Relocating from Chicago,IL to Bellingham,WA (Vancouver: to live, ferry)

[gilber1998]

Originally from central BC and looking to relocate to Washington. My family lives on Vancouver Island so we would like to be as close as possible (only a ferry ride away). We have checked out Bellingham a bit and looks good so far. We know the weather is a concern for 9 months of the year and would like some advice on things to do in a rainy climate without being couped up indoors all the time. We have young children. I'm a lighting specialist and can work anywhere. I will be introducing new lighting technology that is great for "SAD" seasonal affective disorder. Any recommended areas to live and activites for the rainy season would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Redline]

I moved from downtown Chicago to the Eastside in Sept '05. My wife and I started skiing as something to do when it's rainy and cold. You just replaced bitter winters and steaming summers with milder temperatures year round. I grew up in Vancouver, BC so you know how the cloudy/rainy thing is out here but while it can be bad at times we still get our fair share of nice days. The past 2-3 months have been great and this weekend is no exception (partly cloudy in the 70's and 80's).

Don't let the pessimistic and depressed people around you get you down about the weather and you'll be fine. I don't know much about Bellingham but it's a nice little city on its own (much bigger than it was when I was growing up). Actually, it's probably not so little any more and property values there are high as well.