Thinking of moving.

[swsha4]

Main thing to keep in mind is how diverse this state is! The fantastic Cascades right down the middle give us so many choices. Take the ocean side, the southeastern dessert or right up at the top of the mountains. Something for everyone!

[HeavenlyAngel]

If you also like a slower pace, the whole South Sound is also an option.
Centralia
Tumwater
Tenino
Olympia
Shelton
Yelm
Rainier
Lacey

Those are all nice places to live that often get overlooked. And if you have the "military people are bad" influence (which I can totally disagree with as it is 80% military here in Yelm and they are all great), you won't like it down in this area.

Whoever said Spokane is bad because of military.....
Ummm....The Puget Sound region as a whole has TONS more military than Spokane...
Bremerton (navy)
Bellingham (navy)
Seattle (navy)
Whidbey Island (navy)
Everett (navy)
Port Angeles (coast guard)
Seattle (coast guard)

Camp Murray-south of tacoma (National Guard)
Ft. Lewis-south of tacoma (army)
McChord-south of tacoma (air force)

Spokane (air force)

Statewide there are 65,615 military personnel in Washington State according to the American Forces News Services.

and Marine Corps are scattered among a few of the navy bases (from what I understand...not certain).


Now...military aside....Tri-Cities is also a beautiful place to live if you like heat. My SIL lives there and when we go to visit it is always very hot in the summer.

Washington state people tend to be more relaxed and friendly than in many states that I have visited. I don't go to downtown seattle often, but when I do, people are usually very courteous (I am not afraid to ask for directions from a stranger. I learned not to talk to anyone in LA unless you want to get yelled at..lol).

Anyway, that is my take on Washington. It is very different everywhere you go in this state. That is the beauty of it.

I am partial to the Olympia/Lacey/Yelm area because it is just a skip to go pretty much everywhere. Two hours to Paradise, Mt. Rainier....two hours to the Ocean....one hour to Tacoma or Lacey...I LOVE IT!

[spieker]

I live in Bellingham, which is about 17 miles from Canadian border in the Puget Sound Area. (north west) It rains a lot a lot a lot. I do not mind rain but every once in ahwile it does get to me. Like now, it has been rainy and overcast for over 30 days. And that's not a record. Very few fat or plump people here and there's an attitude about that. Kind of a granola head culture, kayaking and hiking is what most to many do. Sometimes it snows but usually not more than a couple of inches and it rarely stays. It is beautiful, you can't get around that. But for myself, I'm planning to move back to Wisconsin where I was born and raised. I've never really felt at home here. The people are outwardly friendly but it's really fake because it's hard to get beyond that. And I am a very friendly person.

[swsha4]

Spieker, I am so sorry you have had a bad experience here. I disagree with you about heavy people though. I don't think people discriminate against heavy people here, at least not in Seattle. In fact, I think people here are more careful about discriminating about anyone --- young, old, fat, thin, black, white, gay straight. They are very accepting here. I've not been her very long and I've made a lot of friends.

[Wonufakind]

I'm also debating moving to Washington this coming summer. My sister lives in Redmond, Wa but as I've looked into it, it is a very pricey place to live. I was hoping to live within an hour or two from her and be able to afford to rent or buy a condo somewhere between 150-250k. I'd love to buy a home but most of those places near are skyrocket high. I'm a teacher as well and I can't seem to find a salary schedule for the school districts. I'm single so I need to make sure I can afford expenses and such on my own. Does anyone know where I can get district salary schedules?

I'm currently in the central valley, CA so I'm very used to sunshine. However I think I can live with up to a 100 day so sunshine as long as I can get out to hiking, kayaking, mtn biking and snowboarding.

I like medium to small towns adore North Bend but think it's out of my price range. I also love Bellingham but it's quite a ways up North. So far those are my likes. Issaquah seems to be on the dumpier side though cheaper then the Seattle area. Any comments? I'd love them. Thanks!

[LAtoSeattleAnn]

North Bend is an awesome place to live. Close enough in to everything but rural and private enough to enjoy nature. No traffic, beautiful all year round. I love that it's small town enough to know and see people you know at the grocery store, park, post office, etc. It's a great place to raise a family too I think.

[Balco9]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyAngel

If you also like a slower pace, the whole South Sound is also an option.
Centralia
Tumwater
Tenino
Olympia
Shelton
Yelm
Rainier
Lacey

Those are all nice places to live that often get overlooked. And if you have the "military people are bad" influence (which I can totally disagree with as it is 80% military here in Yelm and they are all great), you won't like it down in this area.

Whoever said Spokane is bad because of military.....
Ummm....The Puget Sound region as a whole has TONS more military than Spokane...
Bremerton (navy)
Bellingham (navy)
Seattle (navy)
Whidbey Island (navy)
Everett (navy)
Port Angeles (coast guard)
Seattle (coast guard)

Camp Murray-south of tacoma (National Guard)
Ft. Lewis-south of tacoma (army)
McChord-south of tacoma (air force)

Spokane (air force)

Statewide there are 65,615 military personnel in Washington State according to the American Forces News Services.

and Marine Corps are scattered among a few of the navy bases (from what I understand...not certain).


Now...military aside....Tri-Cities is also a beautiful place to live if you like heat. My SIL lives there and when we go to visit it is always very hot in the summer.

Washington state people tend to be more relaxed and friendly than in many states that I have visited. I don't go to downtown seattle often, but when I do, people are usually very courteous (I am not afraid to ask for directions from a stranger. I learned not to talk to anyone in LA unless you want to get yelled at..lol).

Anyway, that is my take on Washington. It is very different everywhere you go in this state. That is the beauty of it.

I am partial to the Olympia/Lacey/Yelm area because it is just a skip to go pretty much everywhere. Two hours to Paradise, Mt. Rainier....two hours to the Ocean....one hour to Tacoma or Lacey...I LOVE IT!

It's Fairchild AFB in Spokane

[Balco9]

Originally Posted by Wonufakind

I'm also debating moving to Washington this coming summer. My sister lives in Redmond, Wa but as I've looked into it, it is a very pricey place to live. I was hoping to live within an hour or two from her and be able to afford to rent or buy a condo somewhere between 150-250k. I'd love to buy a home but most of those places near are skyrocket high. I'm a teacher as well and I can't seem to find a salary schedule for the school districts. I'm single so I need to make sure I can afford expenses and such on my own. Does anyone know where I can get district salary schedules?

I'm currently in the central valley, CA so I'm very used to sunshine. However I think I can live with up to a 100 day so sunshine as long as I can get out to hiking, kayaking, mtn biking and snowboarding.

I like medium to small towns adore North Bend but think it's out of my price range. I also love Bellingham but it's quite a ways up North. So far those are my likes. Issaquah seems to be on the dumpier side though cheaper then the Seattle area. Any comments? I'd love them. Thanks!

Issaquah is one of teh best places to live in western Washington....

[Balco9]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyAngel

If you also like a slower pace, the whole South Sound is also an option.
Centralia
Tumwater
Tenino
Olympia
Shelton
Yelm
Rainier
Lacey

Those are all nice places to live that often get overlooked. And if you have the "military people are bad" influence (which I can totally disagree with as it is 80% military here in Yelm and they are all great), you won't like it down in this area.

Whoever said Spokane is bad because of military.....
Ummm....The Puget Sound region as a whole has TONS more military than Spokane...
Bremerton (navy)
Bellingham (navy)
Seattle (navy)
Whidbey Island (navy)
Everett (navy)
Port Angeles (coast guard)
Seattle (coast guard)

Camp Murray-south of tacoma (National Guard)
Ft. Lewis-south of tacoma (army)
McChord-south of tacoma (air force)

Spokane (air force)

Statewide there are 65,615 military personnel in Washington State according to the American Forces News Services.

and Marine Corps (Marines) you mean.....are scattered among a few of the navy bases (from what I understand...not certain).


Now...military aside....Tri-Cities is also a beautiful place to live if you like heat. My SIL lives there and when we go to visit it is always very hot in the summer.

Washington state people tend to be more relaxed and friendly than in many states that I have visited. I don't go to downtown seattle often, but when I do, people are usually very courteous (I am not afraid to ask for directions from a stranger. I learned not to talk to anyone in LA unless you want to get yelled at..lol).

Anyway, that is my take on Washington. It is very different everywhere you go in this state. That is the beauty of it.

I am partial to the Olympia/Lacey/Yelm area because it is just a skip to go pretty much everywhere. Two hours to Paradise, Mt. Rainier....two hours to the Ocean....one hour to Tacoma or Lacey...I LOVE IT!

Olympia is only 25 minutes to Tacoma, non-traffic

[MichaelinWA]

Issaquah is affluent and desirable - definitely not dumpy. Perhaps you're confusing it with another town?

Originally Posted by Wonufakind

Issaquah seems to be on the dumpier side though cheaper then the Seattle area.