01/28/2026
This is Humboldt County!
Many in our community have been living deep in the woods since the internet has come out and have never taken the plunge into the interwebs.
Instead they have been tending to the seasons. They’ve been focused on the important things like prepping gardens, stocking pantries, checking on neighbors, chopping firewood, and baking treats for full-moon drum circles.
Living off-grid is a lot of work. Many of Humboldt’s back-to-the-landers are aging out of this demanding lifestyle and moving into “town” to be closer to hospitals and grocery stores. They’re adapting to a new way of life in their 70’s.
My husband grew up in the woods of Humboldt County with parents who wholeheartedly dove in to the back-to-the-land movement. For ten years I lived in the woods with him, close to his family, and learned how to can tomatoes, start a fire, and dig a trench for water line deep enough so it won’t freeze in winter. When big projects came up, all the neighbors would show up to help.
Now I’m helping the old folks in the same community make a move to town. Many of them have more experience with a cb radio than with a cell phone. They’re getting introduced to conveniences like thermostats and 24-hour power, while giving up the quiet personal freedom of living so remote. It’s different living in a forest; the colors are easy to look at and trees don’t just bump into you or remind you of a terrible mood you may have been in three days ago. You can just be.
This simple text took me into reflection that real estate is not a steady script. Every person has their story and their path. It reminds me to remain curious and compassionate because the more I understand a clients story, the better I can serve. 🙌
