Diffuse and far-flung, Oakland’s Koreatown isn’t your typical ethnic neighborhood. In fact, some say, it’s not a neighborhood at all, but simply a state of mind. Either way, Korean cuisine is hot as red pepper these days, and local trend-followers are flocking to Oakland’s many Korean eateries and nightspots to sample the wares—and make the scene.

Simmering lentil soup, shopping used bookstores, and opting out of the corporate world bring joy to a freelance lawyer.

An Oakland couple—she’s a chef, he’s a saxophone repairman—thrives in an inexpensive rental filled with meaningful objects.

A 49-year-old scientist finds unexpected happiness living alone in a huge, barely furnished fixer-upper.

Artists, musicians, and poets have a long history of scraping by with style. But you don’t have to be an artist to march to your own drummer, value personal freedom more than possessions—or find yourself needing to downsize. A handful of East Bay creative types reveal their intriguing strategies for living low on the hog.