Looking to Maybe move to washington...NEED INFO PLEASE

[dajam_fxdli]

Moving to WA. always sounds good. however the gray sky, that last for months at a time are really hard on some folks. The weather in Centrailia area is a bit different than Seattle, so be carefull about the weather information. Seattle has a convergent zone which cuases very inconsistant weather forecast...lol...

As far as the local area of Centrailia and Chehalis goes, A pretty nice area but jobs are scarce, at least higher paying one. They just shut dobw a big mine in the area and have flooded the market with job seekers.

I lived in the Grand Mound area for over three years and it was practically impossible to find a "living wage job". In the Olympia area, about 30 minutes north, where the capital is there are only state jobs. Not much else for good paying work.

However the housing market in Thurston and Lewis county is week right now, plenty of inventory to pick from.

If you want to know alot about an area I recommend calling the realtors in the area.

[musicaldogs]

I had a rough time in Everett, WA. Couldn't find work, contracted seasonal affective disorder, had a video camera stolen, had a bad landlady. Otherwise, most of Washington is beautiful, and if you have dogs, they have some of the best dog parks (with trails) going. The Puget Sound is also really amazing.

[missouricouple]

Thank you all for your info so far, very helpful

[cobolt]

I noticed you're from Rolla. I'm very familiar with that area as I have family there. Just be prepared for some adjustments and culture shock. Things move quickly here---fast-paced as compared to Rolla. You'll need to get used to traffic, unlike now where you have alot of that I-44 highway to yourself. The drivers here are very aggressive. People are a bit different---not as outgoing at first, a bit guarded and it may take a bit longer to make friends. Also be prepared for sticker shock in everything from your groceries, housing, utilities, car insurance, car registration etc. This is not SW MO. ANd finally, rain and clouds sound wonderful until you are dealing with them for about 9 months out of the year.

That being said, (it's wise to know what you're in for) do alot of research and maybe come up to visit once before moving. Washington is one of the most beautiful states you will see. Gorgeous mountains, the ocean, green, trees, lovely hiking, wineries, just simply incredible. You need to get on the road a few hours to get to some of these places, but that's what weekends are for.

Happy Trails
Cobolt

[stingray427]

I'm in the San Francisco Bay area and am looking for a much slower pace of life, with little or no traffic congestion, no long check out lines and a more affordable area perhaps where the quality of life might be even better at a lower cost. I'm curious to know the neighborhoods just south very close to the Canadian Border and areas like Custer and Whatcom County. From what I can see from the satellite maps is that these homes are very well apart and separated by trees. Lots of privacy and space. Does anyone here know if this area is a good area as far as crime goes and the prices of the homes there?
How is life there different than living in the San Francisco Bay area? What are the trade offs between the two different locations?
I understand that the State of Washington has no State income tax but has a very high property tax