Anyone else in Washington? (Spokane, Vancouver: house, to buy, university)

[jgw1283]

first of all, to those considering Bellingham and Blaine from Socal, they couldnt be more different. Blaine is lame. Bellingham is just an environmentalist/hippie college town. The ONLY area I would advise you to check out is the Eastside. Bellevue and Kirkland etc. They are clean safe and quiet, yet close to the action in Seattle and theres plenty of green.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by domesengr

Hi, I live in the foothills of central California. My family and I are planning on moving to the Olympia area within the next 6 months. We are looking for affordable (yet nice) housing on 1 to 5 acres of land, good schools, friendly people, shopping within 15 minutes, and lots of greenery. My husband is focusing his job search in Olympia and Tumwater and can handle a commute of up to 45 minutes. We found a home in Montesano that sounds very appealing. Does anyone have any feedback on the Montesano area? Or perhaps a suggestion of a better area... Thanks!

Beautiful city, but also the most overpriced in the county. Best schools in the area. Try looking in Cosmopolis as well, or for the nicest homes (on less land), the Aberdeen hills. Very similar atmospheres.

BTW, I moved to the WA coast last year from Nor Cal. Best thing I could have ever done for my family and I.

[johnnie]

I live in Nooksack Washington

[johnnie]

Bellingham is a beautiful, laid back (what's wrong with hippies anyway?) scenic city.

[routaibt]

We've been looking into the pennisula area. I haven't seen one post about this area, what's wrong with it? When we were there a few years ago, we fell in love with Sequim, Port Townsend, Port Angeles and the Ho rain forrest. Supposibly, the weather there is the closest to So Cal of all of WA. Being from So Cal, we were drawn to the small town atmosphere of this area for a change in retirement. Got to get out of So Cal! We have relatives in Snohomish and Camano Isd.

[Quantum]

Originally Posted by jgw1283

Bellingham is just an environmentalist/hippie college town. The ONLY area I would advise you to check out is the Eastside. Bellevue and Kirkland etc.

Boy, you sure told us who you are with that one.

Bellevue and Kirkland are going to be more upscale urban. (and Republican) Traffic is unbearable to downtown Seattle.

[pangaea]

bellingham represent

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by routaibt

We've been looking into the pennisula area. I haven't seen one post about this area, what's wrong with it? When we were there a few years ago, we fell in love with Sequim, Port Townsend, Port Angeles and the Ho rain forrest.

I've never been to Sequim, though I have heard bad things about it. Though I must say that the bad things I heard were from Seattleites who would define abject torture as anyplace farther than 500 yards from a Starbuck's. It may be a fine place for all I know.

I love Port Townsend and Port Angeles both. Probably my favorite towns in all of Washington State.

Originally Posted by routaibt

Supposibly, the weather there is the closest to So Cal of all of WA. Being from So Cal, we were drawn to the small town atmosphere of this area for a change in retirement. Got to get out of So Cal! We have relatives in Snohomish and Camano Isd.

You'll definitely get the smalltown atmosphere, though whoever told you that the weather was like Southern California must have been smoking something. Nowhere on the coast of Washington ever gets terribly cold or very hot, but if you move to Sequim, be prepared for rain, rain, rain, and then some more rain. That part of the state gets more days of rain than any part of the U.S. Myself, I love it, but coming from So. California it might be a bit of a shock for you.

[Screenial]

Originally Posted by jgw1283

first of all, to those considering Bellingham and Blaine from Socal, they couldnt be more different. Blaine is lame. Bellingham is just an environmentalist/hippie college town. The ONLY area I would advise you to check out is the Eastside. Bellevue and Kirkland etc. They are clean safe and quiet, yet close to the action in Seattle and theres plenty of green.

Ha ha, that's funny. I lived in Bellingham 20 years and sure met a lot of conservative Republicans there. I guess I could generalize too and say Bellevue and Kirkland is nothing but a bunch of rich yuppie snobs.

Western Washington has it's good and bad. I would say the good was:
schools, lots of outdoor activities, friendly family oriented people, gardening

The bad was:
Traffic ( yes the people are friendlier, but it's STILL traffic), 4-5 months of low dark cloud-cover and rain, over priced housing, competitive job market, allergies ( if you are allergic to mold or grasses, don't move there)

I did see my share of families move to Washington, love it at first, then the weather eventually gets to them and they leave. If you are prone to depression, the dark winters can get to you. There is a high suicide rate in Seattle.
My ideal would be to live in Washington in the summer, then live some place else from November to March. Gotta win that Lotto first tho!

[Mary P.]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

I've never been to Sequim, though I have heard bad things about it. Though I must say that the bad things I heard were from Seattleites who would define abject torture as anyplace farther than 500 yards from a Starbuck's. It may be a fine place for all I know.

I love Port Townsend and Port Angeles both. Probably my favorite towns in all of Washington State.



You'll definitely get the smalltown atmosphere, though whoever told you that the weather was like Southern California must have been smoking something. Nowhere on the coast of Washington ever gets terribly cold or very hot, but if you move to Sequim, be prepared for rain, rain, rain, and then some more rain. That part of the state gets more days of rain than any part of the U.S. Myself, I love it, but coming from So. California it might be a bit of a shock for you.

I understood that Sequim get approx. 13 inches of rain a year. We are also looking at maybe moving there from FL.
Mary P.