Everything too expensive nowadays? (Spokane: lawyer, house, to buy)

[FV9]

My wife and I are in our mid-30's with a 3 year old daughter and a new baby due in January. I am a lawyer and she is a teacher. We have been talking lately about her perhaps not working, but there is no way we can afford it in Portland (where we live now). We enjoy living here, but frankly the cost of living is getting to be pretty high. Is there any place left in OR or WA where a couple can raise 2 kids, live in a nice house, has decent restaurants, etc (although we are pretty limited to Red Robin nowadays, which isn't very good) without killing themselves? Perhaps I have too much of a white picket fence ideal that doesn't exist anymore. However, we are ready to be done with the rat race. Any thoughts are appreciated!

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by FV9

My wife and I are in our mid-30's with a 3 year old daughter and a new baby due in January. I am a lawyer and she is a teacher. We have been talking lately about her perhaps not working, but there is no way we can afford it in Portland (where we live now). We enjoy living here, but frankly the cost of living is getting to be pretty high. Is there any place left in OR or WA where a couple can raise 2 kids, live in a nice house, has decent restaurants, etc (although we are pretty limited to Red Robin nowadays, which isn't very good) without killing themselves? Perhaps I have too much of a white picket fence ideal that doesn't exist anymore. However, we are ready to be done with the rat race. Any thoughts are appreciated!

Tri-Cities or Spokane. Can't speak for Spokane but the local legal scene in TC seems pretty incestuous; might be difficult to break into. I'd never sue anyone here because there's no point when both counsels and the judge are probably golfing buddies and whoever I'd be suing is a lifetime local who went to school with them. But if you want to buy a decent house for less than $150K, we can hook you up.