Ten Years of Living in Mendocino County

It feels like I’ve lived in Mendocino County for a long time and life time! (It has indeed been many lifetimes.) When I lived here for seven years, it felt like ten years. When I lived here for eight years, it still felt like ten years. When I lived here for nine years, it definitely felt like ten years – but not quite! And here I am, now making it to the actual ten-year mark. I moved here in my early 20s, not looking back. I didn’t expect to stay but quickly realized I didn’t want to leave the quaint and bucolic lifestyle. The rest is history.

Living in the rural countryside has been magical and critical in shaping who I am today. So much has happened in these ten years in all aspects of my life: personal, relational, spiritual, professional, etc. It’s been a beautiful and evolutionary balance of developing myself and integrating into the community. As I tell others and repeat, one of the best things about living here is how you can really get involved. Being called a local has been one of the best compliments I’ve received.

Ten is an interesting number and portal. According to the mighty internet and numerology, it represents different things such as the individual (1) and the collective (0), the sun and the cosmos, completion, wholeness, cycles, … and so forth. It feels like the completion of one chapter here as I carve out the next one. Living here has been a conscious and challenging decision, and I would not have it any other way.

-October 12, 2024

Here’s a top ten local listicle for fun!
These are my personal experiences and opinions, both in no particular and particular order. It’s my way of wine-ing and dining you Mendocino-style; check it out if you are in the area.

    1. Cultivating Buddhism at a nearby temple

    2. Driving through 128 to get to the coast through the enchanted redwoods

    3. Walking through the Ukiah Farmer’s Market to pick up flowers from my favorite florist and meandering the downtown shops

    4. Seeing the llamas (alpacas?) and cows on the drive between Ukiah and Hopland

    5. Walking amongst tall redwoods at Montgomery Woods

    6. Stopping by the Philo Gowan’s Apples farm stand for fresh fruits and apple slushy

    7. Soaking in spa water (see number three)

    8. Meeting townies at the local hot spots

    9. Participating in local affairs

    10. Discovering new local goodies

    1. City of Ten Thousand Buddhas: this should be no surprise

    2. Namaste Café: a cozy shop in downtown Ukiah with the best fresh-squeezed juice and a peaceful vibe to chill in

    3. Rivino: a winery with a great outdoor space to hang out at and has live music

    4. The Mendocino coast (see number six): I love being by the coast to decompress and relax

    5. Rancheria Creek: a sweet spot in between Boonville and Point Arena

    6. On a quiet back-road (see number four): there's not much traffic to begin with but even less on back-roads

    7. In the countryside and surrounded by nature: a key reason why I decided to stick around; this county is surrounded by nature's finest trees and coastline

    8. Still: another reason that keeps me here is the quietness of this place

    9. At home: having coffee in the garden, gardening, or lounging around with my pup

    1. It’s a Bao Time: I have this place programmed into my phone and would have them deliver to work regularly - shiitake bao tacos are delicious

    2. Falafeel Good: a falafel pop-up that has freshly made falafels, cucumber salad, pickles, and the best pita I've ever had (shipped from a Jewish bakery in NY)

    3. Oco Time: delicious Japanese cuisine with the most vegetarian options, including the namesake oco

    4. Ellie’s Mutt Hutt: tofu options galore

    5. Cultivo: I am a sucker for their happy hour buffalo cauliflower and breadbraids

    6. The Offspring (Boonville Hotel): hands down the best food in the county with their housemade pasta, pizza, and foccacia

    7. The Brickery (Café Beaujoulais): cute outdoor garden space to have pizza and go to the nearby cafe lounge while waiting

    8. Luna Trattoria: another delicious Italian restaurant next door to one of the hot tub spots

    1. City of Ukiah: the best campaign season I could've asked for when running for city council in fall 2022 and currently a planning commissioner

    2. Visit Ukiah: getting to curate four postcards with my own photography in February 2024

    3. Caring Kitchen: an organization that prepares and provides healthy meals for those with cancer or other illnesses - a very meaningful volunteer experience for me

    4. Russian River Water District: hosts an annual clean-up in various parts of the water district and my coolest local t-shirt swag

    5. Instilling Goodness Developing Virtue Schools: I spent five years as a volunteer teacher and still assist with random tasks + outreach

    6. City of Ten Thousand Buddhas: surprise! I actually volunteer here, too. The past has included mailing packages and grocery shopping; it is mostly limited to admin stuff now.

    7. Community Foundation: have previously attended the 100 Women Strong events, hosted the board at CTTB, and in process of joining their advisory board

    1. Bowling Ball Beach

    2. Elk-Greenwood State Beach

    3. Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands

    4. Manchester State Park

    5. Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands

    6. MacKerricher State Park

    1. Dragon Tree at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

    2. The brief stint in the apartments next to Black Oak

    3. The adorable converted attic on the West Side

    4. Church street abode, and now

    5. Home in the local neighborhood

    1. Old River Road (Talmage-Hopland)

    2. Mountain View Road (Boonville-Point Arena)

    3. Philo Greenwood Road (Boonville-Elk)

    4. Orr Springs Road (Ukiah-Mendocino)

    1. Orr Hot Springs: a clothing-optional retreat with a communal tubs, private tubs, and saunas; no cell service, internet, or food nearby but a communal kitchen on site. Take a day visit or stay overnight in a private room or camp!

    2. Vichy Springs: experience champagne-like bubbly springs at this resort or take a hike on their property; not recommended during cooler weather since the water is mildly warm

    3. Sweetwater Inn & Spa: rent private hot tubs, join the communal one, or stay overnight

    1. I started my time here working for the local Buddhist university (DRBU), which was basically a start-up in the form of a university. In over eight years of working there, it was a formative part of my career. A highlight is that I got to see DRBU go from not being accredited to becoming accredited.

    2. I am currently a program manager with the County of Mendocino Public Health and Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, overseeing Community Wellness, Prevention, and Equity programs.

    I’ve worked in many different areas and roles, including time as an assistant and now as a manager. An honorable mention to the master’s degree in Organization & Leadership I got in the earlier part of my ten years here.

  • My Purifying Practices photo exhibit is a gift that keeps giving. I am surprised and delighted that the exhibit is making its way around town! It first debuted at DRBU in Spring 2022, a monthlong showcase in August 2024 at the cafe in Ukiah Natural Foods Co-Op, and a few pieces are currently at the Saving Bank of Mendocino Ukiah branch. The next gallery is scheduled for Ukiah's First Friday Art Walk at a downtown shop for January-February 2025!