Moving back to WA: Coping w/ overcast

[helenawallanger]

I lived in California LA Silverlake and loved it however really nice areas in California with acreage at lest 10-20 is $1mil.

I just don't have that kind of money as of now.

Arizona is nice in the winter but I do not like desert because you have the low night time temps and high day time so your always feeling a bit uncomfortable.
If you like getting up in the morning and doing things outside I found it's to cold in the winter and to hot in the summer but all aside northern Nevada is the worst place you can imagine.

I want to move to central California coast but it's out of reach It only leaves sunny Sequim.
In the winter time it's sure are a lot of overcast days.
over 70% the Realtors will just tell you how little it rains but also it's a very small area that has the less than 15" rainfall.

I do ponder about the over cast I do think that the season that your uncomfortable is a lot smaller than other places excluding coastal California that is paradise.

[Oceangirl]

I live in sunny Sequim as they call it. It still gets grey days, long stints of it. And you have to live in Sequim proper from the downtown to the ocean side for the sun to hit you.. That is the sunniest. The rest is in the mountains and you lose the sun after about 4 in winter. It's like a long strip from Sequim to past Carlsborg where the sun shines.Snow is a definate and if you get a little higher up from Sequim you get snow, sometimes a lot and it is very difficult to get down the roads. We have to shovel 800 a length of feet of it on our driveway to get to the road,and it can get to 18 inches deep in 2 days. Amazing how a few hundred feet higher and you get a whole different climate. And don't live outside of Sequim because the sun definately becomes less and less. Winds are common and intense. Fog happens.
Sequim is destined for a water shortage problem unless the city puts in a system. The only water we get is from the mountains and more and more houses are being built here and the whole water table is being changed. It is dry here. And beautiful but not much to do in winter, summer it's hiking, biking and boating. No movie theaters in Sequim itself, the restaurants are here but close early and are not that grand.No bookstores, but lots of WalMart and HomeDepot types of shopping. Big chain stores. The Indian Casino that is so full of cigarette smoke I can't even enjoy the shows anymore there. And most folks are over 60. That is the average age here. Think slowed pace. But it is beautiful and there is wildlife all over. Cougar in the back yard? Get used to the idea. Deer everywhere and getting more and more on the road so be careful driving. They have nowhere to go now all the housing is here. Tons of building going on, we just got a huge set of 3 story apartments now available so affordable living has come to Sequim. Good luck.

[swsha4]

Originally Posted by Seattletony

I would hate for Seattle to have Phoenix/Vegas/So Cals climate. These areas have THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN THE COUNTRY I REPEAT THE WORSE AIR QUALITY IN THE COUNTRY. I find funny how no one ever mentions this when they talk weather. All they talk about is the 300 days of sun without mentioning poor air quality, and summers that last 180 days. Seattle/W. Washington and W. Oregon is the most beautiful region in the lower 48 time away has made appreciate this area more and more. So for all those rushing to the desert for smog, lack of culture, and heat have fun I'm happy right in the overcast where I can comfortably be out in it and not sweat like a pig and also be able to breathe clean fresh air

Amen Tony-- Couldn't agree with you more. i spent 35 years in Alaska where people can actually breath (even though the breath may freeze ), and moving to Seattle was a real treat. Warm weather and good fresh air, even in town. Moving to the Olympic in the spring and I am looking forward to more warm, fresh, moist weather!

[taralmt]

I just joined this website and I have to say I was so happy to read your message. We visited Washington in July and absolutely fell in love with it. It turned out after some persuing that my husband was offered a job transfer out there. Since we are from the Iowa/Illinois area I am scared to death about the bad weather remarks. Even though I can't stand the hot or the cold here I'm sooo nervous about what people say about the gloomy skies. We have 3 kids ages 5,12 and 18 who are all very outdoorsy. I hope we aren't making a mistake! Sorry I blabbed so long, it feels good to talk about it!

[larrykcragun]

You will find the weather much milder here. My daughter lives in Iowa City

[LMB]

I agree--it's much milder here than either Iowa or Illinois. I was born in Iowa, and then lived in central IL for over 40 years. We have cool summers and then cooler winters. Not bad at all. I'll take this kind of winter over the frigid midwest any day!

Good luck with your move!

Lynn