so warm on the coast in summer, but hot weather is not far east. We don't get 'fire season' on the coast, but we do get locked in at times. Landslides to the north and south, fires east.
As others have said, finding housing is difficult, especially if you have pets. The job market is also slim, but we NEED social workers and therapists, so you would absolutely be help here. I do see an influx of landscapers around here, but some are overpriced in my opinion. I don't think it would be hard to find clients if your bf doesn't want to screw people over.
Oh... and we have spiders. Lots of spiders.
I lived in the southern part. I agree with the others' comments. It is a very beautiful place for the outdoors. Arcata is not too far away and has nightlife and hot tubs Japenese style.
The prices are sky high and electricity is outrageous
Be sure to check things out. There are many homeless and drug problems. You have to put up with some of the negatives to enjoy the positives.
The key for an LCSW or therapist it telehealth via Zoom. Outfits like [Rula exclusively do telehealth and pay reasonably well](https://www.glassdoor.com/job-listing/licensed-clinical-social-worker-lcsw-rula-health-JV_KO0,36_KE37,48.htm?jl=1009278680570).
In terms of things to do there's not much for city people like clubs and stuff. However there's a lot of nature to explore so if you are into outdoor activities it's pretty nice. Just be sure to secure decent jobs first because housing is a bit high here compared to wages.
This is the answer for the most part. Great if you have the income ( and the bodily health) to support it.
I feel like though there are sooo many community events even more so then OC
Community events aren’t the same as having a nightlife.
By nightlife do you mean clubs? Because there are always parties, tons of live music, drag shows, burlesque, festivals. I’d consider that night life. Ya there are no clubs but there are plenty of bars and establishments with dancing, cocktails, etc. Ya there are no cheesy clubs but there is a shit ton of things to do always, especially for a county with a small population
This sub tends to highlight the negative over the positive these days. So I would reserve judgement until you come check things out for yourself. I moved to Humboldt in my late 20s from SF. I thought I’d be here 6 mos. It’s going on 25 years at this point and I don’t foresee leaving anytime soon. I’ve traveled a decent bit of the planet, and the concentration of natural beauty and opportunity for outdoor activities here is world class. And nowhere in the world has forests like our old growth redwood. However, there’s definitely a bit of culture shock on arrival if you’re a longtime city or suburban dweller. And it’s definitely not for everyone. The pace of life is a lot slower. And if you like crowds you’ll have to hunt for them. The club scene is pretty much nonexistent. The food scene, while greatly improved from 25 years ago, still leaves a lot to be desired. But we have our gems if you know where to look. We do have a comedy club which brings some great performers through town. Live music is hit or miss, depending on your preferred genre. I recommend learning to cook some of your favorite ethnic foods (aside from Mexican) if that’s a high priority for you. In that vein, we have some of the most amazing year-round produce and locally raised meat. It ain’t cheap, that’s for sure. But if you have the budget, you will always be happy with what you find at the Farmer’s markets (very active). During the summer there’s one pretty much every day somewhere in the county, and the Arcata market runs yearround. We also have some great CSA farms - which is basically a weekly fruit & vegetable box you get yourself from your farm of choice. Amazing value and it’s a cool thing to know your farmers and share in the cultivation process. Healthcare is definitely where we have issues. Specialists come and go with frequency, so if you need specialized care, you may have to travel a lot. But if you’re healthy for the most part, you can find a primary MD if you look outside of Arcata/Eureka, otherwise get on a waiting list now. Open Door just opened a new clinic in Arcata so hopefully they will be expanding their patient rolls. If you like art, Eureka will surprise you with their dedication to supporting visual arts. Public murals everywhere. Arts Alive is an event the first Sat. of every month where they shut down 2nd street to traffic, open all the stores and have an open air art party. Buskers and live music, galleries on every block. It’s a grand time. In that vein, you just missed the Kinetic Grand Championship (held every Memorial Day weekend). It’s the triathalon of the art world, amazing human-powered sculptures travel 52 miles over land, sand, sea, mud, rivers and dirt roads from Arcata to Ferndale. It’s an amazing event that you will never forget. If you like to backpack or MountainBike, we have trails galore. The Lost Coast Trail is on most avid backpackers bucket list and having done it myself, it’s a life changing experience. The local MountainBike club is quite active and we have some amazing trails and more being built. If you love the beach or explore river swimming holes , you could go to a different one every week and still not repeat for a couple years. And you’ll be alone at many of them. So if you’re looking for solitude we have it. Ocean and river kayaking abound here. Fishing is not quite what it used to be - but there still plenty of opportunities to get your tackle wet and hopefully eat well afterwards. There’s 2 climbing gyms in Arcata (though you have to be a Cal Poly student to go to one of them), and bouldering opportunities nearby. We also have annual rodeos in several places. Car racing at Redwood acres. Classic car shows. 4x4 and dirt bike clubs. Shooting ranges. … and cute annual town festivals with parades the likes of which haven’t been seen in most of the country since the late 20th century. Annie & Mary Day in Blue Lake is my favorite - July 14th. What we don’t have much of are big box stores or chain restaurants. And most of us like it that way. We shop local and tend to be nice to one another in public. Once you get out of the cities, people in passing cars wave to each other. I know every one of my neighbors at least 3 blocks in all directions. The sense of community here is palpable and that’s something that’s really gone missing in many parts of this country. I certainly love it here, but it may not be your cup of tea.
I moved here at 29, I am now 36 and planning on leaving within a few years. It is beautiful but there is basically no healthcare and decent paying jobs/careers are much more challenging to come by.
Please consider the fact there's not enough Healthcare workers there, so clinics are extremely backed up. I knew someone who waited 7 years for a PCP in Humboldt. I had to drive 5 hours out of county to see my PCP when I lived in Humboldt. My roomie had to drive to Redding for any medical or theraphy appointment. Unless it's the emergency room, you likely won't receive medical care in a timely manor in Humboldt. I love Humboldt, I lived there for 4 years and I would never go back not even to visit. Bless anyone who's not disabled and can make it work, my disabled (and poor) ass had to move far away.
Good job security as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), same for halthcare, dentist, veterinarian. If you like outdoors, tons to do. Beautiful nature. Free community events. Lots of volunteer opportunities and groups. Population is maybe 45,000 if you combine Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyville. Not sure if you've lived in an area that size before. Dislike: long waiting lists to get doctor, dentist, veterinarian. Have to drive to Bay Area for healthcare specialists.
Humboldt county is close to 140,000 people
Over 3500sq mi.
And your point is?
That there's little population density. Its spread out.
But it's not. 90% is within 30 minutes of Eureka
Moved here in my late 20s from the Bay Area, since that time my desires have changed a bit: Used to drive me crazy that there was limited late night food options (I was spoiled by postmates) Public transportation is limited, problem was solved by getting a reliable car Food costs are slightly more expensive/limited options but then I discovered smaller stocked stores that aren't really advertised (Little Japan, Asia's Best etc) Major artist events; used to be able to just plan to attend, now it's a weekend away from home to attend generally. That being said, now in my late 30s, I'm quite happy to not have immediate access to things but the need to travel for GOOD medical care access is the big ticket item I wish we could solve. It's very beautiful here, but be healthy or otherwise the beauty won't matter for all the out of area trips you'll need to take. And as a woman, I'd be terrified to have any pregnancy related issues. Pretty much a guarantee to be shipped down to the Bay.
If you like the outdoors- you will have plenty to do. Hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, swimming, et al. are all available in abundance. The weather remains cool and temperate year round along the coast, which can cause some people to struggle (SAD) but others really love it when it’s overcast 60° in the middle of summer. But as others have stated, this is an economically depressed area for the most part. Wages are low compared to most other parts of California (and the west coast in general), while prices are higher than some places due to our really remote location (it’s about 3-4 hours, on a good day, to Redding, Grants Pass, or Santa Rosa). Healthcare and most social services here are lacking significantly. Almost all civil service departments are understaffed and underfunded for their actual needs, which translates into an underserved population. We also have a housing problem. With ocean on one side and protected redwoods on the other, there’s very little room for expansion outward, and the municipalities here don’t like to embrace 21 century urban design- as in parking structures or buildings taller than 3/4 stories. The result is a very expensive and competitive housing market- especially for rentals. Overall, it’s not a bad place to live, if you can find a good job that pays decently. However, there’s likely better places a little further north- such as Grants Pass, Medford, or one of the coastal cities in Oregon if you want to be by the ocean. Wages and cost of living will be more in line with each other there. As much as I have enjoyed my 4 years in Humboldt (I moved here from Irvine), I will likely be moving away within the year for a new job in my career field where I will be paid significantly more money in a slightly lower cost of living area.
Oregon coast towns share a lot with the Emerald Curtain in that there are similar economic and social problems due to logging busts, inequality, meth, etc. Living in inland Washington or Oregon and day tripping to the coast or the Cascades are attractive options for active people whose careers need more of a population to sustain.
I drove down the Oregon coast last weekend. Astoria and the surrounding areas looked like they were doing fine. Lincoln City was busy and full of tourists. Even Newport appeared to be on the up swing with a lot of new construction being done. Same in Coos Bay. Not to say these places are perfect but they are worthy of consideration as an alternative to Eureka, which is at the beginning of an economic downturn.
That’s good to hear. My experience is that when the broader economy is in the dumps, the tourists don’t come. Glad there is some investment happening now, I hope it is for the benefit of the community rather than the vacation home set.
Spokane is not a good alternative at all, it is tweakerville. Then you need to consider the politics of Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon.
I wasn’t referring to that area at all. I’m referring to the recreation benefits of coast access, Cascades access, and city things to do when living in between them, more near the I-5 corridor than what you’re talking about. Obviously no place is perfect, but in relation to OP’s preferences, one could do much worse when choosing a place to settle down.
I have briefly lived in Spokane, it's called the Inland Empire. It is the high desert, rent is increasing while wages have not. It is fully of angry MAGA, a very high crime rate (like the Tri-Cities and Yakima) relative to the population. The outdoor recreation, unless you go to Northern Idaho and all that, is limited to the high desert. Most reasonable people would not consider living in a place with low wages and high rent (hey, isn't that rap on living in Humboldt) an attractive option. And it takes around five hours to drive from Spokane to Seattle on I-90.
As a social worker specifically it’s a hard area to work in due to all the homelessness and addiction that you wouldnt typically expect to find in a place this small and rural
Tons of jobs in that line of work though
Just checked the county of Humboldt job openings. 6 social worker/LCSW positions open.
I moved here from SoCal in my early 20’s, moved away for a few years, and moved back because I missed it. I’m in my early 30’s now, I’ve traveled quite a bit and Humboldt is just a hidden gem. There’s lots of outdoorsy things to do, and there’s lots of late night things to do. If you like EDM, punk, folk, and reggae then there’s a scene for you. We have Northern Nights Music Festival, Reggae on the River, Grand Kinetic Race, oyster Fest and a bunch of other fun stuff that happens year-round. We also get a good amount of bands that stop here when they are touring between SF and Portland. Also, this place is huge on hobbies, circus, and arts. So if you’re into that you’ll find a group to join some where.
Just check flights from ACV, they are limited to SoCal and can be expensive, also currently no direct flights north, so you’d have to fly to SFO to get to Seattle etc.
Avelo Airlines has direct flights from Arcata to Burbank now 🙏🙏 if you check out the prices they’re hella reasonable
That’s still to Southern CA, so the still aren’t any direct flights up North
Copy that
Lived there as a couple with my partner for three years and it was an ok place to settle down. Not much to do other than hiking and nature seeing. Which is great!!! But, it was harder to have date nights or participate in other activities due to restaurants closing at 8. There’s work but not much pay, rent is decent, but it is hard to find medical or even vets that would see you. Always a hella long waiting time. People are somewhat friendly but it can be hard to find community. Very cliquey.
I highly recommend flying into Eureka/Arcata from the Burbank Airport. Fly via Avelo Airlines, they have the most affordable flights and they’re always offering $20-$30 off coupons! I also recommend renting a car from the airport since there’s no Uber/Lyft services.
If you are self sufficient this is the place to be. If you like going out or having food options forget about it. Medical/dental options suck. Weather is perfect tho. Housing is cheaper but income is lower than other parts of ca. if you’re a needy person you may struggle to get your needs met here.
I am a social worker and definitely jobs here. I make a decent wage. The issue for me more so is that there are only so many types of social worker jobs here. I feel limited in the opportunities available to me. In a city obviously you’d have more opportunities and more diverse jobs. That’s going to be true for any industry though coming to a small area. If you have not experienced rural life, it might be surprising and take a bit of adjusting. I’m not sure what opportunities there are for landscape architecture and hospitality.
People say there is nothing to do, but we moved out here from the Bay Area and we go out more than before. There is always something going on a weekend and it's often less than a 30 minute drive. Sure things aren't as fancy but there is always some sort of art, music and food going on some where on the weekend. Just more Humble. And if there isn't there is always a hike or beach to be had. Although Monday and Tuesdays are extremely dead, and in the winter mid week is hit or miss. In the BA we rarely ever went out as the traffic was always a nightmare and my commute even worse.
No dont come.
I tried to settle down here but bigfoot killed my whole family.
My partner and I moved there a couple years ago and had kids. If your kids need any decent medical care or like ours needed to be in the NICU (or specialist followup care) you will be travelling 5 hours south to SF a lot. Ultimately it was unsustainable for us so we ended up moving home back east.
Not much to do, not alotta local opportunities would not recommend to young people looking to be active
I (24F) am in the same predicament with my partner (27M) we’ve been living together in Humboldt for 2 years. He has lived here for almost 10 years and has the loveliest of friends up here and feels like we’ve created a little family/community here. ADVICE: you can def have a life here. River days are what I look forward to, and I don’t mind cold/rainy because I love fashion and love to layer lol. When things feel stagnant we start finding random things nearby to go to (next weekend we’re going to a rodeo) DILEMMAS LIVING HERE: It feels like unless you have been raised here or have great connections, receiving healthcare is difficult. And finding a well paying job coming out of college is even harder (in LA I had the best jobs with great employers before receiving my BA) Now I spent the last 2 years working my butt off receiving bare minimum from employers with boomer mentalities. Don’t love how small the job market is out here and the pay. TLDR: SAME, I want to build a future with my mans but idk if I am comfortable with being poor forever and not having immediate access to healthcare by choosing to STAY in a place that feels comfortable and is beautiful.
I think you’d be able to find work and I wouldn’t say there’s nothing to do, especially if you love nature. It’s nothing like the city but there are shows and festivals and things, although I always say it’s important to be able to make your own fun. The one thing I’d caution is that we’re remote. We have one airport and flying to LA would probably mean connecting through San Fransisco. We’re also notorious for flights being canceled due to fog. The drive in and out goes through some mountainous, winding roads that can get completely blocked in the winter due to mudslides and downed trees. LA or Seattle is a 15 hour drive, I’ve done both ways and it’s a *little* rough haha.
What part of Humboldt are you in? Takes me 10.5-11 hrs to get to Seattle from Arcata. 15 hrs got me to Montana and I don’t speed at all
Los Angeles is 10-11 for us! It's still a drive though. We have done it with our kid a few times now.
This would not be a good place to settle down for you as described
Good luck finding a physician, dentist or veterinarian if you have pets.
Therapists are very needed here. You’ll always have a decent paying job.
No. It’s gorgeous!! But if you try to move you’ll get stuck, the housing and job market sucks. Not worth it unless you’re just passing thru (as a 6 year transplant)
Lived there for a spell. Honestly one of the most beautiful places on earth. The sea, the forests, the rivers, mountains, the wild folk! Lol! In many ways still the lost coast! Most people like it that way. Go check it out!
Don’t make this mistake. There is a terrible housing crisis. Even harder when moving out of state. I doubt you will find good housing. I love it in Humboldt but another concern the health care is nonexistent
I came out here from philly almost 10 years ago now. Just never left. If you like nature and outdoor stuff there's no where else in the continental US I'd rather be. It's a slower pace of life for sure which annoys my east coast brain constantly in public. I always see a nonstop barrage of comments about Healthcare and veterinarian services being nonexistent but I've not had an issue. Granted I rarely use either but I have a doc thru open door and a vet for my dogs and it wasn't THAT hard to secure either of them. Housing is of course rough. But there's a fair bit of turnaround with students coming in and out. Generally you'll have better luck finding a place with a sign out front than thru a prop manager or craigslist.
Both of your career plans are needed highly there, I wouldn’t worry about job security so much Humboldt does have its issues county wide with healthcare and cost of living and all that but your main thought should be where exactly do you want to live. I wouldn’t recommend Eureka or Arcata, too much happens there and a lot of tweaker activities, I personally picked Fortuna to avoid a lot of the issues related to crime and it’s 15-20 minutes away from Eureka if you needed to go to Costco or work there. Fortuna is mostly older people and it’s pretty conservative, myself not really a hardcore conservative I was able to blend well and Fortuna didn’t have a lot of the crime issues the other towns have. I never really had any issues there personally. Like another commenter said that they love Humboldt but wouldn’t ever come back to visit I’m in that same exact boat, a big thing with Humboldt county is things not working and incompetence, they’ll be days phones don’t work, ATM’s don’t work, random things don’t work or things and places will just be randomly closed and you realize the cost of living there vs other places it’s just not worth it. The best way to explain it is Humboldt is basically its own country it’s very big it’s out completely out of the way, you don’t accidentally end up there you have to drive hours on a curvy road whatever direction to get there and even when you hit the county line your still an hour from Eureka whatever direction you come into. It’s like its own country that is pretty much cut off from the rest of the world and is very poorly ran. Healthcare and “official” type stuff just forget it, Redding or Santa Rosa is your best bet. If you have to call the county or city about anything it’s just incompetence at its finest and you’ll just be passed onto the next person and the next till you just give up lol. I wouldn’t recommend “settling down” in Humboldt maybe rent a spot and try it out for a couple years and see if you really wanted to, most people I know who moved there (I lasted a little longer lol) most people would move there for like 2 years and get over the “things not working” and incompetence and no night life stuff and leave and never come back lol. It does get boring after some time, you stop caring about the redwoods and the ocean eventually and then everything just pisses you off till you leave lol When I first moved to Humboldt I thought that would be my forever place moving there at 20 years old and a few years in I started to hate it and everytime I left to go visit my parents or a friend out of the area I didn’t want to come back, I’d take my sweet time before I made it back up there lol. It is absolutely beautiful and honestly probably one of the most beautiful areas in the country but if you take the scenery out of the equation it’s honestly just an old rundown dysfunctional shithole with little to no opportunities that’s cut off from the rest of the world. Last thing I really noticed when I left Humboldt I forgot food actually tasted good, the food up there is mid tier and below and they’ll want $20 bucks for it and a tip on top.
There is an abundance of work as a licensed social worker - and landscaper for that matter! It’s a funky place but we love it. We do have jobs in education/psychology…came here for a year 22 years ago.
You both grew up in cities. You’re compromise to this is to suggest moving to an isolated, rural area. You’ll both be bored. Also it will be really difficult for both your families to visit or for you to visit your families.
I'm from SoCal and have friends from Washington. There is stuff to do, but it rains here more than Washington. My friend explained that it's more 'weepy' in Washington, but she's never dealt with storms like we have here. I visited Washington (Tacoma area) and understand what she was talking about. Not so warm on the coast in summer, but hot weather is not far east. We don't get 'fire season' on the coast, but we do get locked in at times. Landslides to the north and south, fires east. As others have said, finding housing is difficult, especially if you have pets. The job market is also slim, but we NEED social workers and therapists, so you would absolutely be help here. I do see an influx of landscapers around here, but some are overpriced in my opinion. I don't think it would be hard to find clients if your bf doesn't want to screw people over. Oh... and we have spiders. Lots of spiders.
I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s not much going on here unless you’re really into the outdoors & love overcast/cold weather.
I lived in the southern part. I agree with the others' comments. It is a very beautiful place for the outdoors. Arcata is not too far away and has nightlife and hot tubs Japenese style. The prices are sky high and electricity is outrageous Be sure to check things out. There are many homeless and drug problems. You have to put up with some of the negatives to enjoy the positives.
No. Stay out
I think you guys would be a great fit and be happy putting your routes here
The key for an LCSW or therapist it telehealth via Zoom. Outfits like [Rula exclusively do telehealth and pay reasonably well](https://www.glassdoor.com/job-listing/licensed-clinical-social-worker-lcsw-rula-health-JV_KO0,36_KE37,48.htm?jl=1009278680570).
No
If you like the laid back, don't do anything unless you're going to travel somewhere's lifestyle, then Humboldt is the place for you.
Moved here at 17; graduated at 20 from HSU & purchased a home in Arcata. 25 now and still live here…. Love it! Originally from Central Valley area
No.
yes yes & yes