Possible move to Forks, WA in 5 years or so (Vancouver: crimes, income)

[lady fern]

Originally Posted by almondding

Sounds like Nirvana!!!! (Seriously - we LOOOOOOVE that weather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Is THAT the reason everyone says Forks is depressing??
Or is it "ghetto-ish" - ie unsafe?
As far as just weather that is PERFECT!
Is there ANY other place (SMALL town/rural - like Forks) that has that weather but is safe?
(unless the safety is not the issue...?)
(lack of employment & lack of amenities are non issues for us)
Thank you

If you stay in Western Washington, especially toward the coast you'll find plenty of wet, gray weather. There will be warm days in the summer, but they are inconsistent and temps can go from 80 to 50 in 24 hours.

[oldfisherman]

I have been to Forks WA many times over the past 30 years. We stay in Forks to fish out of LaPush, which is one of my favorite places to ocean fish out of. I also do not like the very limited accommodations in LaPush.

LaPush has the best ocean fishing in the NW, with a surprising large variety of fish species. Halibut limits are the norm. Salmon and many bottom fish species are caught within sight of the small town. I have even caught Albacore Tuna 20 miles out of the LaPush harbor.

I often thought I would retire to the Forks/LaPush area. When the time came, I looked deeper. What I found was an extremely high property crime rate. Break-ins are so common, and have been going on for so long, many are no longer reported. Locals expect to be broke-in to, and accept that lifestyle. It is not a safe area to leave a home un-attended.

Other small coastal towns also have very high crime rates. The Aberdeen-Hoquiam-Westport area is the armpit of the WA coast. Raymond is also bad, but better if you get out of town and into the country. The small area around Tokeland WA is nice with a very low crime rate. The local tribal police keep that area safe, including patrolling the non-tribal lands and roads. I believe the Tribal police have some agreement worked out with the county sheriff to cover that corner of the county.

Another area I like that has been mentioned is Newport OR., next to Depoe Bay. Both towns are good fishing destinations. Lincoln City is just up the road, and very nice, but touristy. Florence OR is another nice very popular retirement area.

Sequim WA is a popular retirement area, but way too crowded for my taste. Plus the fishing in that area is almost shut down.

My point is, there are good and bad areas along the WA-OR coast. Also, there are many different types of towns. Some are very touristy; others cater to fishing both sport and commercial, others towns are retirement villages. If you are after fishing, seasons and limits have been reduced everywhere, some areas more than others to the point of almost being shut down. Check out the latest fishing opportunities before committing to an area.

I like fishing and fishing towns, but your taste maybe different than mine. Spend time in the type of towns you like, not what other people like. There is something along the NW coast for everyone.

Have a fun adventure finding your retirement nesting area.

[bad apples]

Originally Posted by Olympian2

As someone who has spent some time in Forks, don't do it.

The novelty of hearing gunfire from the shooting range while loading groceries at the Thriftway wears off quickly.

While they have made some improvements at the new Bogachiel clinic, anything involving a specialist will just get you referred to Port Angeles.

There are actually wetter places to live than Forks, but why?

The comment about Forks making Aberdeen look good was spot on. Forks also makes Hoquiam look nice.

Look into the west side Olympia.

Yes Aberdeen is a dump. Riddled with drug use and strange people. Washingtonians even make fun of Aberdeen. Forks is a pretty area with a lot of outdoor stuff to do and the town is actually pretty nice, in a 1950's sort of way. Not much excitement and you will get some strange looks from locals but they aren't dangerous. You will have to travel to Port Angles for a lot of amenities but if you are looking for a quiet place to retire it might fit the bill.

[Truth11]

Forks is a financial vacuum...make sure you're able to sustain here otherwise you'll end up paying for gas with change or using an EBT card like most of the people here.

[jm31828]

I saw some comments about Forks being pretty. It really is not, not at all. Forks itself is a dumpy, run down town- and the area around it has been almost completely logged, so it is ugly. If you drive a half hour or so outside of Forks it is beautiful no doubt with the mountains, forests, and water- but in the immediate area of Forks itself it is not pretty. So opposite of what is portrayed in the Twilight movies.

[Truth11]

Most of the Twilight stuff was filmed in Oregon and BC anyway...

[elkotronics]

Driving south out of Forks it gets prettier, IIRC. Forks' surrounding area is beautiful - my wife and I lived there in 1983-84 for about a year. But the economy is vacuumous as has been stated. I had to seek work in Port Angeles and we had to move out of Forks.

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

Driving south out of Forks it gets prettier, IIRC. Forks' surrounding area is beautiful - my wife and I lived there in 1983-84 for about a year. But the economy is vacuumous as has been stated. I had to seek work in Port Angeles and we had to move out of Forks.

It's pretty barren outside of Forks also,unless you really like forest. The ocean isn't bad along the coast. Some of those that live in Forks to have to commute to places like Port Angeles for work,and now that's getting crowded so I'm seeing more of the jobs being advertised out of Sequim now...

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

You have to get up behind Forks, in the woods on the logging roads & forest service roads to see the beauty, & in most of those areas you need 4WD, especially in winter. But Forks itself...just a little, struggling former logging town.

Not much work anywhere on the Olympic Peninsula, but that's nothing new.

[elkotronics]

You have to get up behind Forks, in the woods on the logging roads & forest service roads to see the beauty, & in most of those areas you need 4WD, especially in winter. But Forks itself...just a little, struggling former logging town.


This is the truth. I worked with friends cutting shake bolts and tree thinning in the forest just east of Forks. At certain openings in the forest you could look eastward - especially at sunrise - gorgeous. One mountain that was high up I thought was Mt.Olympus - a good look at a large map of the Olympic Penisula revealed that the mountain I was looking at was really Mt.Carrie. What a beautiful part of the world to spend time in. I'll never forget its beauty.