Moving to the Washington North coast,Aberdeen, Hoquiam.

[allforcats]

Now that Kathleen Sebelius is leaving, what's left? Well, heritage and memories, of course...

Re your points: check, check and check. I see a lot of flack on C-D about Aberdeen and Hoquiam, but that may be from the younger ones who want "amenities" wherever they go. I like Aberdeen. Not so much Hoquiam. But I'd be happy to retire to Aberdeen or Montesano, up on a hill, out of the winter floods. To always be that close to the Quinault Rain Forest and to that much lack of everything -- golly, sounds like heaven to me!

[Ira500]

I think you also have to like rain a lot to want to retire in Aberdeen. It averages about 83 inches per year, about 13 of them in December.
I guess if you're retiring, the lack of an economy might actually be a benefit, as housing prices will be low, and there'd be plenty to choose from ( People aren't clamoring to move to Aberdeen.)...But it really does have a certain amount of wet older Northwest town charm, and there's likely enough of an economy to allow for shopping and medical appointments, etc. But you might have a hard time finding artisan bread and organic free range meats.

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by allforcats

To always be that close to the Quinault Rain Forest and to that much lack of everything -- golly, sounds like heaven to me!

We live out by the beach.

To go to the doctor or do any shopping, we have to go to town, which is Aberdeen. We do this probably two or sometimes three times a week.

A trip to town usually involves going to Walmart and Safeway and to Jay’s fruit and vegetable stand across from the Walmart Mall. Gas is cheaper in town so I fill up while I’m there.

On the way home, we might stop at the Grizzly Shack in Hoquiam, across from the High School, and get a Clam Strip Basket with Onion rings

About once every couple of months we go into Olympia which is about 70 miles away. Costco is there as well as most of the national shopping and restaurant chains.

At home we walk on the beach, feed apples to the deer in the backyard, and watch the eagles who live in the big trees next to the house.

It rains a lot of the time.

If you have simple needs and enjoy simple pleasures, Gray’s Harbor is a great place to live. If you want to live a more sophisticated lifestyle, you probably won’t be happy here.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by Ira500

I think you also have to like rain a lot to want to retire in Aberdeen. It averages about 83 inches per year, about 13 of them in December.

Sure but with all the recent interest in Forks despite its 120 inches +/- of annual rainfall, Aberdeen would seem like a tropical paradise with "only" 80 inches!

To the OP: We own several homes in the Grays Harbor area and Freddy's prior description is spot on.

Good Luck!

[outoffla08]

Rest assured I am not star struck or overly optomistic about the harbor.

I have lived with 3 million people for 9 years next month. I have battled traffic, crime, high cost of living and hurricanes and for what? For what? That is the big question. A 12/hr job, an apartment on the beach, a car? Its tiring. MONEY can no longer be the root of my existance. I have placed MONEY above all else for to long. Its gotten me no where. When I should of been saving I was riding the high wave of life, cruising through it as though there was nothing to loose and as if I would live forever. As we all well know, no one lives for ever and soon or later the cruise is over and reality sets in. My reality. Its time to get back to basics. My basics involves a quaint apartment in the Harbor, modest fixings and a job. A slow pace. Nothing fast, nothing furious. Like I said its time to get priorities straight again, to grow up at 43 and become the adult my parents had always hoped I would become.
So, if you find my idea of paradise a little off the beaten path, or my dreams a little nighmarish to all accounts it still comes down to what makes each of us happy. And if my happiness means living back in the Harbor with its rainy, foggy, windy and what some of you consider a depressed area then so be it. Its my reality, my dream and my sanity that needs to be saved. Wish me luck it you want. Nothing will keep me from it. I love the Harbor. I will be coming home.....in exactly 45 days. And yes my heart skips a beat each time I say it.......45 days! See then.......If you could, I would really like some PNW weather when I get there...it would be a PERFECT homecoming.....

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by outoffla08

...I have battled traffic, crime, high cost of living and hurricanes...

Me too, and I’ve done it right here in River City.

...Its my reality, my dream and my sanity that needs to be saved. Wish me luck...

Your reality is relative, and your dream is what you make it.
It might be too late for your sanity, but so what, chances are that nobody will even notice.

Good Luck

...I would really like some PNW weather when I get there...

That’s one wish that’s guaranteed to come true.

Welcome back!

[aberdeen]

i moved my kids to aberdeen in the mid 80s best thing i ever did. i have two wonderfull kids

[BryanK]

Three photos of Aberdeen from city-data.com