Dry Climate Locations in WA w/ Legal Work (Spokane, Yakima: attorney, employment)

[kmarleee]

Hello all,

I'm planning a cross-country move from FL with my fiance, and we're narrowing down ideas. Washington state came up as a possibility.

Basically, we're looking for plenty to do outdoors (love hiking, biking, fishing, etc.) and legal work opportunities. He's an attorney and must re-take the bar exam before we move (so we'd have to select the state before taking the exam in Feb). We're also considering Idaho, Oregon and Montana.

I'd also like to find a place that has cool, dry weather and low-humidity. Areas with low pollution are also a major plus, as I have a health condition that affects my lungs.

I know WA is typically rainy, but are there any pockets that are cool and dry year-round?

Thanks in advance for suggestions!

[AK76]

East of the Cascade mountain range.

[StealthRabbit]

Wenatchee, WA area is a preference for me... diverse economy and great recreation region with decent services and close enough to We_tside for EZ access to coast / Puget Sound / airport.

[CrazyDonkey]

Criminal law? Walla Walla in Washington - state prison there. Also, center of Washington's wine industry, so could be opportunities in business/corporate law. Dry, low humidity.

In Oregon - La Grande, Pendleton?

[kmarleee]

Thanks all, appreciate the suggestions! Will look all these places up

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by kmarleee

We're also considering Idaho, Oregon and Montana.

Of these, the Boise region also meets your plenty to do outdoors, dry and low humidity requirements. It's high desert so it will get warm during the summer however.

Eastern OR (like the eastern WA recommendation above) is also dry but there is not as much of a population base in eastern OR vs. the western (I-5 corridor) side of the state, which might impact employment opportunities.

Montana is beautiful but the winters there can be brisk, especially as you are coming from Florida.

[PS90]

I think, in terms of Washington, I would look at Spokane. TONS to do outdoors, cooler than Yakima or Tri-Cities, and certainly drier than Western Washington. And would probably be your best chance of finding legal work easily in any part of the PNW that is dry (other than possibly Boise, that has already been mentioned).

[StealthRabbit]

Boise could have air quality issues (Ag production and airborne dust), Better check that out, Walla Walla may have similar during growing season (heavy AG).

Give Moscow, ID a look! NICE QoL area.

Missoula, and Columbia Falls, MT are nice choices too. (Bozeman 3rd, for larger western towns with recreation).

Look into Oregon jobs in legal field... but I would scratch it as an option. (State politics / Gov / funding / legislation / income tax / lots of petty rules and pursuits (OR trying to wannabe like CA).)

[kmarleee]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Boise could have air quality issues (Ag production and airborne dust), Better check that out, Walla Walla may have similar during growing season (heavy AG).

Give Moscow, ID a look! NICE QoL area.

Missoula, and Columbia Falls, MT are nice choices too. (Bozeman 3rd, for larger western towns with recreation).

Look into Oregon jobs in legal field... but I would scratch it as an option. (State politics / Gov / funding / legislation / income tax / lots of petty rules and pursuits (OR trying to wannabe like CA).)

Thanks StealthRabbit, very helpful! I have heard the agriculture production in Idaho could be an issue for my condition, so definitely something to consider. Moscow is a new suggestion, will look it up!

As far as Oregon, could you elaborate a little more on the state politics issues, etc? How do they affect quality of life?

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by kmarleee

Thanks StealthRabbit, very helpful! I have heard the agriculture production in Idaho could be an issue for my condition, so definitely something to consider. Moscow is a new suggestion, will look it up!

As far as Oregon, could you elaborate a little more on the state politics issues, etc? How do they affect quality of life?

Oregon is polarized (group think) and if you are political and MIGHT have a differing opinion, life can be miserable for you. They take their liberal leanings VERY serious and are very proud of their independence(how can you be independent and REQUIRED to think / act alike ). 2 - 3 counties in OR (and WA) control the vote of the state. No need / reason to campaign / spend in the other 30+ counties, their vote does not count anyway.

Income Tax free WA is great for your 'earning yrs'. Not as much of benefit when you retire / have low earnings.
There are many diverse areas in PNW, WA and MT are the easiest to 'fit-in'. ID can be polarized too (high population of active and retired military / Gov workers / and survivalists) Many CA conservatives (fire and police) retire to ID.

Usually PNW is pretty good about 'live and let live' and not being in your face. Oregon is not in your face as long as you are not confrontational (or even incline to ask question) to their social agenda. If you are happy in Bikenstocks and wool socks and can pretend to be an antique hippy you will be fine. WA and MT tolerate and encourage independent thinkers, but have their own issues in different ways... just ez to survive in either of those states without blatant aggression / conflict with friends and neighbors. .