Can anyone tell me about Bow/Mt Vernon area? (Seattle: how much, home)

[Helen2008]

I am thinking about accepting a job offer in late November, as a long-term nanny for a family in BOW, about an hour north of Seattle. (I think Mount Vernon is the nearest large town to Bow?)

I was born & raised in Wisconsin and lived there until '91. Have been here in northern Virginia (near D.C.) since then. I'm BEYOND burned-out with the rat race 'atmosphere', unfriendly people, stressful traffic (and pollution) and will be very HAPPY to move away from here! Most of my relatives have moved from Milwaukee WI to warmer climates -- Florida, Oregon and CA.

I am feeling some concern about the "Pacific NW" weather, that I've heard so much about, and wondering if the "pros" about the area will OUTWEIGH the "cons" ? --pros being the clean fresh air, the beautiful 'scenery', nice people, the OCEAN close by, etc. --cons being, well, the RAIN, lack of sunshine, and the cold weather in fall/winter/spring, etc.

Some people have been telling me that Washington would NOT be the right place for me to live! (I would be working there for a minimum of TWO yrs.) I have mild S.A.D., which I have successfully managed by using the bright-light therapy every morning (30 to 60 min) from October through March -- and also by maintaining a healthy diet (mostly vegetarian), taking vitamins/supplements, and regular vigorous/aerobic exercise.

Although I've always been "outdoorsy" (hiking, running, cycling, kayaking) as I've gotten older (4+ decades on the planet), I have gotten "wimpy"when it comes to being able to tolerate "extremes" of weather, hot or cold. (Could NEVER handle living in Florida or up in Wisconsin again!)

So, I am wondering -- does the weather up in WA prevent most people from outdoor activities (except in summertime), or do the "locals" (even "older folks" like me) have ways of enjoying the outdoors DESPITE the cold and/or rain ?

My sister (in Portland OR) tells me that all I need is to do is buy some water-proof Gortex clothes, a down-filled vest or jacket, some longjohns
and lots of wool socks. She likes that saying "There's no such thing as "bad weather", only "bad clothing"!



If ANYONE out there can tell me what it's actually like to live in or near Seattle -- or (better yet) in or near Bow -- what it's like, the (year-round) weather, the people, outdoor recreation, gyms or REC Centers, good restaurants, etc. -- PLEASE write and tell me your point of view/your personal experience regarding the area, as well as any advise or tips that you would give a 'newcomer' ?

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

God bless!

Helen


.

[mayfair]

It's worth a try since you're only looking at two years. You might love it here and if you don't visit, you might be missing a great opportunity.

There isn't much around Bow except beautiful scenery. Mount Vernon is a decent sized town and has everything you would need. It's a slower pace than where you are now and the scenery is gorgeous. You can drive less than an hour to many beautiful parks for hiking (Larrabee State Park, Deception Pass, Padilla Bay are a few to look up).

Mount Vernon also has an Amtrack station so you can catch the train north or south.

S.a.d. is a real problem, but since you're already working with it, you might get by continuing those things.

[Ira500]

Bow is really nice. There's not a lot to do, as mayfair suggests. But it does have a few things. The Skagit Casino is nearby, where you could gamble and get a decent, inexpensive buffet meal. There's an artisan cheese maker, can't recall the name, but soooo good!, and there's the Fish Outlet on old Hwy 99, where some incredible deals can be had on wild caught salmon and other sea creatures.
There's also Merritt Orchards, where they grow some great Melrose and Jonagold apples, amongst others.

[allforcats]

Our winters are WAAAAY warmer than Wisconsin and have very little snow and wind. And our entire year is way less humid than Virginia, and summer is way less hot than Virginia.

We don't so much get "rain" as we get brief showers, drizzle and mist many days -- but not all days and not most days -- from October through May. Because we're next to the Pacific Ocean we do get a lot of cloudiness during the winter, and some cloudiness and drizzle in September and June.

Because of cloudiness -- which, by the way, is very interesting and photogenic -- your SAD lights will be useful to you here.

People here are calm and friendly. They do outdoor activities all year long, especially since it's not very cold in winter and not very hot in summer. Your sister is smart and right.

Bow and Mt. Vernon are still somewhat agricultural, and are gentle, pretty and quiet places to live. And extremely scenic, and close to all sorts of beautiful places to photograph, paint, muse, drive, ferry, walk, run, hike, bike, climb, kayak, ski and just about anything else you can think of. And you'd be near Vancouver, British Columbia, home to some of the most yummy restaurants in the world and some terrific skiing or gazing on Whistler Mountain.

You can Google restaurants, stores, gyms and other resources in the area.

If your contract would be for a minimum of two years, imagine how much you could experience of a different world to fill your eyes and heart every day, and how much you could enhance your being... I wish you joy!

[Ira500]

Bow is also only 20-30 minutes from Bellingham, a city large enough to provide for all your cultural needs.

[Greensleeves]

Bow is heaven on earth, in my opinion. Mount Vernon is a friendly place and there is so much to do in the way of beach combing, hiking, weekend road trips!
I say go for it. I lived there for 25 years and was so sorry when I left. I also suffer from S.A.D. but managed quite well, even with the rain. I got some good rain gear and learned to find the positives in a good rain shower.

[Helen2008]

Originally Posted by Helen2008

I am thinking about accepting a job offer in late November, as a long-term nanny for a family in BOW, about an hour north of Seattle. (I think Mount Vernon is the nearest large town to Bow?)

I was born & raised in Wisconsin and lived there until '91. Have been here in northern Virginia (near D.C.) since then. I'm BEYOND burned-out with the rat race 'atmosphere', unfriendly people, stressful traffic (and pollution) and will be very HAPPY to move away from here! Most of my relatives have moved from Milwaukee WI to warmer climates -- Florida, Oregon and CA.

I am feeling some concern about the "Pacific NW" weather, that I've heard so much about, and wondering if the "pros" about the area will OUTWEIGH the "cons" ? --pros being the clean fresh air, the beautiful 'scenery', nice people, the OCEAN close by, etc. --cons being, well, the RAIN, lack of sunshine, and the cold weather in fall/winter/spring, etc.

Some people have been telling me that Washington would NOT be the right place for me to live! (I would be working there for a minimum of TWO yrs.) I have mild S.A.D., which I have successfully managed by using the bright-light therapy every morning (30 to 60 min) from October through March -- and also by maintaining a healthy diet (mostly vegetarian), taking vitamins/supplements, and regular vigorous/aerobic exercise.

Although I've always been "outdoorsy" (hiking, running, cycling, kayaking) as I've gotten older (4+ decades on the planet), I have gotten "wimpy"when it comes to being able to tolerate "extremes" of weather, hot or cold. (Could NEVER handle living in Florida or up in Wisconsin again!)

So, I am wondering -- does the weather up in WA prevent most people from outdoor activities (except in summertime), or do the "locals" (even "older folks" like me) have ways of enjoying the outdoors DESPITE the cold and/or rain ?

My sister (in Portland OR) tells me that all I need is to do is buy some water-proof Gortex clothes, a down-filled vest or jacket, some longjohns
and lots of wool socks. She likes that saying "There's no such thing as "bad weather", only "bad clothing"!



If ANYONE out there can tell me what it's actually like to live in or near Seattle -- or (better yet) in or near Bow -- what it's like, the (year-round) weather, the people, outdoor recreation, gyms or REC Centers, good restaurants, etc. -- PLEASE write and tell me your point of view/your personal experience regarding the area, as well as any advise or tips that you would give a 'newcomer' ?

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

God bless!

Helen


.

I just want to say **THANKS** to Mayfair, Allforcats, Ira500, and Greensleeves for your answers to my question. Wow, thank you all so much for your time in responding. All of the things you shared were very very helpful!!

I am GOIN' to Bow Washington!


God bless!

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