March 25, 2009
redwood living
Deanna and I have been dreaming of a small home on a few acres of land for about as long as we've been together. Until very recently, that meant moving pretty far away from where we are now on the San Francisco Peninsula because prices here were completely unreasonable.
Over the last two or three years, we've been seriously considering buying our first home somewhere up in north Northern California, probably somewhere in Humboldt County in or around Arcata. It really did take going that far north to get the climate, the house, and the land we were after.
The last year has changed things quite a bit and today buying closer to where we live now is not out of the question, so we've been cautiously optimistic that we might just find our home and a perfect bit of land somewhere on the Peninsula.
We've never wanted to buy as an investment, so we're not chasing the bottom of the market -- who knows when (if?!) we'll even see it. We have a set of wants for our house and the land it sits on and we've always said that if we can find it and we can afford it, we're going to get it. Another piece of or thinking is that we'd be first and last time home buyers. We want a home that's about how we live, not about making money.
Well, it looks like things might be coming together for us. If all goes well, we'll be closing on our dream home sometime in the next month.
It's a wonderful log cabin on several acres of redwoods with some open spaces and a pair of nice little creeks creating two of the property boundaries.
reactions, thoughts, comments, etc.
Posted by: Alex Faaborg | March 25, 2009 6:24 PM
This is awesome. Get some alpacas and live the dream.
Posted by: Blake Ross | March 25, 2009 8:08 PM
Wow,
Post some more pictures. It looks so nice, especially on a grey and dull day in London :)
Harish
Posted by: Harish | March 26, 2009 12:40 AM
Nice, you must enjoy the quiet there. No city noise, pollution.
Posted by: scristian | March 26, 2009 4:19 AM
Very nice, a little slice of heaven
Congrats
... available plugins?
-justareader
Posted by: justareader | March 26, 2009 4:51 AM
So what kind of internet connection can you get in a forest?
Sorry, that's just always the first thing on my mind... That looks really awesome and idyllic, almost fairytale like (or Evil Dead log cabin, you decide).
Posted by: Jaap | March 26, 2009 4:54 AM
Very pretty. I'm jealous!
Posted by: Ted Mielczarek | March 26, 2009 10:46 AM
Wow Asa, good luck on the closing. I can't imagine a sweeter spot and in such a cozy looking pad.
Let's go over a few of the benefits of being integrated with nature and your possible impact on it.
Plus:
Whether your inside of your house or out, now clothing will be optional.
Potential Negative Impact:
Animals have excellent eyesight. I'd hate to hear or read that several species of animals indigenous to your area have all suddenly gone completely blind.
Plus:
You'll now be able to freely practice yodeling without anyone calling the cops on you.
Potential Negative Impact:
Animals have excellent hearing. Just imagine the chaos and destruction that would result from this. No longer would animals hear predators sneaking up on them.
Plus:
No yard to mow, no shrubs to prune.
Minus:
Raking leaves is going to be a bitch.
Plus:
The Moon and stars will be so bright and brilliant that you won't need exterior lighting.
Minus:
The potential for stepping in bear feces will be extremely high.
Plus:
The serenity from the quite will be beautiful.
Minus:
Deanna will hear you rip one from 35 feet outside of your home.
Plus:
You'll be able to confirm that if IE falls in the woods that it makes a sound.
Minus:
It won't happen soon enough.
This list is continued at http://www.Asa&DeannasRedwoodAdventures.org
Also available on Amazon.com in popup book format:
The Two City Folk Who Invaded Our Town With Their Glowing Magical Boxes
Posted by: Ken Saunders | March 26, 2009 11:00 AM
With two streams on the property, make sure you know where the high water mark is during the rainy season.
Also will there be any issues if you need to remove some trees for fire abatement?
Posted by: Brad Quinn | March 26, 2009 11:53 AM
i think i see the ewoks back in there!
wow, what a cool place! congrats on the home, must be such a cool feeling. i'm about 5 to 20 years behind you. :)
Posted by: sethb | March 26, 2009 11:55 AM
That is so cool Asa! As a home owner living in nothern Finland I can only say nature is nice and calming.
@ken: funny stuff ;o) btw i'll be in boston april 3-15...
Posted by: marco C (aka Up_North) | March 26, 2009 9:30 PM
Wow, it looks fantastic!
I looked up Arcata on Google Maps, it's *really* remote! It's much better if you can afford something in the peninsula, I think.
Keep us posted when you close (We'll come to your place and party ;-) )
Posted by: Tristan | March 27, 2009 1:58 AM
That looks like a fantastic place in the woods. Congratulations! one thought, MoCo camping party on the grounds?
Posted by: Rob Campbell | April 3, 2009 2:11 PM
Congratulations, the area looks absolutely beautiful. This actually looks a lot like what I was picturing in my head when you described your dream house up in north northern California.