Questions about Washington (Seattle, Puyallup, Arlington: middle-class, 2009, high crime)

[FreeSpirit2219]

Hello.
I'm new here to this forum.
Me and my husband currently live in California and are looking to move to Washington 2009.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
We are an interracial couple and I'm also bi-racial.
What I'd like to know is:
1. Where you will find a majority of interracial couples living (neighborhood, etc). I read in a magazine years ago that there were certain areas that were good.
2. Please tell me what areas should be avoided (high crime, etc.)
3. Where are the upper middle class areas?
4. Does anyone have pictures of things to do in Seattle, etc.
5. Anything else that may be helpful?

Thanks in advance.

[Sandy Nelson]

Originally Posted by FreeSpirit2219

Hello.
Where you will find a majority of interracial couples living (neighborhood, etc). I read in a magazine years ago that there were certain areas that were good.

Good for what?

[allforcats]

What "areas" are you particularly interested in -- eastern Washington? western Washington? northern, central, or southern part of either? How much geography do you mean by "Seattle etc."?

The state is large and very varied in terms of climates, natural features, economies, costs of living, availability of schools/shopping/cultural features, and so forth. In particular, the work you would seek here may be in a given area and not in other areas, so that will be a leading specific. Please tell us about your specifics, so that we can provide some information for you.

[FreeSpirit2219]

Originally Posted by allforcats

What "areas" are you particularly interested in -- eastern Washington? western Washington? northern, central, or southern part of either? How much geography do you mean by "Seattle etc."?

The state is large and very varied in terms of climates, natural features, economies, costs of living, availability of schools/shopping/cultural features, and so forth. In particular, the work you would seek here may be in a given area and not in other areas, so that will be a leading specific. Please tell us about your specifics, so that we can provide some information for you.

Thank you for your response allforcats.
We currently live in an upper middle class neighborhood, so we would be seeking the same.
We shop at health food stores.
We both are Spiritualists who enjoy New Age/Metaphysical events.
My husband and I own our own businesses.
We enjoy horseback riding, rollerblading, hangliding, etc.
We will be interested in meeting friends.
A great school system would be ideal.
As far as geography is concerned, we are still researching as I know with any state or country there are areas to especially avoid.

[allforcats]

Hi, FreeSpirit. Well, I don't know where to suggest since you still didn't say anything about your work requirements, nor about the significant climate differences between eastern and western Washington. Is your situation one in which neither of you will need employment? Are opposing climates okay with both of you? If you don't need to work, then climate will matter most.

All the activities you mentioned (health food stores, outdoor activities, etc.) you can find almost anywhere in WA. I believe there are more resources of Spiritualist, new-age and metaphysical natures in western Washington than in the eastern part of the state, largely because of the significantly larger population which is diverse in backgrounds and pretty highly educated. Upper middle-class neighborhoods can be found in many, many areas of both eastern and western WA.

Good school systems: there are several in the state, many of them excellent and some of national renown; there's also a good smattering of Montessori schools and a few international schools. Friends can be made everywhere; there is a pretty relaxed atmosphere in WA. In general, WA is a pretty low-crime, low-violence, low-drugs state. Western WA tends to be more politically and socially liberal than eastern WA, which is nevertheless more relaxed than many other states.

I thought of you while reading this thread today. You might find it useful:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/seatt...ttle-area.html

I encourage you to read the threads in this forum, and in the sub-forums in the WA forum, to help you gather information and come up with specific requirements.

[Pygmonicus]

I don't know what kind of work you guys are looking for but I'd check out king county. In seattle montlake, laurelhurst, queen anne, and magnolia are areas you should look at to meet all those needs (minus horse back riding but hell you could just go like 10 minutes out of town for that). The east side is ok, kirkland and bellevue would be my choice as far as living over there, awesome schools but the commute blows.

Pierce & sno counties I don't know much about, my dad lives in piece country out in the boonies, it's a nice area but too rural for me. There are neighborhoods in tacoma, near the narrows that are amazing I think it's called university place. Puyallup is another town to check out. As far as IR couples are concerned nobody cares, you might get some slurs or dirty looks every once in a blue moon but they're probably just looking to get a rise out of you.

[allforcats]

Pygmonicus has several excellent ideas. But you must consider population density, climate, and proximity to those "good schools" -- along with employment, what kind, and how much commute you want to undertake. There are many, many areas, and many dozens of neighborhoods, throughout WA that would offer you the minimal requirements you've specified. Work location is everything, so that's your first concern.

[j_k_k]

As a heathen living in the Tri-Cities, I can confidently advise you to write this area off. While no one is likely to hassle you for alternative spiritual beliefs, you won't find much camaraderie to speak of. The local attitudes here tend to revolve around nuclear energy (they're for it, purely because it tends to create work at Hanford). Organic anything is a low priority, and health food shopping is minimal. While our average education level grades out pretty high, that's mainly due to the large number of graduate degrees working in and around Hanford, so it's a bit deceptive.

[khyn]

i would look into south king county such as federal way/kent. there are plenty of interracial couples, and they have nice neighborhoods. even though crime is a little higher in some areas of both cities there are middle class neighborhoods that have nothing wrong with them. but i would avoid white center, burien, central district of seattle, and international district.

[msta999]

Originally Posted by FreeSpirit2219

Hello.
I'm new here to this forum.
Me and my husband currently live in California and are looking to move to Washington 2009.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
We are an interracial couple and I'm also bi-racial.
What I'd like to know is:
Thanks in advance.

1. Where you will find a majority of interracial couples living (neighborhood, etc). I read in a magazine years ago that there were certain areas that were good.

Where I live we have interracial couples in our area, they own homes, kids go to school, soccer, boy scouts......they do every thing everyone else does. We are all just people living our lives here.

2. Please tell me what areas should be avoided (high crime, etc.)

Taccoma has higher crime, but it seems to be like most places - may places you will know when you see them. Arlington area has a higher drug problem than some places (meth).

3. Where are the upper middle class areas?

They are scattered around the area. A Realtor may be of help for this.

4. Does anyone have pictures of things to do in Seattle, etc.

Depends on what your into, you may want to check out the city of seattle web site, also other threads on this site.

5. Anything else that may be helpful?

It is a good time to buy homes.

Good luck and welcome.