Looking to relocate, but where??? (Seattle, Spokane: homes, job market, schools)

[JustVisitPhoenix]

Hi, Me and my daughter are wanting to move out of the monsterous city of Phoenix and really only have a few ideas of possible relocation spots. We were thinking of somewhere in Texas, Colorado, Washington, or ??, we are Both of us are natives of Phx and I've only traveled the western states.

We are looking for: tornado-free, if that's possible in TX; no or very low racial discrimination (we aren't use to that here in Phx); low poverty. I'm expecting pretty much any place will have more rain and cloudy days than Phx which we really want but I've heard the humidity is extremely difficult to adjust to.

My daughter is college age and we both want fulltime jobs initially. She wants to go back to school after we are established financially. I would like a lively area that's kind of edgey but not liberal. I am an illustrator and muralist and mostly work out of my home although I plan to take any job for now. I'm also looking for a spirit-filled church that's not judgemental.

Woah, this is a lot to ask for it seems like. I like Phoenix and it's hard to think about moving but we need to break away at this time, something I've wanted to do for a long time but been too afraid. Any thoughts???

[movingwiththewind]

Just move with the wind! After a while, when you have seen many places, you can choose and settle down.

[StealthRabbit]

Having lived in CO and WA I would recommend living on the edge of an 'edgy' place. (with a college and each with good churches (don't know this about Cortez, CO))

Ferndale, WA is milder than Bellingham (10 min)
Vancouver, WA is less edgy than Portland (10 min) (is Close to airport for AZ escape in winter)
Lyons or Golden is less edgy the Boulder, CO (or Estes Park) (20 min)
Loveland is more mellow than Ft Collins, CO (15 min)
Cortez is less edgy and MUCH less expensive than Durango, CO


PNW west side of Cascades = rainy much of winter, but pretty mild.(40's & 50's). Occasional Snow, mild summers, cool at night, usually 70-80F day. Humidity not usually a problem, except in winter when it is "LIQUID" / drizzle Summer may have a couple muggy days, but not usually.

CO is 4 season, eastern slope (front range / Boulder / Ft Collins) is milder than Durango (which has Much Snow, bit remote)

Try these spots on + there are more....
for WA...
Wenatchee, perimeter of Olympia, Spokane (ID too... especially nice is Moscow and Sandpoint. C'DL (between the two) is a tad spendy but nice as well)
White Salmon (19 min to Hood River)
Metro Seattle might work, it is just too big and spread out for my taste. Plenty of 'Edge' in various locales.

Can't be much TX help, (Austin might be the only spot that is 'edgy' ?) but I like San Marcos, Fredricksburg, Kerrville (Hill country, near San Antonio) possibly San Angelo (might be too hot here in summer... I don't do AirCon either)

Plenty of "edge" in OR... Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, Ashland, Bend, Hood River but high liberal vote, that controls the electorate... (it is pretty frustrating for the moderates & conservatives, and state funding is a BIG problem, and soon to be worse... like CA)

[jac0978]

We live in Phoenix right now and are relocating to Bellingham/Ferndale next month. We can't wait to get out of this monsterous and hot city ourselves. Good luck with your destination.

[dylanmichol]

JAN B,
Can you tell me more about WA?

I want to live in a drier area, less rain, I love the outdoors, and dont care for the surburbia life. I also dont want to be in the middle of nowhere. Im flying into Spokane and Ive heard a lot of great things about it. Any suggestions and other surrounding areas?

[DawnR]

Hi Just Visit,

I moved to WA from Phoenix in Sept. 2001. I'm not quite sure what you mean by edgey but I can assure you the Seattle area is liberal but we have some decent universities and we are proudly culturally diverse. And although the job market is tightening up everywhere, I'm sure you'd find something here. We don't have tornados but we do have volcanos and earthquakes .

I have to say that as an AZ transplant, I really loved the climate change. I grew up in AZ and was just as sick of the constant sunshine as some of the natives are up here with the rain. It's all relative.

Poverty...every state has it. More affordable areas would be south of Seattle (Pierce county) or north of Seattle (Snohomish county). Both of these areas are suburbs of Seattle and are large enough to provide decent jobs and close enough to commute to the Seattle or Bellevue areas if you want to deal with a commute. Housing is much more affordable in these areas.

Of course, I could go on and on. If you're still interested in the WA area and have more questions, just give a shout.

[Cassiano]

I live in NJ , spent my 1 week vacation in Baring , WA , but to me Seattle is the place to live . I loved and i can't wait for the first opportunity to move up there . I am sick of the NJ,NY,Ct attitude ( people here are nasty ) .
Good luck on your relocation.

[Ira500]

I am sick of the NJ,NY,Ct attitude ( people here are nasty ) .

Aaaay! C'mere and say dat to my face!

As someone who grew up in NJ and lived to tell about it, I know exactly what you're saying.
But there is a tradeoff. Diners and good pizza are hard to come by in Seattle.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by dylanmichol

JAN B,
Can you tell me more about WA?

I want to live in a drier area, less rain, I love the outdoors, and dont care for the surburbia life. I also dont want to be in the middle of nowhere. Im flying into Spokane and Ive heard a lot of great things about it. Any suggestions and other surrounding areas?

I don't know much about WA... I live on the southern border and 100% of my info comes from OR (Radio, newspaper, propaganda...)

Spokane has some nice areas, but certainly not my favorite, tho I had a job offer the very same day as in Vancouver, WA, so I had to decide myself... about 27 yrs ago... (I have never wintered there, but I hear it is gray, that is not good to my taste. I LIKE to be near an airport for quick escape... GEG (Spokane) usually requires a commuter flight to get to sun, AND the layout of Spokane makes it really miserable to get anywhere quick, especially the Airport ... darn rivers and canyons...). There are some nice older homes, and the downtown riverpark is fun to walk and visit. (one of those places I like to visit, but would not want to live there... like Florida / AZ for me)

You need to let us know what you like about the outdoors ??
How dry is dry?
warm / cool /
Trees (Deciduous or evergreen?)
water
hiking
prairie


My choices for Spokane region are (in order of preference, not proximity)
Onecho !!! or Almota, WA (I'm a prairie kid... it's just a junction in the road ~ 20 miles west of Pullman, WA)
then... (for substantial towns)
Moscow, ID
Colville, WA (Kettle Falls)
Cheney, WA (some folks like it)
Sandpoint, ID
Newport, WA
Post Falls, ID

for less substantial towns;
Rockford, WA
Harrison, ID
Kendrick, ID

other places in Spokane region (SE WA)
Walla Walla
Waitsburg
Dayton


but for other places I like in WA (Your mileage will vary...)

moderately dry, accessible, and convenient.

Wenatchee (close to Mtns, but still dry)
Cashmere

Ellensburg

SW (and still 'dry', but not parched)
Troutlake
White Salmon
Underwood
area around Maryhill Museum (close to parched)

Goldendale

[Phoebe123]

The Seattle area is lovely, lots to do - mountains for skiing 45 minutes away, Pacific Ocean two hours away, situated on the Puget Sound, Lake Washington and many other bodies of water. Wonderful cultural activities, great schools and the weather is wonderful for the complexion! We get a lot of sun but not too much heat. The job market is a little iffy right now but that is true in most places. Cost of living is a little high. But don't move to the Sandpoint or Haden Lake, Idaho area! Although beautiful,Sandpoint is 40 miles from the Aryan Nations compound in Hayden Lake, Idaho. Very scary folks up there - very very white.