I am in the same place doing much the same thing, living in Arcata and going to school. The only thing that has changed is that now I have a boyfriend.
I was living in the Rockaway House. http://www.terraserver.com/imagery/image_gx.asp?cpx=-74.505155&cpy=40.898048&res=8&provider_id=305 Probably one of the most, and at the same time close to the least beneficial places I've ever lived in my life.... I humped the porch & pee'd my pants there....