Navy Veteran and social worker interested in moving to western Washington (Seattle: 2015, apartments)

[Meganb8787]

Hi there!
My husband and I recently visited Washington and Oregon and we absolutely fell in love with Washington and are considering moving from Southern California. The husband has a bachelor's degree in audio engineering and is a electronic technician at a civilian contracting company fixing electronic equipment. He would love to get back into the music industry but we are unsure of what job opportunities may be available or where to look. His expertise is in mixing the sound for live shows and in music recording and production. He's fine with working in electronics if there are no music jobs available but we are concerned about finding employment in general. I'm wondering which areas of Washington would be best to look. I'm currently finishing my masters in social work and will have an LCSW license before we intend to move. Anyone know what it takes to transfer my license and how much I can expect to make?

Currently we pay $1800 for a 2 bed/2 bath 900 sqft condo we would like to stay within that range. What we like about Washington is the hiking, puget sound, the trees, the music culture. We love Seattle and Tacoma but are not set on living there. Ideally we would like to live in a suburb close to a city. We just want to settle down somewhere to start a family and career with less traffic and more fresh air. Thanks in advance!

[Diana Holbrook]

Traffic around Seattle and Tacoma is a real consideration, FWIW... no one moves to the suburbs around either one to get away from bad traffic, unless perhaps they're from LA.

When you visited the area recently, where did you visit? What kinds of places would you like to work? And did you notice the traffic and density and air quality and weather when you were here?

[StealthRabbit]

Advice.... look into working at Resil (WA vets home) It is Great..., located. Next to Port Orchard / Bremerton. Close enough to Seattle and Tacoma if you need. Far enough away to be pleasant and affordable...

Harrison Hospital is also great for care or jobs. (Bremerton)

College nearby, good home school network, plenty of military!
Can easily vacation in Olympic National Park, Canada, coast,

[Meganb8787]

We visited Seattle, Tacoma, and went hiking around the area. I currently intern at a non-profit company providing individual therapy to children. I'd love to continue working with kids and my degree is very versatile I can do anything from medical SW to child protection to private practice. I'm not set on anything specific. Traffic was hardly to guage since we went during the summer and only spent time at tourist areas. It didn't seem that bad but I wasn't there long enough to have a sense of how it might be to live there. As far as the air quality, of course I noticed that! It's fantastic. The weather will likely be a drag but I'm hoping we will adapt and learn to appreciate all 4 seasons rather than just the one we get her. Lol I've always loved the rain though.

[Meganb8787]

Thank you so much! I will look into it.

[CrazyDonkey]

Plenty of 2bd/2ba apartments within your budget - the question is whether you can get the income to qualify. Urban areas are often better than suburbs around here, so don't shy away from the Northend of Tacoma, for instance.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

There is no LCSW reciprocity in Washington. You have to start over.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by MarciaMarshaMarcia

There is no LCSW reciprocity in Washington. You have to start over.

https://www.socialworkguide.org/licensure/washington/

The Washington Health Department does not offer any formal reciprocity with any other states, but the Department has an associate license that social workers who have been licensed in other states may apply for. Social workers can apply for licensure as an associate-advanced social worker or an associate-independent clinical social worker. To apply, candidates must have a master’s or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and possess a valid social worker license (or clinical social worker license) from another state. Furthermore, associate social worker applicants must take four hours of HIV/AIDS training as all other licensed social workers in the state. The application fee for associate social workers (advanced and independent clinical) was $50 as of October 2015.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

https://www.socialworkguide.org/licensure/washington/

Not the same.

[Neerwhal]

Originally Posted by MarciaMarshaMarcia

Not the same.

OP is an intern, however, and has time to build up her career.

Traffic was hardly to guage since we went during the summer and only spent time at tourist areas. It didn't seem that bad but I wasn't there long enough to have a sense of how it might be to live there.

If you didn't mind the traffic in touristy areas in the summer you will probably be okay. YOu're from SoCal, the traffic there isn't a picnic either. It's still west coast, under-transported, still growing.

Seattle's growing quickly. Tacoma is up and coming and now's a great time to get in. I love Tacoma, actually, and Portland. South Seattle and Renton have some great areas to consider for a young family as well.

Honestly, as someone who lived for a short period in SoCal and hated it, and whose parents left that area decades ago, I am so glad I live here now, and as long as you can come, I think you should. It's not California. There's no LA equivalent. THere's no SF equivalent. It is what it is and you'll have to accept the rain for what it is, a beautiful fountain that keeps us green, but if you can do that, you'll be fine.

Oh, and the gray... here's the thing. Summer days are lonnnng. You can grill at 9:30 and be outside eating until 11.

Winter days are hard. I bike home and have to leave by 4 at the latest.

But I love it.