Worst time of year in Sequim? (Seattle, Port Townsend: to rent, home, buying)

[Oldgoat38]

I visited Sequim, PA, PT this past August. The weather was perfect. Rialto Beach and Cape Flattery were in brilliant sunshine. On Hurricane Ridge you could see forever. It all was just perfect.

I'd like to move to Sequim. But, before I make a huge life-change, I'd like to see the area at its worst.

So, my question is: At what time of year do people start thinking about consuming rat poison or slashing wrists - those gray, gray, forever gray days.

I see that almost everyone there has an RV to allow them to get out of Dodge. When does the stampede begin?

Thank you.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by Oldgoat38

So, my question is: At what time of year do people start thinking about consuming rat poison or slashing wrists - those gray, gray, forever gray days.

Generally November through February. That's not to say that we can't get prolonged gray weather in October or March or a stretch of sunny days in November/December but the worst months tend to be during the traditional winter months. Keep in mind that it's not just the gray rain that bothers some people. Given our northern latitude the number of daylight hours during the winter is significantly reduced as well. This darkness seems to compound the rainy weather.

The summer months are usually July and August, sometimes early September as well (late June at times)- as you recently experienced. Yes, they can be spectacular!

"Tourist Season" usually runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day with the number of RV's on the road seeming to increase exponentially.

Come and spend a month here during December or January. If you can live with the weather then, you probably will do fine here the rest of the year. Generally I think it's smart to rent a place for a year or so prior to buying. This would allow you to try the town on for size before investing a chunk of change in a home here.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Oldgoat38

So, my question is: At what time of year do people start thinking about consuming rat poison or slashing wrists - those gray, gray, forever gray days.

Rarely. Lower suicide rate up here than most of the Western U.S. Las Vegas is suicide city. Some of us up here are sick of the slander.

Relocated Californians hate December up here, but I don't think they are killing themselves over it. They just end up moving along to Nevada or Texas, sort of like California, but not ruined by corrupt/inept/bloated/expensive government, yet (sadly the plague of Californians don't change their silly voting habits when they move).

[ukiyo-e]

Originally Posted by Andy

Rarely. Lower suicide rate up here than most of the Western U.S. Las Vegas is suicide city. Some of us up here are sick of the slander.

Relocated Californians hate December up here, but I don't think they are killing themselves over it. They just end up moving along to Nevada or Texas, sort of like California, but not ruined by corrupt/inept/bloated/expensive government, yet (sadly the plague of Californians don't change their silly voting habits when they move).

It never fails to amuse me, as a former Californian, how people assume all 38 million people there think the same way. Some us from there are "sick of the slander." ;-)

Anyway, the late winter is the worst time of year for me. December doesn't bother me at all. I like the weather here in Port Townsend just fine, but the short days in winter get a bit old a few weeks after Christmas. Since I telecommute for my old job and set my own schedule, I can just take a vacation someplace further south in late January or early February, and by the time I return, it's not too long until Daylight Savings begins and it's light later in the evening, which I like.

[KAILANI]

Just about anytime after the buzz of the holiday rush has worn off and reality sets back in. For me, Iv'e noticed Feb until Easter is the worst. There's just nothing much to do and it is GREY and DARK almost all day....
Not all of us are lucky to have an RV.. I would love to camp out all year round. We have tents, and have spent one too many nights and mornings sludging through the mud trying to have fun camping!!
Not the best time of year for solar-powered people, but some people prefer it this way!
Good luck!

[Hemlock140]

The reason so many people from CA (like my parents) retire in Sequim is that they at least see the sun for a while almost every day all year. They are up pretty high on a road that goes up to the Olympics, and a good part of the year they have a few morning clouds that burn off by noon leaving sun the rest of the day. Many times I have been there and watched the clouds part when they hit the mountains, leaving a big hole of blue sky over the area despite clouds and rain elsewhere. Being at altitude they also get more snow,
maybe a foot when other areas get 4", but I have seen it sunny there even in January. No one in Sequim would be suicidal because of the weather. Maybe because of the lack of jobs. Their RV is used in summer mostly, because of their age and not being as safe to drive it in winter. You will find that many of those RVs are used as guest cottages or even have people living in them. The only real problem with that area is getting there from Seattle (and back) during the summer, and worse on holiday weekends when the ferries are crowded with tourists along with (yes, it's true) people that drive to the ferry and take it to work in Seattle.