Bellingham, the ugly truth.... (Maple Falls, Deming: crimes, cheap house, minimum wage)

[Ashley Wilis]

hi,
I am too small to give you any suggestions, but I really think you should see the other side, and be positive in life, all I believe is always have faith in God, He is just testing you, and soon give you happiness in some way or other.

Thanks keep smiling

[E Roy Slade]

Originally Posted by DraGunn

I am glad I've spent nearly 3 hours reading all the posts here on B-ham! A friend who's just turned 18 has wanted to move there for a couple of years. She knows nobody there, and has asked me to move up there with her. I'm 56, and look at her as another daughter, amd being sick of where I'm at, plus having no commitments to anyone but myself now, I've agreed. My own daughter is happy living here, is engaged, so she's content to be here. The only reason I'm here was for her, and now she's engaged, I feel I can finally move on to where I want to live..in the mountainous areas of the Pacific Northwest. I've work full time for a nation-wide retail store, and I barely make $22,000 a year, and am not even close to retirement, even if I could afford to ever do so. Unlike most of the people I know, I rent, and I will never afford a house, so buying in the B-ham area isnt an option for me. Yes, I am one of "those People"...a Californian...I live in Central CA, where daily shootings/drive-bys occur, where in a recent move someone broke into the rental house we were leaving, and stole a few thousand dollars of stuff, where one day as I was driving to work, there was a guy sitting under a tree "shooting up", and that was about 5 houses from the house...I wish I could take my 7 year old grandson with me when I move, but I cant.
I had lived in Southern Oregon for a year, and yes, was made to feel unwelcome at the beginning, but when people got to kow me, they found out I'm not the typical person from CA, and were sad when I chose to move back (I moved back for love...stupid me, it didnt last)
My friend is a Christain, I am Pagan, she's young and spirited, I am old, overweight (yes, I died my grey hair brown too, tho am letting the grey take over now) All I really want is to make and sell my beaded jewelry, (no it's NOT turqouise!!) have a quiet life, have a garden (tho unfortunately not possible in apt living) take the bus or walk (truck engine blew in Dec, signed it over to daughter)
Seeing all the positives/negatives in these posts has me wondering if we really should aim for B-ham or elsewheres...she'll fit in, but dont think the locals will accept me...
Not looking forwards to another day of blistering 108 temps with humidity, and loving rain and snow and an actual change of seasons would be very refreshing....
Oh, and btw, Charleecrat, tell your hubby there are no more grunions on the beaches When I was married and lived in Ventura Co, we saw the rapid decline of the silvery ones...

you might like bellinghm i guess

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by E Roy Slade

you might like bellinghm i guess

Bellingham might be too crowded for me.

[Ostara_Ishtari]

It's very interesting to see the different perspectives of crowded, traffic, crime... when coming from Southern California and seeing the wonders of the PNW, it's a vast improvement on all accounts. My little suburban town of Moorpark is about 40k people. The two surrounding towns that I travel to often and work out of, are 100k-175k in population. I travel through LA almost weekly to visit friends in Orange County and traffic can delay me anywhere from 30 minutes to an extra hour and a half longer than no traffic at all. I might hear about crime once a year in my town, but I know it happens more frequently than that. It just isn't a problem here.

I'm quite eager to spend some time there in a few weeks.

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by Ostara_Ishtari

It's very interesting to see the different perspectives of crowded, traffic, crime... when coming from Southern California and seeing the wonders of the PNW, it's a vast improvement on all accounts. My little suburban town of Moorpark is about 40k people. The two surrounding towns that I travel to often and work out of, are 100k-175k in population. I travel through LA almost weekly to visit friends in Orange County and traffic can delay me anywhere from 30 minutes to an extra hour and a half longer than no traffic at all. I might hear about crime once a year in my town, but I know it happens more frequently than that. It just isn't a problem here.

I'm quite eager to spend some time there in a few weeks.

Southern CA has flooding, fires, earthquakes lots of natural diasters and riots.

[Ostara_Ishtari]

Originally Posted by stingray427

Southern CA has flooding, fires, earthquakes lots of natural diasters and riots.

Haha, yea, but it's not that bad. How often, if ever, do you guys get more than just a tsunami warning?

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by Ostara_Ishtari

Haha, yea, but it's not that bad. How often, if ever, do you guys get more than just a tsunami warning?

Whenever there is an earthquake.

[ceddie80]

Has any one lived in southern california (more specifically San Diego) in the past and currently in Bellingham? If so, how does living in Bellingham compare to socal? Was sunshine ever a factor? Got job offers in both San Diego and Bellingham, need to make decision real soon... love both places for different reasons, but SD is SSOOO expensive - the so called "sunshine tax" is SOOO expensive. Thanks for the input in advance

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by ceddie80

Has any one lived in southern california (more specifically San Diego) in the past and currently in Bellingham? If so, how does living in Bellingham compare to socal? Was sunshine ever a factor? Got job offers in both San Diego and Bellingham, need to make decision real soon... love both places for different reasons, but SD is SSOOO expensive - the so called "sunshine tax" is SOOO expensive. Thanks for the input in advance

I would think twice before coming back to the Republik of kalifornia. Everything here you will pay the most for and get the least amount of service. Our roads are terrible in bad need of repair and congested. Freeways are cluttered with debris like furniture, sheetrock, wood, mattresses etc. Enough to do some damage to your car and your passengers.
You will find that there are some of the most stupid laws here and sneaky fees for the government to get more $$$ out of your pocket.

[christopher peterson]

it is now 11-17-10 i am looking for a fresh start and relocate looking for employment in bellingham, my background is in mechanical engineering, equipment sales, and construction. i would enjoy any feedback on job opertunities, housing etc.