Hi Pinar, I'm also in northern California just north of Santa Rosa. In my previous home, we had a Podocarpus between us and the neighbor and it only gave so-so privacy. We then planted a red oak that was fast growing and had very large leaves, but the squirrels wouldn't stop girdling it and we had to remove the top 30 feet that had died. I'm now in another house in the same town, and have a privacy problem with a two story addition going up next door, so I'm planting two Chinese lace bark elms. We researched for four months looking for the ideal tree, and found and there's no tree that will check all the boxes, but the Chinese lace bark elms came the closest; the only negative for us was the maximum size which can reach 50 feet tall. It's fast growing, tolerates short periods of boggy soil, is drought resistant once established, isn't picky about your type of soil and has few pest issues. I see that you're looking for an evergreen and the Chinese lace bark elm may or may not lose its leaves depending on your climate. There's one in my town that must be 60+ years old and in January it still has most of its leaves. Several of these trees were planted in the Kaiser parking lot in Santa Rosa a few years ago and they quickly grew to provide shade with dense growth of narrow leaves that flutter in the breeze. They're beautiful.

Post some pictures that people can see, your first wasn't visible for me. East facing will mean morning sun until noon, but may be shadier than that if trees block full sun. I'd suggest pots with succulents in general will be the easiest plant types to care for, and there are so many types.Glazed ceramic pots, or self-watering fiberglass pots may be very practical and require less frequent watering. I have the opposite opinion of the White Potatoe Vine for a balcony; too rampant growing and ugly looking in colder weather. Consider her Sunset zone when selecting succulents, but having a roof overhead helps with protection from winter wet and cold, a combination some succulents don't like. The Sunset Western Garden Book has an excellent section on good container plant choices. I'd also suggest a nursery visit to a great retail nursery known for their vast selection of containers, such as Flora Grubb Nursery in San Francisco, or Annie's Annuals Nursery in Richmond, California. Aw Pottery off Hwy 880 in Oakland is also a great source for containers. A consultation on-site with a landscape designer well versed in container gardening might also save you time and money. If you do a search for posts with photos under my name, I'm sure I've posted examples of varied container plantings on here over the years that might get you thinking of possibilities.

I am very close to a zone 9 (definitely an 8b and within a mile of the Sound so more of 8/9 situation) and any hardy geranium will grow in my garden. Of those on your list, himalayense is the only one requiring part or afternoon shade -- the others would be fine in full sun.

Cori Ann, that's great that you're getting your doctorate. Keep pursuing your education! Wish I had done more.. I haven't had much college. Got an AA in Fashion Design way back in the '70s, but never did anything with it. Got married instead. Diane, that's beautiful!! I would think you'd be used to that kind of snow? Here we get about one or two snow days per yr. Everything shuts down for 2" worth! But then, it's probably a good thing. Most of the drivers here don't know how to drive in rain let alone snow and ice! I'm going to the store tonight to get some groceries, and I wonder if I should have my husband get the generator out. Might need some gas. They say these two storms that are coming in the next 5 or so days are going to be similar to (or worse than) the one we had in 2005. Our power was out for 5 days and we finally went and got the generator, but by the time we got home with it, the power was back on! I sure hope we don't have another one like that one. It's colder now than it was then!