Moving to Humboldt County
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Moving to Humboldt County
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November 2001
My family is very enamored with the areas of southern Humboltd county that
include Garberville, Leggett, Redway, White Thorn. We'd love to hear from
anyone with direct experience in any of these communities, the pros and
cons of life in this rural area, especially for elementary school-age kids,
and any recommendations for knowledgable realtors in the area.
Deborah
I have very little knowledge of this area overall. However, I did visit a
friend at her parent's house in the countryside outside of Garberville
several years ago. The thing that struck me most was the precautions that
had to be taken to avoid deer ticks which can carry Lyme disease in that
area. The kids had to be wrapped up pretty well to play outside (this was a
rural setting) and then checked thoroughly afterwards. My friend herself
had to go on a regimen of antibiotics at one point because of concerns about
possibly having been bitten by a carrier tick. Obviously this is only one
aspect of hundreds when considering a move, but it is certainly something I
personally would consider if thinking of moving there.
I assumed others would know more than me, but since there was only one
reply, here's what I can offer. I lived in central Humboldt County for
a short time, so my knowledge of the Garberville area is somewhat
limited. Garberville is a small and pleasant town. Generally in
Humboldt County, I found that people were divided into two camps: the
loggers and the environmentalists, with sub-camps in each of those
groups. Unlike the Bay Area, where there are so many different ways of
looking at things, that you're used to people disagreeing with you, and
you don't necessarily hold it against them. This is a broad
generalization, of course, and everybody tends to know everybody and
talk to everybody. The thing that surprised me is that for things that
I thought were particularly fun and unique, like the "Truckers Christmas
Convoy" - e.g., big trucks decorated with lights and music and all sorts
of stuff in a nighttime parade, moderate friends of mine refused to
go... and one of the trucks had a mural of a huge cut tree (though the
rest of it was just plain fun). The division may be a little deeper in
Garberville. There's also the marijuana "issue," which is generally
something to snicker about, though not entirely. I've heard people
claim that folks go into Garberville and pay for a new SUV in cash, but
I have no idea if it's true. I do know that people who work for public
land-management agencies (BLM, USFS), have to be cautious about field
work at certain times of the year. And one of the local radio stations
announces when the CAMP helicopters are in the area. The tick problem
as far as I know is no better or no worse than anywhere else, and I
don't know a soul who has even been bitten by a tick, though I do know a
few here in the Bay Area. You probably will spend more time
outdoors--hiking and river recreation is great.... the air quality is
absolutely superb! It's clear, and I swear it tastes good (as long as
you don't live downwind of a mill--but I think the mills are all farther
north than Garberville). It rains an awful lot, mostly in the winter
time, but pounds so hard you think it's going to come through the walls.
Restaurants and entertainment are a little hard to come by, and for
shows you'll be either making the trip to the big community center
nearby (I can't remember where it is offhand), or to Arcata & HSU. And
everybody you know will be there. You'll probably also be travelling to
Eureka/Arcata (1 hr north) for other things too, since the big stores
are there, and things are a little pricier in Garberville. Housing is
pretty cheap, which will be a relief compared to what you have here, but
you'll also have to decide if you need to be in town, to be more
connected with people. And you will drive much, much more than you do
here. Employment is difficult.... and tends to be divided amongst,
timber industry, public agencies (most of which are not in Garberville,
but in Fortuna, Eureka, Arcata), and service/tourism. The radio
stations are very interesting (e.g., KHUM, 104.7 or 104.3, and also on
the web--check it out), and I swear when they give away free things, if
you bother to call, you have a good chance of winning. There's also a
public station or two. Life is a lot slower up there. Weather in
Garberville is hot in the summer. (foggy along the coast). Fun
recreation along the Eel. I don't think the schools are really great,
and there are a number of social problems throughout Humboldt County
(undereducated folks on the dole, with drinking or drug problems). ok.
nuff said.
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