So tell me about Santa Cruz

[fishwax]

There's a chance I might be moving there this summer for school. Specifically I'm wondering about finding a place to live and my wife finding employment.

I'll get a little less than 15,000 for work at the school, but I know that won't be enough for us to live on. We'd also consider living in surrounding towns and commuting to the school (if it's within half an hour or so). Any suggestions on where to find relative bargains?

My wife has a degree in elementary education and experience as a teacher but doesn't want to teach next year, and I'm not sure what other opportunities she might find in the area.

Any other thoughts on living in the area would be appreciated.

Edited for spelling

[DBoon]

1. Beautiful area, full of hippies

Northern central coast area, where a lot of counterculture types settled.

[fishwax]

2. That's the sense I got

passing through last summer. I love the area, and we'd love to live there if I could figure a way to make a go of it.

[autorank]

3. It's a retro hippie theme park, very beautiful in many ways.

Lots of stoners, counter culture. Like it stood still in time. It's tres expensive. There are surrounding areas that might be OK, haven't been there in a while...up in the hills. Teaching's a big deal in CA so she should look into it or administration. There are some tech companies around. She can commute to San Jose, Silicon Valley, but the highway between Santa Cruz and San Jose is one of the spookiest and maybe most dangerous in the USofA. Talk to UCSC and get some help. This can be trickey. You might look up the coast on Hwy 1 North of Santa Cruz. it is totally amazing, I mean amazing.

Good luck. Say high to Arnie, register to vote, and throw the bum out!

[phusion]

4. Scott's Valley is cool...

Lots of hippies out that way, too. And it's cheaper than Santa Cruz I think.

There is probably housing all the way in between Santa Cruz and Los Gatos.

[Frances]

6. Scotts Valley is expensive too

I would talk to people at the school about options.

I live in a development of 15 townhouses in Scotts Valley. Two of the families had Bush stickers on their cars, so there are definitely Republicans here. In spite of that, I do like Scotts Valley.

[caligirl]

7. yeah, I passed a blue PTCruiser over there Saturday with a bush

sticker on its back window. I happily moved on ahead with my Kerry bumper sticker.

[caligirl]

5. Emily's bakery sticker in window says

Keep Santa Cruz Weird.

Alot of the hippies have grown older but the town does have a flavor and look of a beach town from the 60's. Housing on campus? They have couples housing for students, college work?. Check with the schools housing office. They should have listings for rentals and could give you reliable info. This area is considered part of the 'bay area' as it is an easy 1 hour commute to Santa Clara and San Jose. If your wife is not credentialed in Ca to teach she should look into it now. Emergency credentials are given but I am not a teacher and know nothing about it. Sub'ing would definitly help $$ wise. I have heard of apartments at around 1000 a month, two bedroom, in north part of town near UCSC.

Oops= easy commute(hwy 17) depending on which direction and time of day.

Also the bus system is pretty good. They downtown area is clean and nice. I found driving around confusing there, none of the roads run on a north south, east west pattern.

[Dookus]

15. heheh

I was lost for months after I moved here. The roads are "eccentric" to say the least.

[MikeH]

8. Does Santa Cruise To This City On Christmas?

[Califooyah Operative]

9. i lived there for a year and may move back for school,

it's a liberal bubble, it has it's advantages and disadvantages. Most of the people are laid back, you have locals who don't care for outsiders, college students at ucsc, tourists at certain beaches and the boardwalk, rich folks, hippies, etc. This is the city of santa cruz. It's really a beautiful place though, the whole surrounding area. Aptos is more conservative and upper scale, the mountain areas are a little iffy- but nice looking, capitola is pretty nice, watsonville get's into poorer areas and farming. all of the citys of santa cruz county are within 5-15 minutes on highway 1, people live in all cities and go to both schools -ucsc and cabrillo college. jobs are good during the summer, tourist stuff, restauraunts, boardwalk, etc. the schools help you find jobs too though. Housing can be expensive, you'd do well to research it, you can come across deals though if you keep your eyes pealed. overall i like santa cruz a lot and may end up there in a year or so, it's definately one of my choices for continuing school.

[Dookus]

10. It's a great town

I've lived here for over seven years, and I adore it.

But... it's very very expensive, and there isn't really much that's cheap within a half-hour commute. I think you'd have to consider a shared-housing situation.

[Sugarbleus]

13. Dookus......I didn't know you lived here. Wow

I know DUers that live in San Jose and the Bay Area but never learned of any others from my own home town.

So, what do you do with your time? Any involvments in local politics? You can PM me if ya don't want to air that info.

Woohoo, a hometown DUer. :hi: :bounce:

[Dookus]

14. Hey Sugar

I didn't know you were here, either.

I'm not involved in local politics, but it is a neverending source of amusement :)

Other than that, I hang out - what else do you do in Santa Cruz? I go to Java Junction on Seabright, the Seabright Brewery, Crow's Nest, hang out downtown, walk down to Seabright beach (can you guess I live in Seabright?), walk the dog around, etc. etc.

[Sugarbleus]

16. I've been here so long..I did much much more years ago.

Before the Loma Prieta Earthquake, it was a total hoot to hang out down town in front of the old Cooperhouse w/The Don McCasslen<sp? Band and watch people stroll by as I got "toasted" in their sidewalk cafe/bar. lol

I used to do power walking across town from Live Oak to SC in the mornings (I'd take either the tracks or weave my way through/past Seabright etc). I'd stop at the "top o the mall" where the original SC Roasting Co. was, have a double espresso, then walk past the town clock to the cardiac stairs behind those little shops, up to Holy Cross, across the foot bridge into Harvey West Park, Swim a few laps then come back to town to have lunch at Zoccolis.

During the 90's I went to Cabrillo and did craft faires on the side.

Capitola was always my favorite place to hike around and enjoy. Today, my bones hurt so I stay closer to home. I work in my garden growing veggies...(maybe I can take some to a farmers market this time). If I go out for coffee it's at Mad Jacks or Coffetopia on Portola Dr./eastcliff. Lunch/appetizers and drinks is definately CROW'S NEST :)

I live in the Live Oak district about five blocks from the old Cheese Factory. I love the cliffs around that area too; nice place to sit and ponder stuff. Beaches aren't bad either.

Have you hiked out on the Jetty there by Aldos/yacht harbor? This is such a GREAT town for walking and biking...so much to see.

My family plate is pretty full these days but I hope to get down to the local dem club to see what's what.

Good to know ya. Enjoy and keep in touch......SB :hi:

[Dookus]

17. yeah

I go out that jetty all the time. I live just a few blocks from there.

In fact, took the dog down to Aldo's for breakfast on Sunday.

We'll have to meet at Crow's Nest some day for a drink!

[Sugarbleus]

21. Cool.... We used to go for breakfast at Aldos Sunday morns with

our Sat. night hangovers. Yeow....

One of these days perhaps we'll meet up. Take care til then.

I'm putting all of you Cruzoids on my buddy list too. Never know when we'll have to get together and "start something". ;)

[slutticus]

11. I've been looking on Craig's List for places to live...

..in the SF area.

You might want to check them out. Lots of people looking for roommates. Lots of places near UCSC. Lots of places say "Students and Couples Welcome", so that may be your best bet for price.

Heres the list for the Santa Cruz area http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/search?areaID=1&subAreaID=2&query=&cat=roo&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max&neighborhood=42

You can search in other areas as well.

[Sugarbleus]

12. Wow. I've lived here for 35 years. It has changed dramatically

With the influence of the University, we've held onto a modicum of liberal/progressive thought. Unfortunately, rightwingism has crept in like a fungus. The local radio station is hard right.

After the earthquake, they rebuilt the downtown. In my opinion it is too upscale; beamers driving through the downtown open air mall. The "weird" and free atmosphere is gone; no more "dancing rainbow lady", no more free music/bands at the old Cooperhouse.

God, this place was a haven for free thought and letting your hair down; full of artists, activists, music, counter culture to no end. It has changed a lot..but this is still a friendly place and fairly laid back.

It's a very BEAUTIFUL place to live and the university is still a "refuge". It is outrageously expensive, ALTHOUGH...the rents have stablized in the last couple years as people who can't make a go of it here or don't like the atmosphere move out.

Actually, there is a dinky little apartment/triplex unit for lease right next to me. It goes I think for $1600. It IS TINY but has three bedrooms w/bath and 1/2. Frankly, if you can afford that amount of money, you should look for something newer and roomier...shared rent is a going option for many.

The local Holiday Inn has been turned into a housing facility for students.

Downtown Santa Cruz and the upper foothills of the coastal range: Felton, Ben Lomond, Zyante, Boulder Creek DO still have some older hippy types and probably a wee bit cheaper rent than surrounding districts.

Scotts Valley is CHURCH CITY. Soooooooooo many fundies and rwers live there now. It's had a growth boom in last 20 years that turned it into a snob haven by and large (certainly not everyone). We call it "Snot's Valley" or snob valley. Seagate and other tech companies caused the building boom up there.

Watsonville isn't too bad. It's had a growth of new housing and there are factories and a nice hospital out there. It's about 14 miles down the road from Santa Cruz. Aptos is okay but kinda expensive, likewise Soquel (which I love), Capitola by the sea (which I also love).

When the fog lifts in the spring and summer, IT IS HEAVEN...VERY beautiful (you won't want to be in school =o)). Monterey is just down the coast about 45 miles. There is a community of migrant workers that also welcomed a plethora of Artisans..called Davenport. It sits right up against the foothills north of SC and over looks the open ocean w/artichoke fields in the foreground.

We've got surfers and that influence, we've got the very wealthy, we've got some right wingers but they don't bother us much as we Dems and liberals are still in control in many arenas (City Counsil, Board of Sups etc). We have our aging hippy types (like me), vacationers/tourists in the summer, working class families, the university crowd (Yeah), our share of street people, crime is low (for now), and access to the freeways is easy enough and will take you right to the bigger cities in a flash.

LOL..someone mentioned the ridiculous road layouts. It's SO true! These planners must have been on acid when they laid it out. You'll need a compass for a while until you can fix the landmarks that tell you which direction you are going. LOL :crazy:

We have the Ocean on one side and the Beautiful Coastal Range on the other side. We are tucked away here. My girlfriend works for the State Park service and gets to live on their property WAAAAAAAAAAAY up almost on the summit in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. You virtually have to have a four wheel drive to reach her cabin; it's that remote. Oh, stay away from Rio Del Mar----->$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ fer shur

Good luck, hope you make it out. :hi:

[Frances]

19. I didn't realize I live in Snot's Valley

I just moved here recently. I have run into a number of fundies.

[Sugarbleus]

20. Oh yikes, PLEASE don't take offense. I'm so sorry.

I didn't mean all people up there, it's just that we know many many who are fundies and RWers up there. I personally have seen the changes in that area grow like wildfire. It was a simple little valley barren of any industry until the late 70's early 80's when Seagate and others moved in and paved over the territory with their buildings/industry.

Following that was the housing boom and the shopping services. NONE of that was there many years ago. It was a small, quiet, and sleepy little logging-type town frequented by a LOT of moutain folk with long beards and hair and bottles of Red Mountain wine. LOL

So MANY of the fundies that go to church up there and/or are pastors and go do their church thing down here.....LIVE up there. We know several people plus you have Bethany Bible College too. =o)

With the industry and population growth, the monied folks came in and drove the long hairs back into the woods aka Boulder Creek etc.

The mountains surrounding the area are pretty though, yes?

Snob/Snot's Valley is a quaint little term SOME of us long timers have for the area. Certainly it doesn't mean the entire population is that way.

I hope I didn't offend. Peace :hi: :hug:

[cascadiance]

18. I miss the old Santa Cruz...

... that I moved away from when I left the Bay Area a few years ago. Wish we could convert one of the coastal towns here in San Diego like Encinitas to be more like Santa Cruz and attract those moving away from Santa Cruz down here.

[Sugarbleus]

22. Times have certainly changed. There was a period here when

People would move away for whatever reason only to come straight back in a hurry. :)

Some of us lifers have said we are going to have to move away....but we never do. I've tried living a short spell in different locations but I never could grow the roots needed to keep me from coming back here.

Unfortunately, because the times have changed so drastically all over the country (Bush et al), we may HAVE to move one of these days just to keep a roof over our heads. That day WILL KILL ME. I adore, I worship the sea.... Most of my adult history is here. The climates not bad either. :hi:

[Dookus]

23. ahh... the climate

that's why I love it here more than any other reason.

It's just perfect for my tastes. I adore fog. I enjoy a nice summer day as much as anyone, but I REALLY love the fact that no matter how hot it gets during the day, I can count on the fog to come in at night and keep things cool.

I lived in SF for years, and loved that weather. But Santa Cruz has even BETTER weather.