Hello. As an East Coast native, I'm seeking advice/insight on Northern California and its top mid-size towns and cities.

I'm a single young person with interests in the outdoors, the environment, good eating (fresh, organic, if I can get it), the arts, etc.

My work background is in publishing (editing, writing, design) and administration (university), so my salary would probably be in the $30Ks.

I recently visited Boulder, CO, and would love to find a place with similar offerings in CA.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

I don't know where you found your projected salary. I think Nor. Cal. has a higher pay scale than the rest of the country. Otherwise you'd have a hard time enjoying yourself in Northern California at $30K annual.

San Francisco Bay Area has a lot to offer for what you're looking for... Los Gatos, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek are excellent areas for everything.

I would say that based on what you've written, you'd find Santa Rosa or one of the smaller cities in Sonoma County the most congenial towns. But while pay scales are higher there and in the other most desirable areas of Northern California than in most other places, its also true that jobs are more difficult to find and housing more expensive than in most places, largely because so very many people are competing to live and work in these areas. Be prepared for some hard choices balancing where you would most like to live vs. where you can find the type of work, and the amount of earnings, that you'd like.

In general, what I have just said becomes less true as you get farther away from metropolitan areas and farther away from the coast. There are some beautiful areas in the further northern and eastern reaches of Northern California that are much less expensive than the more populated and coastal areas, but you may find the type of work available and the cultural atmosphere less inviting.

I think one of the big questions you must decide first is whether you want to live within an hour of San Francisco.
It will definitely cost you more to do so.

If you don't require "sunny California" weather, you might check out Arcata, a university town in the northern part of the state.

Thank you for the insight and advice. I will look into all the towns posted here.

At this time, I am open to learning of great spots all throughout Northern California (and will investigate the cost of living, employment opportunities, etc. afterwards).

Many thanks.

Roadrunner: You've gotten excellent advice from two of the best posters on California.

If you are interested in university administration jobs, I'd suggest finding the locations of the state universities as well as the junior colleges. This will give you a better idea of which small towns to focus your research.

For "artsy, craftsy" things like design, writing, editing, you might like the North Bay area of Marin County. Lots of very artistic people live there. Whereas the South Bay is more for technical and engineering jobs.

Good luck!

johncharles: Ever the gentleman! [And forget the "Chuckie Baby" comment, didn't like that name myself].

Marilyn: Hi, hi!

Messages for the Original Poster and two others who have appeared on this thread:

EASY--thank you for not making me "Chuckie baby." Although YOU could get away with calling me anything you wanted.

MARILYN--were you ever a graduate student at Sonoma State? Were you an aspiring opera singer? If so, I was one of your classmates, and I remember you.

ROADRUNNER--the presence of Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, just south of Santa Rosa,is one of the reasons I recommended Sonoma County to you. You would find lots of congenial folks around that university. Sonoma County is, of course, part of wine country, and it's also a great place for foodies, especially organic ones. Luther Burbank had his laboratories in Santa Rosa because the climate is so wonderful for growing a great variety of things.

Marilyn's idea of Arcata is very worth investigating. Especially if you would like to live near the coast, with about the lowest cost of housing you will find near the coast in all California. Disadvantages: you may find few jobs in the areas in which you have told us you are experienced, except at Humboldt State University in Arcata; and, you will be VERY isolated (300 miles) from any large metropolitan area. A disadvantage or advantage, depending on your tastes--as Marilyn indicates, cool weather, much rain infrequent sun. The Eureka/Arcata area has the lowest average summer temperature in the United States.

Other places you might want to look at: Santa Cruz--a university town with a beautiful physical environment. Monterey County--an extremely beautiful area with a quite new and presumably developing state university campus. Long a workplace for writers, most notably John Steinbeck and Henry Miller. The presence of Salinas, a fairly large inland city of no great charm itself, but offering less competition for housing and jobs than the coast but only a short drive from it. Also, one of America's great food-producing areas.

Consider too the city of Davis, like Salinas in a not very scenic agricultural area, but a university--dominated town, the University of California campus there having highly regarded programs in agriculture and winemaking. A very environment conscious town, within commuting distance of Sacramento, less than two hours from San Francisco. Also a potential "good value" for you in that not quite so many people are scrambling to live there as on the coast or closer to SF, but you might find relatively good job hunting at the University or in Sacramento, which is one of the country's fastest growing metro areas.

Lots of good ideas, johncharles. I suggested Arcata because of roadrunner's projected annual income. It is considerably less expensive than the Bay Area, although I suppose that is also true for Sacramento and Davis. But haven't Sonoma and Monterey gotten pricey?

Anyway, I have to thank you for the laugh. No, alas, I am not your former classmate. I've never attended Sonoma State and the idea of me singing opera is either hilarious or terrifying, depending on your perspective.

Hi, EasyTraveler! Are you busy working hard? ;-)

Check out Santa Curz. There is a UC there and most,if not all, of what you might be looking for besides which it will be more affordable than the immediate Bay Area.

whoops..that would be Santa Cruz.

roadrunner: The other posters have given you excellent groups of colleges and universities to explore: Sacramento-Davis, Sonoma-Marin, Eureka-Arcata, and Santa Cruz.

coolcamden is new to me, but I'd like to follow up on his excellent hint to watch the salary range. If you are serious about moving out here, you should probably NOT use your own salary as a starting negotiations point. Try to do a web search and find out what the COMPARABLE salary would be in your new chosen community. You may find that you should be asking for $40 or $50K instead of $30K. You should also try to get 10% more than your COMPARABLE salary out here - after all, the best chances of increasing your salary are when you are moving into a new job!

johncharles: You have a wonderful way with words! I'll try to take good care of the freedom you have given me and not call you by anything but your chosen screen name! Lo!

Marilyn: Yes, sooo busy. Trying to get the house all tidied up for two sets of visitors from Europe, one set in September and another set in October. Also have to go to East Coast in between. I just don't see how to squeeze in the Northwest this year; may have to give up that trip! Will write to you soon!

PamSF: Hi, hi!

I was just in Santa Cruz on Sat. and couldn't wait to get out of there! The place is congested with tourists and just basically not a real clean place. How about Aptos or Scotts Valley?

Santa Rosa is uneventful, also. Sonoma would be a much nicer place. We have a friend there who owns a real estate company and loves the area.

Sacramento, heavens no! Do you enjoy horrible air quality and 110 degree weather? No thank you!!

Our good friend's parents relocated to Crescent City and love it there. Be careful! CA has some real stinkers, IMO. ***kim***

My first thought is the Lake Tahoe area but it's hard to find work outside of the tourist industry,
Santa Cruz would be another good match. I think you'd find a lot of like minded people around. Most people think of Santa Cruz as just the Boardwalk and Wharf area, but most people who live here never venture to those areas. Maybe to the Wharf to watch a big winter storm come in but the tourists are long gone by then.
UCSC is a beautiful campus in the redwoods, with an amazing view of the Monterey Bay. It would be great place to work. There are a lot of small publishers in town and the University attracts a lot of writers and others in the arts community.
Cabrillo College in Aptos holds a Saturday farmer's market with everything from organic artichokes to fresh flowers and even an oyster bar.
Of corse there is the Santa Cruz Mountains for hiking as well as the beach. We get our best weather in Sept. and Oct., which is perfect because then we get it all to ourselves!
The downside is that it's very expensive to live here. Housing prices to rent or buy are really high. Gas and food prices are high too (don't ask me why when half the food is grown here).
Anyway, good luck on your search.

Easy Traveller...Hi,hi!

Roadrunner-I say come to California and check out some these places. Santa Cruz is different away from the crowds. I still think this might be a perfect place for what you've described you are looking for. Depending on your housing needs and wants, you are likely to find folks who are willing to share housing around the university for short or long term so you can get more of a feel for things.