How about Bellingham????? (Vancouver, Wenatchee, Mount Vernon: rent, house, neighborhood)

[Stelinzoe]

My husband's company is sending out workers to Blaine. My parents live in Mount Vernon. So I am thinking Bellingham for a place to live. Here's my info:
We are a family of four. Ages 32, 30, almost 6, and 3. We will rent a two bedroom, somewhere between 600-900/month. Is that doable?
Also, my main concern, above all else is this: we are a biracial family. Is there a problem with racism??????????
My husband lived in WA for almost ten years as a child and was the object of extreme racism. However, this was in Wenatchee. He is Mexican, although he does not speak the language or embrace the culture. I am many, many races; I have dark curly hair and light brown skin. My children are lighter than the both of us and have straight brown hair, not dark, so I am not as concerned for them as I am for my husband and I who are clearly not Caucasian. We are educated, we speak clearly, we enjoy all music, enjoy outdoor activities and the health industry. Does anyone have any reason to think that we would be objects of racism or would we feel out of place? I personally don't think so, but I have to be sure.
We are coming from LA county, but have only lived here for seven years. Before that we came from Alaska where I was born and raised. I love Washington; my family is Canadian and lives in Vancouver. I am very excited and hope it all works out. I just want to make sure we aren't making a mistake.

Any replies/info you can give me will be helpful. Also, I LOVE TO WALK. ARe there lots of places in the city (trails) where I can jog/walk with my kids. Lots of parks??? We live two blocks from the ocean and I get to jog along the Pacific every day. I want to make sure I can match that even closely. As a stay at home Mom that's my little outdoor me time that keeps me sane.

Ok, that's it. Hit me with it!

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by Stelinzoe

My husband's company is sending out workers to Blaine. My parents live in Mount Vernon. So I am thinking Bellingham for a place to live. Here's my info:
We are a family of four. Ages 32, 30, almost 6, and 3. We will rent a two bedroom, somewhere between 600-900/month. Is that doable?
Also, my main concern, above all else is this: we are a biracial family. Is there a problem with racism??????????
My husband lived in WA for almost ten years as a child and was the object of extreme racism. However, this was in Wenatchee. He is Mexican, although he does not speak the language or embrace the culture. I am many, many races; I have dark curly hair and light brown skin. My children are lighter than the both of us and have straight brown hair, not dark, so I am not as concerned for them as I am for my husband and I who are clearly not Caucasian. We are educated, we speak clearly, we enjoy all music, enjoy outdoor activities and the health industry. Does anyone have any reason to think that we would be objects of racism or would we feel out of place? I personally don't think so, but I have to be sure.
We are coming from LA county, but have only lived here for seven years. Before that we came from Alaska where I was born and raised. I love Washington; my family is Canadian and lives in Vancouver. I am very excited and hope it all works out. I just want to make sure we aren't making a mistake.

Any replies/info you can give me will be helpful. Also, I LOVE TO WALK. ARe there lots of places in the city (trails) where I can jog/walk with my kids. Lots of parks??? We live two blocks from the ocean and I get to jog along the Pacific every day. I want to make sure I can match that even closely. As a stay at home Mom that's my little outdoor me time that keeps me sane.

Ok, that's it. Hit me with it!

You sound energetic and bright and fun ... you grew up in Alaska so you understand the short daylight winters, and the wet and gray ... I say that's a great start

Unfortunately, rent in the $600 - $900 monthly range is going to be a project to find for a two-bedroom house ... while you may find something under $1000, it will take some real looking. One of my sons just bought his first home in Bellingham (I also live in the area) and moved out of a $900-a-month 1-bedroom ... cute enough little place in a nice neighborhood in town. To find two-bedroom in that price range, you may have to go further out.

As for racism: not so much ... really hardly at all ... Bellingham is pretty color-blind ... and with the considerable Hispanic community in the Skagit Valley just south, a Mexican appearance isn't going to stand out much around here anyway ... same for any native American appearances ... lots of both up here.

Outdoors time? Parks? Trails? Beaches? ... sure ... plenty! Just W-E-T most of the year ... you know about it (the chilly damp gray) ... does your husband?

Good luck to you

[dubfan]

I'm sorry to hear your husband had a bad experience in Wenatchee. Unfortunately there are a lot of provincial people east of the Cascades and educational attainment there is significantly below average. The situation is better west of the Cascades, as people are generally more educated and open-minded. Bellingham is a college town, and though it is overwhelmingly white, there is not much racism there and most people are open and friendly.

Bellingham has some great parks and trails. You'll definitely want to check out Whatcom Falls Park. Larrabee State Park is in the Chuckanut Mountains south of town and has 9.3 miles of trails.

[Stelinzoe]

Thank you.
Null: my husband definitely knows the weather. WE lived in Alaska together when we were babies and then he moved to Washington for ten years. He lived in Bellingham for a year as a teenager.
Dub: Thank you for your sincerity. What happened in Wenatchee was very unfortunate and scarred my husband and his family for life. As a result, my husband has his reservations about Washington period. But now that there may work there, this may be our chance for a start over...and we have to go where the money is.

[coriwithaK]

"Also, I LOVE TO WALK. ARe there lots of places in the city (trails) where I can jog/walk with my kids. Lots of parks??? We live two blocks from the ocean and I get to jog along the Pacific every day. I want to make sure I can match that even closely. As a stay at home Mom that's my little outdoor me time that keeps me sane."

Along (I guess technically it goes out & over a bit) Bellingham Bay in Fairhaven, there is a great footbridge (for lack of a better term) that goes for quite a good distance and has several small places to 'explore' for your little ones (for you too, for that matter). At the end of the journey there's a cute, comfy coffee shop that you can warm up with some hot chocolate and just sit and look at the beautiful bay. Obviously there are other locations to get outdoor time, but this one struck me as being close to your jogs along the Pacific.