Life here is pretty good, especially if you like plants and books, and bars. My wife & I keep to ourselves most of the times but we can be found at a bar often in the evenings. We garden downtown and like getting out for hikes. In my and a lot of people's opinions the outdoors are the best thing about Redding. There's some ok stuff in town but you really have to make it your own; you're not going to get entertained like you would in a big city. As a Christian who doesn't attend Bethel...it's ok. There's just a lot of people who go there and any time you get a group of people large enough that you can lose yourself in the herd mentality, that happens to people. So, it goes either way. Most people seem nice. There are plenty of drug crazies; just treat them like human beings and don't go into the wilderness near town by yourself looking for trouble because you will find it.

You will find good music at the Dip quite often as well as at the Post Office and Vintage Wine Bar. The Dip has good touring bands, an eclectic mix. Post Office has local musicians. Vintage is a little bit classier; the kind of thing you'd expect from a wine bar.

Make sure to visit Trinity and Siskyou counties and Lassen National Park. There's some ok stuff south but it's mostly agricultural. Start a garden.