The fear of relocating? (Olympia, Wenatchee: home, place to live, moving to)

[MechAndy]

I hope I am understanding your post.
Me?
I am honestly scared sh_tless to make hopefully our last move.
I mean it is a big jump for us.
Our Danville Ca house has been our home for 36 years.
We absolutely love it.
We raised our kids here.
Coached sports for near 10 years
We are colder people by nature.
I grew up in West Germany.
The wifey is a Canadian.
These 105f degree temperatures are killing us.
When I built my house I had a 1,200sqft garage built as part of the construction.
It slopes 6 inches at 30 feet.
I did that so I could wash my rides in the shade.

Fast forward,
We bought a cool ass place on the Oly Penn near a year ago.
It has a couple acres and a couple of houses on it.

I am still scared sh_tless.
Our kids pets absolutely ruined are CA furniture.
Our WA furniture is brand new so I am not gonna buy and new stuff for CA.
Furniture good furniture costs a lot of money so we are gonna suck it up for 2 years.
When we leave CA our moving truck will be small.
Gonna throw crap out.
Tools and hot rods are a different thing though.

For us I think we need to keep our main CA property and see how it goes before we can’t go back.
There is a Danville joke here.
It says once you sell your place you have a one way ticket out of town.

Me I am so afraid that if I die or if my wife dies I won’t get to see my future grand kids any time soon.
So yeas this scares the **** out of me.
Andy

[Taz22]

Originally Posted by mayfair

There are some great people around Washington, and it's always nice to meet them. Some people travel or move around and get a more open view of the world.

This is true, I’ve met decent people up here, and those who travel do have a broader prospective. Next time, I’ll ask my farrier about his travel experiences, since he is hands down the most outgoing and friendly person I’ve met here in over two years.

Newbies like the OP just need to be aware that pockets in Wa can be closed off, for lack of a better word.

[StealthRabbit]

For CA immigrants to WA...
Keep a prop 13 benefit incase you need / desire to go back.

the 'smart' ones of 50% of my co-workers who came from CA to WA, CO, and OR for transfers... kept their Prop 13 status and are now happily retired in CA. Some retained 'seasonal homes in WA, CO, OR. When the health goes south, they stay south (as a general rule).

Danville... I would keep Prop 13 status there. It is a decent option for retirement in CA.
You might want to KNOW what you want in future (if something different), and be hunting for a decent time to swap.

I want: multi living space, HUGE shop (like my neighbor's 120'x240'x 22' eaves), on a paved road.QUIET (no barking neighbor dogs or dirt bikes.). 20 min to well serviced town max (parts, and venues and great library, medical, and several colleges).

I have not bought NEW furniture since 1980, Don't plan to start now. My pets / farm dogs / cats have never set foot in the house, nor desire to do so. Suits me and my furniture (like new, as I don't use it except for holidays (no TV to watch).) Reading chair / bedroom set...? I built that from my WA forest wood. It is not showing any wear in the last 30 yrs... only 40 more to go.

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by Taz22

Newbies like the OP just need to be aware that pockets in Wa can be closed off, for lack of a better word.

Definitely!

[MechAndy]

I must be a recluse.
One of the main reasons for us to relocate the the pnw is solitude and the weather.
Please call first before you walk down our driveway.
I dig the freeze.
Thanks.
Andy.

Btw exchanging greetings at the local shops is cool but more is kinds stretching it 😊.

[MechAndy]

Hi ya StealthRabbit,
I dig what you are saying.

I have said this stupid joke before here but I’m gonna say it again.
Once you sell your only Danville property you have just earned a one way ticket out of town.
It’s just that simple.

We own several decent properties.
2 of which are in Danville.

I can’t and probably won’t sell any of these.

If I or my wife dies we will want to spend close time to our future grandkids.
Our Danville house will supply our needs and is cheap in the big picture.

And then there is the nasty fact of mutual funds with dividends that clowd things.
Yup!
There is that.

Nothing good is easy.

Thank you.
Andy.

[Returning2USA]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

When did you leave PNW? (how long ago?)
Where would you choose to return?

I left in 1997 for the East Coast and in 2000 went overseas. I've overseas ever since but visit the Seattle area twice a year, usually for a month at at time.

Where would I return?

This is now more complicated b/c of the cost of living having risen over the last few years.

Somewhere around the Tacoma area is my choice.

There is a lot of 'in-flow' of post age 50's, so it can be socially acceptable / reasonable to return (to some areas of PNW).

OK.

In the US people of different generations don't hang out or becomes friends as much as where I am. I have friends in their 20 to 70s.

I would suspect our we_tside county is over 50% 'new-comers / transplants' in the over age 50 crowd.Just volunteer in your desired venues / interests / community and you will find plenty of social contacts.
Attend adult community ed classes
Join community sports and hiking / gardening / art groups
There is still 'welcome wagon' hosts and events.

Thanks.

Yes, I've read of these types of things and events in other threads.

Not to be negative, but Western Wash is not very interesting socially (as I noted before).

Where I live now I go out 7 nights a week and this does not necessarily mean drinking.
If I want to stay home and do my reading, learn a language or chill out I do, but I'm usually out.

Also, dating women in their 20s and 30s casually or seriously is very common and here so the adjustment back to the US may (or may not be) difficult. I am familiar with the lifestyle of Western Washington. Reverse culture shock may set in. I experience it in 2003 when I was back for about 8 months or so.

Anyway, there reason why I'm posting on this thread (not trying to hi-jack it) is that part of my job was outsourced and the company is running a test pilot on technology that may eventually do our jobs.

We shall see.

Either way, I can survive and even prosper.

We always have to be prepared for change, IMO.

[formerbear]

Which county is the best of the three. Okanogan, Chelan or Douglas? I know they will all have good and bad points, but as far as quality living?

[razmatazzy]

Originally Posted by formerbear

Which county is the best of the three. Okanogan, Chelan or Douglas? I know they will all have good and bad points, but as far as quality living?

Wenatchee (chelan county) and East Wenatchee (douglas county) there is little difference. They both have cheap irrigation water for outdoor watering, and very cheap electric rates. They have some shared services.

[formerbear]

Oh wow. I didnt know they were in different counties. Cant wait to get over there and learn more about the area. Heading over Tuesday. Foing to look from Wenatchee to Omak and surrounding areas. Thanks everyone for all the input.