Guerneville · Sonoma County

Andy's New Life

A place in the redwoods, a dog, and a car — with real listings and real numbers. The whole idea, on one page.

A shingled cabin among redwoods with a wooden walkway
The house

A cabin near Guerneville

A place of his own in the trees, minutes from the Russian River. Guerneville's been a gay-friendly river town for decades — quiet, green, and about 90 minutes from Davey in SF.

🌲 In the redwoods 🏳️‍🌈 Gay-friendly town 🚗 90 min from Davey
Hwy 116 cabin in the redwoods 1-bed option
$1,625/mo
17480 Hwy 116, Guerneville
View on Zillow →
 Old Cazadero Rd house 2-bed option
$2,300/mo
14441 Old Cazadero Rd, Guerneville
View on Zillow →
The 2-bed: Davey would chip in on this one. The second room gets rented out for income, and Davey stays in it when he comes up — Andy's share ends up close to the 1-bed, with Davey around a lot more.
Pom Pom, a senior terrier and pit bull mix
The dog

Pom Pom

A 36-lb senior terrier mix from Muttville in SF. Quiet, house-trained, fine with other dogs, happiest napping next to someone. Walks slow, which is the right speed.

🐕 ~11 years old 😌 Calm & quiet 🛋️ House-trained
Muttville Senior Dog Rescue
Pom Pom
36 lb terrier / pit bull mix · female · SF
See her profile →
A white Tesla Model 3 parked in a driveway
The car

A used Model 3

Charges overnight at the house, no gas stations, barely any maintenance. The coast is an hour away and everything in town is a five-minute drive. Two real listings, both around budget:

⚡ Charges at home 🏖️ Coast in an hour 🔧 Low upkeep
2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range 2020 · Standard Range
$18,000
Private seller · Berkeley
View on Craigslist →
 2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD 2019 · Long Range + FSD · 86k mi
$20,000
Dealer · Alamo
View on Craigslist →
The area

Around Guerneville

Redwoods up the road, the river in town, the ocean an hour out.

Tall redwoods at Armstrong Reserve
Armstrong RedwoodsOld-growth trees, ten minutes from town.
Johnson's Beach on the Russian River
The Russian RiverJohnson's Beach, right in Guerneville.
Goat Rock Beach on the Sonoma Coast
The Sonoma CoastGoat Rock and the ocean, an hour's drive.
Day to day

What days look like

Normal ones, good ones, rough ones.

Cabin in the redwoods

A normal day

7:30Up with the dog. Coffee outside if it's nice.
Late amWalk her down to the river, grab something in town.
AfternoonErrands, a nap, or nothing.
EveningCall Davey. Dog's out cold.
Goat Rock Beach

A day out

MorningCar's charged. Load up the dog and go.
MiddayOut to the coast. Walk the beach.
AfternoonStop at the redwoods on the way back.
EveningHome tired, in a good way.
Pom Pom resting

A rough day

MorningPain's bad. Still up to walk the dog, even just to the corner.
MiddayVideo call with the counselor. No acting okay.
AfternoonRest. Nap with the dog.
EveningText from Davey — he's coming up this weekend.
The plan

One month, five steps

Each step sets up the next.

Step
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

Set up care

Health coverage and a case manager via SF's Behavioral Health Access Center.

Week 1

Sign a lease

The 1-bed on Hwy 116, or the 2-bed Davey splits. First month + deposit.

Weeks 1–2

Buy the car

The Model 3, bought outright in Andy's name.

Week 2

Adopt Pom Pom

Once he's moved in. Registered as an ESA so housing is protected.

Week 3

Settle into a routine

Local care at West County Health Centers, tele-support from Stonewall, Davey and the dog visiting often.

Week 4 →
The numbers

What it costs

Based on the $18k Model 3 and the $1,625 1-bed.

One-time

Mostly the car
Model 3 — price, tax, registration~$22,400
Move-in — first month + deposit~$3,250
Pom Pom — adoption, supplies, vet~$700
Total~$26,350

Monthly

Ongoing
Rent — 1-bed on Hwy 116$1,625
Utilities, internet, renter's insurance~$245
Car — insurance, charging, upkeep~$265
Pom Pom — food, vet~$120
Total~$2,255/mo
The car is the one big upfront cost — the rest is monthly. With the 2-bed, rent from the second room brings Andy's share close to the 1-bed, and Davey covers the gap while he gets on his feet.

This is doable.

Real places, real numbers, about a month to set up — with Davey up the road and around a lot. Worth talking about.

For Andy, from Davey 🌲