A California Relocation Guide

Rural Highspeed Internet

2010-10-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

a realistic reviews of 'online' on the California back roads

Ages ago they sold us on the digital revolution. How we needed to learn computers for our future, for college, for our careers and for life. Well folks, it is finally here, almost. Work-from-home fantasies can dwindle quickly without a stable high speed internet connection. City dwellers never worry about if their internet is offline or not. They pay the bill and the service works.

Unfortunately, the rural areas of California are not as hi-tech as you might think, even in this day. Check email from your lodge room at the ski resort, your vacation home or your iPhone - in areas like Mammoth or Tahoe, but forget about great coverage around the SoCal mountain communities. Various broadband companies try to provide to hundreds of remote locations within California, but nothing is real stable yet. The dang San Andreas fault line must be throwing every off.

As of September 2008, according to the Center for Rural Affairs, "Only 38 percent of rural Americans have access to a high-speed internet connection." read more on this

Seriously now, if you plan to buy a mountain cabin and work from home as your primary source of income, best to do your research thoroughly on high speed internet options and their stability. I wish I did. Certain popular areas like Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead have real DSL - and so does historic Gold Country w/ Twain Harte, CA. Most of the California Central Coast is hard wired, but certain canyons aren't. Ridgecrest has it, but Randsburg does not. Do real estate shopping - while also doing your homework on the utility companies and internet access. Promises of 'whats to come' do not count.

In a decade I have been through 4 internet providers while trying to live - and work, Total Escape - from the mountains of California. For background, I am a web professional who uses the internet daily. I run an outdoor driven, 14 year old web site that focuses on camping and recreation in California. My site sees some serious traffic of 10,000 people per day and I obviously do not host my web site a home, but I can manage it from home. Or so I thought. For the past decade I have sold and shipped topographical maps through an ecommerce store, so I must be online nearly every day (except when I am camping).

Mountain High speed neighborhood:

For over a decade I have been working from home w/ my web-based business. First from a Hermosa Beach apartment, then from downtown San Diego and now, a mountain area just north of Los Angeles. We have thousand of people living and working from higher elevations, right next to Mount Pinos.... without cell phone signals and without reliable high speed internet. So much for my hi-tech career!

RURAL INTERNET PROVIDERS:

AT&T DSL

http://www.att.com

The real deal, if you live in a populated area with proximity to a freeway. Stores and gas station pumps require stable internet. Basically, the closer you are to an interstate the more likely you will have real fiber optics nearby with DSL service from your phone company. Reasonable pricing. $20-50/mo

Earthlink 56k (dial up) - the safety blanket

http://www.earthlink.net

As a web pro I have always had Earthlink as my backup system - for 56k dial up connections, when the high speed falls offline, which is quite often. Numerous local numbers to choose from in almost any local. Toll free dial up numbers also available. Cheap. $9-19/mo

Hughes Satellite

http://www.hughesnet.com

In 2003 I tried Hughes Direcway. Purchased the Hughes satellite for my high speed internet, but soon found out the realities of satellite service. Snow on dish means no service; Upload speeds are close to dial up speeds; Accessing any kind of database is slower than molasses; and then the dreaded FAP (fair access policy - means they cap your bandwidth after several hours online). Expensive pricing. $50-80/mo

Wireless Internet

http://www.frazmtn.com

Wireless signals are bouncing all over the cities and people are becoming so used to digital service everywhere. Tourists and vacationers should be warned, rural back roads lead to places out in the sticks. Smaller mountain communities like Idyllwild and Pine Mountain have had wireless internet service

In 2005 my next try was to Frazier Mountain Internet, but I could not receive their wireless signal because I am located in a deep valley. Dense pine forest and steep landscapes make for poor wireless signal transmitting. Reasonable pricing. $20-50/mo

Cable Internet

http://myaccount.calneva.org/

This option is usually the worst case scenario, no matter how you look at it. 30 year old cable television wires can deliver your hi-speed internet, as well as satisfy every cable television customer? Hardly. Reasonable pricing. $25-50/mo

In the Frazier Park area, poor Rapid Cable was recently bought out by CalNeva - and while they might have new digital equipment installed in house, the staff is clueless, rude and lacking, the damn wires feeding the PMC hills are still not working properly. They must still be running old coax cable from 1980, cuz I've never seen such horrible connections in my 20 year computer career.

Rapid Cable was the joke of the mountain - as it fell offline almost daily. In 2007 I got so fed up, I went back to dial up 56k (as my main internet connection) for over a year. Then the announcement came. Rapid Cable was being bought out by CalNeva, a new company that plans to dump some serious cash into this old equipment. Wow, really?

I waited a few months and heard praise from the neighbors, so I decided to give them a try. And so did a hundreds other local folks. Their service has been going progressively downhill for the past 6 months. I begin with CalNeva Oct 2009; They waived my outstanding $150 balance from previous RapidCable; Opting for lowest cost: $25 for a lower bandwidth 256k connection, I still had my doubts on the stability of this system. Now it's a year lately and I am certain we are screwed, indefinitely.

CalNeva falls off-line daily - or is slow most of the time! There is no customer service assuring me things will get better, no price discounts, no one in tech support telling me about the new equipment upgrades, no letters from a CEO informing me of what is going on. No communication at all.

There is obviously no way to work from home like this. I used to keep track of every time I experienced downtime, wasting time logging each incident and who I spoke with on the phone at customer service. Now a year later, I am so angry I've decided to write this article for the world to see just how pathetic this 'rural internet stranglehold situation' actually is. One day these utility companies might get their act together, but I am not holding my breath. Until then, I am typing from my single phone line (listening to the screeching of a dial up modem) just to post this blog. Go Earthlink, go!

Klamath River California

2009-02-16T22:51:00.001-08:00

Orleans California
Originally uploaded by danamight

This is one of the most remote river areas of Northern California. The Klamath River starts up in Oregon & heads down thru California, where it meets up with the Trinity River coming from the south. Then the Klamath flows NORTH to the Pacific Ocean.

If you dig the true wilderness experience, camping, hiking, river kayaking, fishing, hiking & all the likes of it, this area may be worth checking out. Imagine a ranch mountain paradise w/ no neighbors for miles?

The small river communities located along this waterway include:

Klamath River
Horse Creek
Hamberg
Seiad Valley
Happy Camp
Clear Creek
Somes Bar
Orleans
Weitchpec
Johnsons

at the coast -
Klamath Glen
Klamath

Lake side in California

2009-01-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

Clear Lake California
Originally uploaded by danamight

This is Lucerne California - along the northern shores of Clear Lake. If you are seeking a lake side weekend getaway for fishing -- or searching for housing near a big recreational lake for retirement (or telecommuting), this just may be a place to check out. Very peaceful setting with oaks & plenty of open space on the hills.

Neighboring communities: Clear Lake, Clear Lake Oaks, Clear Lake Park, Nice & Upper Lake. You can get a really nice lil home up here for well under $200k too.

Check out this local real estate page, which specializes in this region - shorelineatthelake.com

Aspendell, California

2008-10-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Aspendell, California
Originally uploaded by danamight

If you want High Sierra living at alpine elevations 8500' - but close enough to a big town, then you gotta check this little village out. It's perty dang spectacular in my honest opinion. But you gotta have a 4x4 to live here for sure. Snow gets hella deep!

Aspen Dell is full of nice cabins, aspen trees, snow, granite & totally surrounded by Inyo National Forest, Eastern Sierra lakes, streams & all natural bliss. Located at the end of Hwy 168, Bishop California is just down the hill. Fishing & hiking are the big draw here. The elevations may be extreme, but some people love it!

California POA Towns

2008-09-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

Property Owners Associations
POA Residential Communities in California

Often referred to as private neighborhoods or country clubs, they are usually located in rural landscapes & may feature golfing or lake recreation. Signs are posted to welcome or warn tourist. Annual POA fees go to support the club house, the facilities, the streets, the community - or not.

Alta Sierra
Sierra Nevada Mountains
near Grass Valley, CA

Canyon Lake
Riverside County California
near Lake Elsinore, CA

Graeagle
Plumas County California
near Gold Lake, CA

Kent Woodlands
Marin County California
near Mill Valley, CA

Lake Arrowhead
San Bernardino County
near Big Bear CA

Paradise Pines
Butte County California
near Chico, CA

Pinecrest
Sierra Nevada Mountains
near Frazier Park, CA

Pine Mountain Club
Kern County California
near Frazier Park, CA

Serene Lakes
Soda Springs, Sierra Nevada Mountains
near Truckee, CA

this list will grow, stay tuned

invasive: California Knapweed

2008-06-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

When moving to a rural region for peace & tranquility, none of the obvious come to mind.

Russian Knapweed, originally introduced in early 1900's
Impact: Crowds out native species; toxic to horses

Over $500 in Round Up Extra Strength weed killer & numerous local government grants to kill this over-populating invasive weed, and it still lives strong in Los Padres National Forest.

I moved to the mountains for weeds and wildfire evacuations!

California Lake Real Estate

2008-06-04T22:56:00.000-07:00

If you cannot live at the lake, you may as well visit it - every year.

www.flickr.com

Trinity County Land

2008-05-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

Trinity Alps, California
Originally uploaded by David A's Photos

Northern California Rivers

Up near the Northern California redwood rivers and Trinity Alps Wilderness lies unforgettable land. The water, the nature, the trees, the wildness. Who seeks this solitude?

away in the mountains

2008-04-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

If you ever dreamed of a vacation home, or just a little cabin in the mountains, now is a great buyers market in California. You can even telecommute these days with high speed from your remote location.

There are numerous deals ($200-300k) to be found in California's mountain resort towns like - Big Bear, Idyllwild & Pine Mountain.

Gambrel near Big Bear, CA

Pine Mountain Cabins

Idyllwild California

Mountain Living w/ Snow

2008-02-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

Buying a home in a rural area often means elevations, compared to city life at sea level. In California higher altitude can mean snowy winters - above 4000'. Freeways get closed, roads are nearly impassable & getting your car outta the drive way can be an all morning chore if the snow is deep. Commuters could have a hard time with this task, especially when the M-F 9-5 schedule requires you to be there. Best choice is to work from home, online, remotely.

When purchasing a mountain home keep these considerations in the forefront.

ACCESS:
How far do you need to drive? How often? The closer you are to the main road or highway, the easier it will be to escape. County roads are maintained by snow plows on a regular basis, so while you might hear some traffic, you will be able to access the real world without problems of just getting outta your neighborhood. The further tucked back you are, the more seclusion & privacy, but the more likely you will get buried during a good snow season.

TREES:
Choose a lot with minimal trees on it. Not only will wildfire danger be greatly reduced, but sunshine can reach you easily & warm your home.

GARAGE:
Look for a home with a garage. Storing your vehicle out of the elements will help prolong the paint job & the tires. Plus it is easier to get in & outta your home & to your vehicle. Auto repairs can be brutal outside in winter. With a garage you have a safe place to work.

SUNSHINE:
Buy a place on the "sunny side" of the hill. Annual sun patterns puts the ultimate melter low in the southern sky during winter months, December-March. If your mountain cabin faces south, you receive the benefits of the sun. These pluses include melting the snow faster, eliminating the ice, warming the house, easier gardens & growing.

DRIVEWAY:
Gravel driveways have grip, even in the winter months, but mud can be a factor. Cement or paved driveways are easier to plow or shovel, but can get iced over easily. Heating elements built inside the cement can run you a small fortune. Steep entrances should be avoided. Circular driveways are preferred, as you'll have multiple access roads to your property - for firewood deliveries & grocery unloading.

HEAT:
Wood burning is by far the most efficient way to heat a rural home & they do not require any electricity. Collect the free kindling & firewood in the forests during warmer months & buy hard wood to create a mix of wood types for best results. Propane or natural gas can get very expensive - especially with an older forced air heating unit. Electric heaters can rack up the bill as well. Pellet stoves require electricity to run, so if the power fails & you are living "primitive" style, then you have no source of heat - which is crucial in winter @ 10 degrees.

Randsburg for Sale

2008-01-10T22:20:00.000-08:00

This is it. The career move you've been waiting for. If you desire to escape the SoCal city life (rat race) & relocate to the middle of nowhere ---- plus still get paid for it, here we go.

Imagine yourself driving northbound outta Los Angeles (in bumper to bumper traffic - as usual). You exit Hwy 14 toward Palmdale, passing Lancaster, Rosamond & the town of Mojave California. The Eastern Sierra are only an hour away. Mount Whitney, Ancient Bristlecone Pines, Bishop & Mammoth are on this main route, Hwy 395.

Just before you arrive at the 395 junction, there is a small desert road that cuts off to the east, into the historic mine area of Rand Mining District. This is home to a small tourist stop called Randsburg California. Antique shops, saloons & more motorcycle boys than you know what to do with, this place is dubbed the LIVING GHOST TOWN.

A few decades ago, Bill & Brenda from Los Angeles, dumped a ton o cash, plus blood, sweat & tears into this historic town. They created the Cottage Hotel & it is the best overnight stay in this neck of the woods. (Sure beats motels in Ridgecrest CA) Pat recently took over, 5 years ago and loves it, but now must sell this hotel property. Luxury desert inn, rustic resort ranch, a quaint bed & breakfast in the North Mojave is now for sale. Check it out for income opportunity.

randsburg.com/text/sale

Petrolia California

2007-10-09T02:24:00.001-07:00

Petrolia High School
Originally uploaded by wanderinghome

This is the Lost Coast in Northern California, a virtually untouched landscape of rivers, coastal meadows, dirt roads and redwood forests.

The rural community of Petrolia sits on the Mattole River & due south of Ferndale, the touristy Victorian village. The rugged coastline of Punta Gorda is just a few miles away & the big city of Eureka is north - over an hours drive away. While there's not a whole lotta real estate available out here, the homes that do come on the market can go fast. How 'bout a river front custom home for under $400k? Sorry that one just sold.

More on PETROLIA CA
realestate.yahoo.com/California/Petrolia

Juniper Hills

2007-09-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you do not need to drive very far outside of SoCal to feel like you're on the middle of nowhere. Large expansions of deserts close to Los Angeles & San Diego give that remote feeling of rural, out of the way locales. From Pasadena, on the other side of the San Gabriel Mountains, is an area known as Palmdale CA. Up against the mountain is Pearblossom & Littlerock CA. Above that, on the rocky desert slopes, where the views of the Antelope Valley are nice, sits a rural neighborhood community of Juniper Hills....where the Joshua trees meet the Junipers!

Fort Tejon Road (N2) cuts thru this high desert region, but is no where near the State Park of Ft Tejon on the Grapevine (I-5). Only 1000 residents live in the hills here, where the elevation is between 4000'-6000' & big boulders, juniper trees & joshua trees line the landscape. Devils Punch Bowl is a nearby park with visitors center & hiking trails. This area is also well known for it's equestrian ranches & excellent horseback riding trails. The area does get a dusting of snow each year & many of the roads are dirt, so it would be advisable for residents to own a 4x4 vehicle. Although Juniper Hills now has it's own Town Council, very little can be found on the web about this desert paradise. The prices are not cheap due to the fact that the land is inside Los Angeles County & close by to SoCal high desert cities.

Map of Juniper Hills & Devils Punch Bowl, Pearblossom, CA 93553

california mountain cabins for sale

2007-08-23T01:12:00.000-07:00

August is the month that search engines experience an influx of sweltering city folks searching for 'mountain cabins' in California. The majority of them are dreaming of cooler climates, hoping for a real estate deal, seeking a second home or to telecommute from a rural alpine hide-away.

California cabin communities are located in more places than just Big Bear, Tahoe & the Eastern Sierra. Total Escape has a full list of California forests & small towns - with vacation cabins rentals, fishing cabins & cabins for sale. If you gonna buy real estate or property in a rural region, you may as well spend a weekend up there & really check out the place.

* Arrowhead Lake Cabins
* Bass Lake Cabins
* Big Bear Cabins
* Country Ranches & Cabins
* Gold Country Cabins
* Idyllwild Cabins
* Julian Cabins
* Lake Tahoe Cabins
* Mount Laguna Cabins
* Mount Shasta Cabins
* North Coast Cabins
* Palomar Cabins
* Pinecrest Lake Cabins
* Sequoia Cabins
* Shasta Lake Cabins
* Shaver Lake Cabins
* Sierra Cabins
* Tahoe Cabins
* Yosemite Cabins

Kennedy Meadows California

2007-08-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you don't need to drive to Northern California to find your rivers or seclusion in a cabin community --- all you gotta do is head up, as in elevation. This is the South Fork of the Kern River, way beyond Kernville, CA.

The easiest way to get here is head up Hwy 395, passing turn offs for Inyokern & Ridgecrest. Look for the small sign for J41, a county road also known as Nine Mile Canyon Rd. This will take you climbing from the desert valley, westbound, up the side of a granite mountain with joshua trees. Way up to the high elevation sage brush meadows of Kennedy & Troy & Monache.

The Dome Land region has been hit with wildfires in recent years, but it's still gorgeous country up here. Pinyon pines, jeffrey pines, ponderosa pines too.... granite peaks, rivers & some cabins are sprinkled about the landscape. The big draw here is the fishing & hiking, but the off roading & mountain biking trails are plentiful too.

700,000 dollars will buy you 132 acres in this Wilderness region. Finding anything & I mean any lil thing, about real estate in these parts is very difficult.

Downieville: Mtn Bike Sierra

2007-08-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Highway 49 is the Gold Country & this is the far north end of it, where the Yuba River runs wild & the Sierra Buttes are the majestic centerpiece for the Northern Sierra Nevada.

The Downieville Classic is the big annual race for mountain bikers. A huge event for the small historic town. The Downieville Downhill is the longest and most demanding downhill mountain bike race in the country. The rest of the year, it's great fishing, camping & hiking all the way around. Lakes Basin Recreation Area is perfect for a day trip, picnic & hike.

The house prices here are almost as high as neighboring Grass Valley & Nevada City, but you are much more remote in this location. Meaning the nasty smog from the Central Valley may not reach you tucked way back here. And the Sacramento heat & bad traffic will be non-existent.

Saline Valley: Available

2007-08-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe this 80 acre land is still available. I saw this in early JAN 2007 while visiting Lone Pine, CA. This is an extreme & rare opportunity to OWN rural lands next to a National Park boundary & in the middle of Saline Valley volcanic wonderland. Famous for its' Hot Springs & nudity is the norm out there, (altho the NPS will not tell the average tourist).

Sand dunes are in the middle of the valley at 1000' & the towering 11,000' range sits to the west, between Saline & the Owens Valley. The Eastern Sierra is located to the west of that. Check this area out seriously. Beverage Canyon, wow. The Inyo Mountains look incredible in Google Earth.

Someone needs to buy this awesome locale & build an eco-resort with rental cabins, solar energy, windmills & of course green Jeep tours. This is a big area for off-roading & exploration. Old mines of the Inyo Range. The Saline Valley Hot Springs are just across the valley (10 miles). This is prime desert - 80 acres against Death Valley National Park! Access is a graded dirt roads (with some pot-hole paved portions of earth). The north pass BISHOP (can get snowy in winter) or south pass DARWIN (icy/muddy in winter). On occasion a real 4x4 is needed to access this valley.

Closest towns include ---
BISHOP, CA
LONE PINE, CA
DARWIN, CA

Follow the link at the top & tell JENNIFER, Total Escape sent ya!

Own the High Sierra

2007-08-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

The hidden resort of Dardanelle is for sale. It is located at 5100' elevation, way, way back on the Sonora Pass, Hwy 108 - 50 miles east of Sonora CA & the Gold Country. And where the snow is deep & crazy some years. The mountain property is surrounded by Stanislaus National Forest & the Emigrant Wilderness. The location is extreme & the selling price just got reduced for this 12 acre business. The resort consists of a general store, restaurant & bar, motel rooms, cabin rentals, laundry, showers, a small RV park, gasoline & a post office. Trout fishing, rivers, hiking, backpacking, camping... a true alpine wonderland with granite views all around. This area is a winter wonderland for snow-mobilers. Yes, you can own a piece of heaven in the High Sierra!

Weaverville, California

2007-08-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Seeking retirement real estate, ranch lands, affordable riverfront properties, or secluded cabin communities in California? Or maybe you just wanna find th closest county park, nearest waterfall, mountain bike or hiking trails near your city. Anyone who wants to relocate to the California (or the lovely backcountry), this is the space for you.

This relocation blog is my search for the ultimate rural destinations in Northern California. Of course, most of us will need high-speed internet connection, to be able to work from home. I hear from a very reputable local source that the small community of Weaverville, CA does have DSL in town' & other outlying areas, like Lewiston, have wireless internet available.

Trinity River - fishing, hiking, kayaking & biking, horseback
2 LAKES NEARBY: Trinity Lake & Whiskeytown Reservoir
Weaverville is located west of Redding CA, on Highway 299

Home prices here start below $100k, but it will be a shack or tiny fixer upper. You can find a small home in town for under $200k & one with land for under $300k. There is plenty raw land available, but you may need to run electricity to it; plus dig a well for water & install a septic system.

Small town California could be waiting for you.
Stay tuned for more California destinations.