Not sure where we should fit at? PA/Sequim/Silverdale/Who knows? (Bellingham: to rent, houses)
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Not sure where we should fit at? PA/Sequim/Silverdale/Who knows?
Okay, so I've been going through these forums a lot, and Ive read a lot of great advice. I suppose now it's time to post what we're looking for and get some suggestions from everyone.
Im 26, have a 5 year old son. I currently work as a retail manager for Claire's. My mom is 52, and a (very fantastic) LPN of nearly 30 years. We are really intrigued at the possibility of relocating to the Pacific Northwest, and have been researching extensively for the last year or so at different locations. Some of what we have narrowed to were Port Angeles & Sequim. They are always on top. Others were Port Townsend, Bellingham.. and I have (quite selfishly) added Silverdale to the list. My reasoning with the last is quick to judge, and was based on nothing more than the fact that there's a mall there that houses the store I currently work in.
Im not as concerned with her finding work as I am with myself. It seems that the health field has more options than most fields I would work in. I am also a skilled graphic designer, and freelance photographer (though I spent a year managing a portrait studio as well). I do not have a college education, and all skills that I have were gained on the job. This usually doesn't concern me, but with an already seemingly slim job market I do think of it.
I also want somewhere condusive to my son, and bringing him up "right". I suppose. We are coming from the south. Southern Georgia. Very south. I'd love an area with good churches, activities and a few things to do.. but we're not highly active.. Im fairly anti-social when it comes to "going and gettin' 'em".
I guess the other things worth mentioning... we're not independantly wealthy, so income will be slim and the need to live on the cheap of the highest importance.. and well.. the diva part of me (I run a jewelrey store.. I cant help it).. would like to be at leave a driveable distance from decent shopping.. especially since thats probably where I'd end up working if I couldnt find any of my other trades available where we live.
Well, Port Angeles and Sequim are lovely places, but Sequim is more for retirees. I would say that in your position, the best place would be Silverdale. Harrison Medical Center (the largest hospital on this side of the water) has a branch located in Silverdale, and there is a large mall in Silverdale. Also, the schools in Central Kitsap (where Silverdale is) are quite good.
Another place you should look is Poulsbo, WA, just a few minutes north of Silverdale. It is simply lovely, and there are a lot of medical offices as well as a branch of the hospital dealing with oncology up there.
There are many nursing jobs currently open at Harrison Medical Center, so your mother could pretty much take her pick (with her experience!). If she wants something else, there are a lot of nursing homes throughout the area.
By the way, I am from South Carolina originally and have lived in both Augusta and Statesboro, GA, as well. If y'all decide to come up, welcome! It will be nice to have somebody who knows what sweet tea is (and how it is different from iced tea you add sugar to)!
Good luck, honey! PM me if you need any additional information.... :-)
Oh, and as far as photography, you would have a ball! I live in Seabeck, and it is glorious this time of year!
I too would have to agree with the post above Silverdale or poulsbo. Squim, definately great for your mom but you and your son would have NOTHING to do! Bellingham is ok, but you are probably getting too close to the cities that are not so great to raise a child w/out them getting involve volluntarily or not with the wrong crowd. Also the Navel base is near silverdale in bremerton so me not knowing about the medical facilitys there in silverdale I would have to believe that they are goood as well as hiring experienced healthcare workers. Good Luck and btw, Washington state is a GREAT place to live:-)
Wow, okay. I must have been half asleep when I typed this. Typos galore! I apologize to everyone who probably thinks I'm living up to the southern brand with that lovely display of typing genius.
1st. Thanks for the replies. I think we are going to try to take a trip up in October when we both have vacation time. It'll be short, but it will hopefully give us a good idea of things.
I do have a question about commute times. I know that an hour commute is not always created equal. My "15 minute" commute in Orlando took 2 hours.. and my "5" minute commute here in Statesboro can take me about 2.4 minutes. How are the commute times in the areas I've mentioned.. meaning, if we were to live somewhere like PA/Sequim.. is a commute possible for somewhere like Silverdale? Ive done 1 hour commutes more than once, but would it truly be an hour or would it be more like 2 or 3?
Also- Which of the areas I've mentioned boasts the best school systems. (I know that is relative, and depends totally on opinion.. but this is an opinion board
Annd.. any other info you want to dive into?
aaand... brightcopperkettles.. hush up! Statesboro.. small world
Wow, okay. I must have been half asleep when I typed this. Typos galore! I apologize to everyone who probably thinks I'm living up to the southern brand with that lovely display of typing genius.
1st. Thanks for the replies. I think we are going to try to take a trip up in October when we both have vacation time. It'll be short, but it will hopefully give us a good idea of things.
I do have a question about commute times. I know that an hour commute is not always created equal. My "15 minute" commute in Orlando took 2 hours.. and my "5" minute commute here in Statesboro can take me about 2.4 minutes. How are the commute times in the areas I've mentioned.. meaning, if we were to live somewhere like PA/Sequim.. is a commute possible for somewhere like Silverdale? Ive done 1 hour commutes more than once, but would it truly be an hour or would it be more like 2 or 3?
Also- Which of the areas I've mentioned boasts the best school systems. (I know that is relative, and depends totally on opinion.. but this is an opinion board
Annd.. any other info you want to dive into?
aaand... brightcopperkettles.. hush up! Statesboro.. small world
There is no traffic in these areas, so you don't have to worry about that. From Silverdale to Poulsbo, it's about 20 minutes; to Port Angeles, it's about an hour and a half; to Sequim, it's about an hour. To Gig Harbor it's about 30 minutes; and to Bremerton it's about 15 minutes.
So, if you work in Silverdale, I wouldn't recommend PA or Sequim. Gig Harbor actually has a brand new hospital that is very nice, and the schools are good. And it's also only a 30 minute commute to Silverdale.
In my opinion, I would opt for Poulsbo because it's such a nice, small town.
Wow, okay. I must have been half asleep when I typed this. Typos galore! I apologize to everyone who probably thinks I'm living up to the southern brand with that lovely display of typing genius.
1st. Thanks for the replies. I think we are going to try to take a trip up in October when we both have vacation time. It'll be short, but it will hopefully give us a good idea of things.
I do have a question about commute times. I know that an hour commute is not always created equal. My "15 minute" commute in Orlando took 2 hours.. and my "5" minute commute here in Statesboro can take me about 2.4 minutes. How are the commute times in the areas I've mentioned.. meaning, if we were to live somewhere like PA/Sequim.. is a commute possible for somewhere like Silverdale? Ive done 1 hour commutes more than once, but would it truly be an hour or would it be more like 2 or 3?
Also- Which of the areas I've mentioned boasts the best school systems. (I know that is relative, and depends totally on opinion.. but this is an opinion board
Annd.. any other info you want to dive into?
aaand... brightcopperkettles.. hush up! Statesboro.. small world
Honey, if your mom is 52 and from Statesboro, I probably went to junior high and/or part of high school with her; I just turned 53 this month. One of my dear friends in junior high and high school was a girl named Connie Hart, who later became an RN. Maybe you know her? She was a very pretty, very smart brunette.
My best friend is also from Statesboro and currently lives in Pembroke. She is a lab tech, and her husband is retired. Her father was an accountant and her mother a homemaker. I still talk to her all the time. If you and your mama come up here, you have to give me a call, and maybe we can meet for lunch or something in Silverdale.
As far as commutes are concerned, Sobefobik is right on there. I sincerely think Poulsbo or Silverdale would be your best bet.
The Wind...ere website is a good place to find houses to rent and/or buy in any of the towns in our area.
There are some nice restaurants in this area and, as I said before, some good schools, which is always important to a mom.
to Port Angeles, it's about an hour and a half; to Sequim, it's about an hour.
Agreed, that's about right. So if you worked in Silverdale and lived in PA your commute would "only" be about 3 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes round trip each day. Hmmm.... Not anywhere near "worth it" IMO-
The only potential wrench in Sobefobik's travel time estimates (which I agree with) would be the Hood Canal bridge. It's occasionally closed for maintenance, bad weather (high winds) or sometimes it will be raised for ship traffic etc. so you'll hurry up and wait in a line of traffic for those events to resolve. That could cost you upwards of another 30-60 minutes once in a while during your commute. Fortunately they tend to do bridge maintenance work at night (usually in the 10 PM to 4 AM range).
I think Silverdale proper or Poulsbo would make more sense given your wish list.
Agreed, that's about right. So if you worked in Silverdale and lived in PA your commute would "only" be about 3 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes round trip each day. Hmmm.... Not anywhere near "worth it" IMO-
The only potential wrench in Sobefobik's travel time estimates (which I agree with) would be the Hood Canal bridge. It's occasionally closed for maintenance, bad weather (high winds) or sometimes it will be raised for ship traffic etc. so you'll hurry up and wait in a line of traffic for those events to resolve. That could cost you upwards of another 30-60 minutes once in a while during your commute. Fortunately they tend to do bridge maintenance work at night (usually in the 10 PM to 4 AM range).
I think Silverdale proper or Poulsbo would make more sense given your wish list.
Are they still working on that bridge? It seems like they've been doing stuff to that thing forever! I think it was last summer that they totally shut the whole bridge down and people had a hard time getting around that.
Are they still working on that bridge? It seems like they've been doing stuff to that thing forever! I think it was last summer that they totally shut the whole bridge down and people had a hard time getting around that.
No, construction on the new bridge is done but maintenance and intermittant testing of the bridge deck lift mechanisms seems to go on forever. You're correct-they worked on it for months last summer and had it completely shut down for a while. Boy was that fun... We would take either Hwy 101 up the Hood Canal or the Keystone to Townsend ferry to get back home to PA after traveling somewhere.
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Yep, small world.... :-)
