Any Place Outside Of Seattle or Vancouver Is. For Isolated Living (Everett: for sale, rent)

[lone eagle]

I would like to live in Washington but in an area that I can be left alone.

I'm a black female, no kids, don't want to bother any one just want to

be alone/away. Are there any places outside of Seattle or maybe

Vancouver Is.? How about Olympia? Nothing close to a skinhead

camp. Maybe I should try Alaska

[allforcats]

Hi. In Washington state, there are many, many locations in the mountains that are isolated, up and down the length of the Cascade Mountains. All of those locations are not likely to have any utilities at all available, and winters can be cold and extremely snowy. All of those locations would be within rational driving distance of resources, such as groceries and medical services. In eastern Washington which is much larger and much less populated than western Washington, isolated areas in the lowlands would be available. There is very little isolation in the lowlands in western Washington, except perhaps in the very southern part of the state in the mountain foothills.

Vancouver Island is in Canada, so you might want to ask on the Canada forum, although I believe there are no isolated areas on Vancouver Island.

Olympia is the capital of Washington state; near Olympia there would be no isolation. However, again, in the mountains you could find isolated locations.

Alaska is mostly isolation. Most of the year, it has weather that's close to impossible to endure if you're not acclimated, not the romantic picture we see in movies and TV shows, and in the brief summer the air in most areas is filled with mosquitoes and other flying insects in their brief, intense life span. In truly isolated locations there are pretty frequent occurrences of encounters with extremely dangerous bears, wolves and moose. Isolated living in Alaska requires stunning survival skills. You might want to ask your questions on the Alaska forum.

I hope this quick survey helps you.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by lone eagle

... Maybe I should try Alaska

This is what I recommend for your desires.
There are plenty of semi remote areas in WA, but not anything like AK.

Vancouver Island also has great expanses of remote, Especially the west side, and quite a few islands. The property and food expense is greater than AK + you may have some citizenship issues to deal with.

[j_k_k]

I would pick some little place near enough to the Puget Sound metro area that people there have seen a black person before, but far enough out that you can live a rural life. I'd stay the heck away from eastern Washington, not because it's a skinhead camp (those days seem pretty well over) but because a lot of the small towns you'd have to go shop in would get you stared at, and you just don't need that. And I know a bit about this, because I lived next to the only black family in a small eastern Washington town in my high school days. They didn't get significant trouble (probably because a lot of the men around town might have to work for my neighbor), but it can't have been comfortable. I'll never forget the time the kids tried to paint themselves white. That left a pretty deep impression on me.

Your best bet might be one of the growing communities on the peninsula, where enough outsiders have moved to the area that you'd be less of a novelty.

Another option would be someplace in the country outside Pasco. Of the Tri-Cities, Pasco is the only one where black people are not fairly rare. And it's a nice enough town overall; it carries a lunchpail rough rep now that is outdated and really undeserved. I live in Tri-Cities so I'm going by what I see. Kennewick and Richland have had racial issues in the past and are busily attempting to pretend they never happened. Unfortunately, they are stuck with me, and I keep using the words 'sundown town' every chance I get.

[Woof]

Are you planning on camping? You said not in a skinhead camp. But you'd need to be by a grocery store, maybe a drug store.

It would be pretty miserable camping out in Washington during the coming wet season (and snowy to the east of Seattle). Northern and Central California weather is somewhat milder, and there are more wilderness areas with small towns here.

We don't have skinhead camps here, they're Rainbow clans.

[Idunn]

You might try Silverton, WA:
Cabins for rent in Silverton Washington - Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, WA State, outdoor recreation, hiking, fishing, camping.
Just head to Granite Falls, WA, then take the Mountain Loop Road about 20 miles or so through Verlot, WA to Silverton. For all intents and purposes it is near the end of a dead end road, although presumably you could make a loop of it in summer. Not much beyond Granite Falls you may encounter snow come winter. There isn't much in Silverton (perhaps part of the charm) beyond a few small houses, a river, and LOTS of forest. I found it kind of quaint but didn't remain long enough to determine if the locals were friendly or not. Didn't see any about. If they are to your taste chances are you'll have all the privacy you want. Obviously not a lot of options in lodging there, but you might make a deal. The closest grocery or other services of any note probably Granite Falls, and if that not to your taste or you wish more anonymity you can drive on into Everett, WA or somewhere else closer to I-5. It is a pretty place, and most assuredly remote.

Your best option for being left alone but still fairly close to services is to have money. A lot would help. Although not always possible (at least not in a moment, or when we might like, or believe we can). But if you did western Washington could be your oyster. You might, perchance, locate some charming abode on Vashon island with enough yard that the neighbors didn't even know you were there or existed. And aside from such amenities as the island offers, also the option of relatively good ferry access directly into Seattle, WA proper.

If you were referring to Olympia, WA, then real privacy there probably falls into the same category as that above: you need serious money. But otherwise most locals probably happy to leave you alone. But if you want real privacy think more to the northwest of that, as in Olympic National Park and surrounding vicinity. One could get seriously lost there. If on a budget you certainly could, but more or less camping out could get very wet and soggy. Not to mention potentially a very long way from any services (people) or help if need be.

Or you could compromise and live near one of the small towns on the peninsula, perchance in the right location with the entire Park as your backyard. But finding just the right spot might be a trick, both in cost and access to the Park or where you want to be when not home. Some points of access into the Park are summer only unless you have skis or something. Unless you are within the Park itself the problem here is gaining ready access to it. Port Angeles, WA would be best in this respect, but possibly the town and Hurricane Ridge too public for you. If you could find some type of accommodation near the Hoh Rain Forest that might be ideal; you could probably easily disappear. Logistically a bit difficult as it is very remote, and the closest town, Forks, WA, the kind of place you might not be too thrilled with.

Truly, you pose such an intriguing question. Many others surely seeking much the same, only in measure of that they really value and can or cannot do without. Proximity to jobs, schools, services, (and even other people), often key. You could probably be left well enough alone in a quiet room, and cities often afford anonymity. Seattle surely one of the more tolerant in America. But if you must have a yard, then the question comes down to size. Something with trees and large enough you don't see the neighbors? Maybe larger and not hear them? Or perhaps more expansive, to where you can spend days at a time and many miles without interruption?

Another idea might be the San Juan Islands. Cost and proximity to job and major services would be a factor. And certain spots may feel too crowded, although others surely quite liberating.

And since you mentioned it, Vancouver Island would surely offer all that you seek. But beyond 6 months and you'll have to convince the Canadian authorities why they should let you stay. Otherwise disappear so they can't ask.

And since we're exploring options, you just might check out Bowen Island, BC. It lies fairly close but ever so far from Vancouver, BC, just to the northwest, just across an arm of the sea from what I suppose is the western terminus of Maple Leaf 1 (highway that is). Here is a link to one site:
Bowen Island, British Columbia: BC CANADA
Certainly appears lovely enough. And my suspicion, if not yet proven, that you might become suitably lost there, yet perhaps found in the company of some locals you might really like.

All the best.

[M3 Mitch]

There are plenty of rural properties available in Eastern Washington, mostly for sale, some for rent. Also have the advantage of a sunny, warm summer.