Can a down-to-earth, yoga-loving & nature-loving conservative woman feel at home in Sequim or Port Townsend, WA? (Seattle: rent, co-op)

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Kitty Yoga

Thank you so much! Are there any other cute rural-ish cities in Western Washington state that we should consider? And politics are just one of many factors - equally important to us is the "cuteness" factor, proximity to exploring natural beauty, maybe a cute coffee shop and quaint shopping area, hobby farms, and clients interested in my yoga classes?

Yes. First of all, PT T is "cute", and has more going on in terms of entertainment, though Sequim is cheaper. But in terms of other places to check out, look at Poulsbo on the Kitsap Peninsula.

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Yes. First of all, PT T is "cute", and has more going on in terms of entertainment, though Sequim is cheaper. But in terms of other places to check out, look at Poulsbo on the Kitsap Peninsula.

I agree with Ruth that Poulsbo might be what you are looking for. It's cute, quaint, bigger population for your yoga classes, less isolated (closer to Edmonds ferry to get to the mainland) and still good for gardening and growing whatever you'd like.

[mayfair]

If you want a conservative farming town, also check out Stanwood, WA. It is a small free-standing town with a kind of cute historic downtown and close to Camano Island for beautiful hiking and nature. It's one of the last true small towns in the area that hasn't succumbed to sprawl. There is a farmer's market in summer and tons of small, local farms from raw milk to produce. There are tons of hobby farmers in the area because it was one of the last affordable places relatively commutable to Seattle.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by mayfair

If you want a conservative farming town, also check out Stanwood, WA. It is a small free-standing town with a kind of cute historic downtown and close to Camano Island for beautiful hiking and nature. It's one of the last true small towns in the area that hasn't succumbed to sprawl. There is a farmer's market in summer and tons of small, local farms from raw milk to produce. There are tons of hobby farmers in the area because it was one of the last affordable places relatively commutable to Seattle.

Agreed.

Other thoughts: Anacortes area might work. Washington Park is one of our favorite places.

Work from home? San Juan Islands could tick the boxes.

Coupeville and Langley on Whidbey also came to my mind but you'd have to deal with Growler noise from the NAS in Oak Harbor.

Lots of good choices for the OP!

[ScottStielow]

A lot of good information has been put out. The most important is to visit the area's mentioned and what your requirements are. This way you will get the feel of the area. Pretend to live there, helps to see if you will like, also visit during winter to get the weather you will have up to 8 months a year.
Good luck in your planning.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by mayfair

I agree with Ruth that Poulsbo might be what you are looking for. It's cute, quaint, bigger population for your yoga classes, less isolated (closer to Edmonds ferry to get to the mainland) and still good for gardening and growing whatever you'd like.

Poulsbo is also former farm country (you mentioned farms, OP), so from time to time, old farmhouses come up for rent. Some have been landscaped with wonderful gardens on large lots.

There may still be working farms in the area; maybe someone else here would know about that. Around Port T, there's a lot of interest in organic farming, and new people are coming into the area and buying old, defunct farmland, too. I don't know what the trends are around Poulsbo.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by Kitty Yoga

Thank you! What are your thoughts about Sequim versus Port Townsend?

Sequim is more conservative than PT. PT is a sanctuary city and Sequim is not. Sequim get less rain than PT and is closer to the Mountains if that is what you like. Sequim has a good shopping district which PT doesn't (not even close) If you like used books or glass blowing shops your shopping is limited. Sequim has a better health care system by far. If you want anything in PT you would probably have to go some where else to get it (Sequim or Silverdale). PT housing is more expensive if you can find anything. PT property taxes are higher to pay for the pie in the sky the city council piles on their citizens. Pot smoking is big in PT. Parking in the downtown area is almost impossible in the summer. Most of the PT business are operated as a hobby to the owners.

As a Conservative women you would be more comfortable in the Sequim area.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by rantiquity

Sequim is more conservative than PT. PT is a sanctuary city and Sequim is not. Sequim get less rain than PT and is closer to the Mountains if that is what you like. Sequim has a good shopping district which PT doesn't (not even close) If you like used books or glass blowing shops your shopping is limited. Sequim has a better health care system by far. If you want anything in PT you would probably have to go some where else to get it (Sequim or Silverdale). PT housing is more expensive if you can find anything. PT property taxes are higher to pay for the pie in the sky the city council piles on their citizens. Pot smoking is big in PT. Parking in the downtown area is almost impossible in the summer. Most of the PT business are operated as a hobby to the owners.

As a Conservative women you would be more comfortable in the Sequim area.

Having stayed in Pt T for weeks at a time, I only want to say, that the "pot smoking is big in Pt T" statement is very relative. Amsterdam, it isn't. I didn't observe any pot-smoking on my visits there, none of my friends are into that, it's generally not observable in the streets. Pt T does have its own specialty shops; a local creamery has a fantastic specialty-cheeses shop, there are craft stores (it's a tourist town), and so on. You'd think it would be a prime location for a used bookstore, but I guess not. I think I mentioned the town's busy festival schedule in another post.

OP, I encourage you to visit both, along with other towns suggested here (Poulsbo, etc.), to see which feels/looks like a better fit to you.

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Having stayed in Pt T for weeks at a time, I only want to say, that the "pot smoking is big in Pt T" statement is very relative. Amsterdam, it isn't. I didn't observe any pot-smoking on my visits there, none of my friends are into that, it's generally not observable in the streets. Pt T does have its own specialty shops; a local creamery has a fantastic specialty-cheeses shop, there are craft stores (it's a tourist town), and so on. You'd think it would be a prime location for a used bookstore, but I guess not. I think I mentioned the town's busy festival schedule in another post.

OP, I encourage you to visit both, along with other towns suggested here (Poulsbo, etc.), to see which feels/looks like a better fit to you.

PT had at least three used bookstores when I lived there. Don’t know if they all still exist. The county library system is excellent.

Pot smoking in public was common. I frequently got whiffs (or worse) of it while walking around town. It most certainly was observable in the streets and on the trails, and I was not just a visitor seeing snapshots in time. The smoke was every bit as repellent as tobacco smoke in a publc area. Smoke is smoke.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by pikabike

PT had at least three used bookstores when I lived there. Don’t know if they all still exist. The county library system is excellent.

Pot smoking in public was common. I frequently got whiffs (or worse) of it while walking around town. It most certainly was observable in the streets and on the trails, and I was not just a visitor seeing snapshots in time. The smoke was every bit as repellent as tobacco smoke in a publc area. Smoke is smoke.

I remember someone posting, that it's noticeable more in the late fall/winter, i.e. after tourist season's over. I was there last in the fall, and didn't notice/smell anything, but definitely it would be annoying to have that around. And yes, I used the library when I was there, and was impressed.