Live and Love like a Local

The quaint countryside of rural Northern California

I relocated to Ukiah in 2014, thinking it would be a temporary move — I have been here ever since. What keeps me here? For a small town, there are a lot of reasons I choose to stay.

Initially I came to work at one of the local gems, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Within the first month of living here, I knew the slower pace of life and being surrounded by nature was for me. Befriending older folks and townies at our watering hole (Black Oak Coffee Roasters), I found myself engaged with the local what’s-happenings. Inspired, I investigated more and more ways to get involved in the community.

In our neck of the woods, the nature scene is world class. Within our corridors, you can access the Pacific Ocean and coastal redwoods. There’s an enchanting redwood forest you can drive through to reach the shores. These gentle giants tower over the road, providing crisp air and shade as you eventually reach Mendocino’s moody ocean views. Clouds give the ocean depth, and sunny days bring out its pristine, turquoise hues.

One of the things I love about Ukiah and Mendocino County is that it’s small enough to really get involved. I am employed by the County of Mendocino, working in the departments of Public Health and Behavioral Health & Recovery Services. When the opportunity arose in Fall 2022, I ran for city council in the City of Ukiah. I didn’t win the campaign, but it was the most positive experience I could’ve asked for in running for public office. In its place, I was appointed as a planning commissioner, which allows me to directly participate in the the projects that affect the physical development of our city. Recently, Visit Ukiah has given me the creative gift of showcasing unique views, and it is the impetus for starting this website!

Last for now, but nowhere near least, is more on what brought me to this area. Growing up, I came to Ukiah sporadically for religious events, retreats, and summer camp. I was a middle school student at the Buddhist school. After college, I worked for Dharma Realm Buddhist University for nearly nine years. I continue to volunteer for the temple, primarily through helping nuns with administrative and outreach tasks. It is truly a special community and my spiritual base that is very near and dear to my heart. I invite you to see for yourself, by taking a walk on campus or eating lunch at the vegetarian restaurant, Jyun Kang (Thurs-Mon, ~11:30am-2:00pm).

As this website gets built out, I will write more about my local experiences and recommendations!