First two years of my new life Port Townsend, Bellingham, Seattle, or Poulsbo? (Spokane: dorm)

[Wheretoland]

Hey, everyone.

I am from New York City and cant wait until I get out of here. I am looking to "get away" and be in a place that has an isolated and desolate enough vibe but still cosmopolitan and dynamic in certain ways.

I applied to community colleges in Seattle, Bellingham, Port Townsend, and Poulsbo. (North Seattle Community College, Peninsula College, Seattle Central Community College, Whatcom Community College and Olympic College. )I got in all of them and am not sure which of the 5 colleges and 4 communities to go. I equally like all of the colleges so now Im focusing on location.

I am going to be at a community college for 2 years before I transfer to a university and am planning to live nearby the college Ill go to, dorm or not.
I want to be in a place much more laid back and not crowded without much of an urban feel like NYC but I still want the place to have some urban things about it.

I heard that Seattle has a small town feel with big city amenities. The question is to what extent does Seattle feel like a small town?
Im a straight white male but are Port Townsend, Poulsbo, and Bellingham diversity friendly enough? I want to be in a diversity friendly enough place.

Any further input related to this, thanks=)

[Ira500]

Poulsbo is nice but might be more appropriate when you're a little older.

Some neighborhoods in Seattle have a small town feel, but not so much near Seattle Central or North Seattle Community Colleges...

Port Townsend truly is a small town. Beautiful, artsy, fun, but lacks urban amenities.

Bellingham gets my vote. Big enough to feel like a city, but surrounded by nature.

[Wheretoland]

Yeah, thats what i felt about poulsbo and seattle. I really do love both places though.
Which neighborhoods have a small town feel in Seattle? West Seattle, Madrona?

Im definitely leaning towards Port Townsend and Bellingham. I just hope they are diversity friendly enough because a good number of my friends arent white so I dont want to be around racist energy.

Thanks for the comment! (But if everyone else has input, please still share it on this thread.)

[LMB]

I agree with Ira. Given the criteria you listed and towns you mentioned, Bellingham may suit you best. Although an isolated/desolate vibe as well as being cosmopolitan/dynamic doesn't quite fit any place I can think of around here. Your other comment about looking for a place laid back and not crowded, but with some "urban-ness" fits Bellingham, plus it's close to Vancouver, BC. As far as being diversity-friendly (having lived in the midwest and the southeast before), western WA seems more open to diversity in general in my opinion.

Good luck!

Lynn

[onebigmess]

I lived in Poulsbo for many years and loved it.However, to do anything you have to get on the ferry and head for Seattle. I understand the ferry has become quite expensive. When I move back this time I plan to live on the Seattle side.

[mayfair]

I'd vote for Bellingham, too. It's right on I-5, so it's not isolated or desolate, but it's kind of off on it's own. It has a liberal feel around the college, but never struck me as terribly diverse (you'd have to be in Seattle for that). I think you'd like it the best of the places you list. Good luck!

[RobE]

Can't improve on what everybody else has said except to note that western Washington is very diversity friendly. In fact, rather politically correct generally (but I live near Olympia, so maybe I get more it here). It gets more conservative east of the Cascades.

[Wheretoland]

Actually thats not really true. Just south of olympia south of Thurston copunty is Lewis county which is west of the cascades but conservative. (60% for mccain) Spokane almost voted democratic by one percent.

[StealthRabbit]

ditto " Bellingham "
amenities with a small town feel, not the hassle of 'big city', or the solitude of being a LONG commute to the city; i.e. 'Port Townsend', (a good place to visit, bit tough to live there). Poulsbo might be better suited for 'early retirement'. (Nice area, pretty quiet, artsy)

While in Bellingham, check out Fairhaven (south side of B), you might appreciate that location, if you can afford it.