When did you take this picture?

Reminds me of Cedrus deodara.

I thought Cedar too.

Agreed with Cedrus. Most common are the C atlantica and deodara. I agree that deodara is the most likely from this one photo.

The latter is common in parts of coastal California. One of its common names is California Christmas tree.

you were on the right track ... but to be sure.. its not a pine, spruce, nor fir?

it is a conifer ...

ken

"it is a conifer ..."

. . . and to be more specific, conifer in the Pinaceae (Pine family) :-)

I took it in July 2016, there are a lot of trees like this near my house. I think they grow wild. This one is crooked. I moved from San Francisco. I can't see it very well, as its on a private property not mine, I can see from a distance.

Not native to North America so doubt any 'wild' ones :-) But possible a few have grown from wind dispersed seed, although it would take many years for any to reach the apparent size of this one.

When I moved here I really wanted to learn all the trees in the area, but I have not been able to learn the names. I even took a plant ID class, but it only covered drought plants and not the trees. We have more water here, but many trees look very beaten up here, due to drought. I was able to learn them in San Francisco by asking other people the names. I should more of our trees here, but I run out of time.

Here is another nearby tree, I found with a Turkey Vulture! It's not the same tree, but it very close to the first tree. I love seeing birds.

Live tree to the right is probably a walnut (Juglans).

You might be interested in this place. They are, of course - unlike where you are - right at the ocean.

https://www.gardenbythesea.org

I went there one time, but it costs a lot ($25 a person) to get in and it was not a nice day, so I did not go in. It is very hard to get to Fort Bragg, I estimated four hours of winding hills and dangerous heart stopping cliffs to get from Ukiah to Fort Bragg, unless you go to the bay area first and then go all the way up highway One. If it was close to me, I would go there, they have a lot of events, that are fun, like art, mushrooms and tours and holiday lights. I was actually more able to get there when I lived in San Francisco. I can't ever cross the mountains again, its very stressful. Looking down I can see a bottomless fall over a cliff. There is however, a bus, that does go there, for a reasonable price, I have to try that sometime. The train does not go there, unfortunately the Skunk Train does not go anywhere. I think it just a looped train for sightseers.