Moving to Oak Harbor (Seattle, Everett: how much, home, find a job)

[saraheve42]

Hello all!! My boyfriend is in the Navy and will soon be stationed on Whidbey Island. So, in a few short months, I'll be moving from West Texas to Oak Harbor, WA. I just graduated from college with a degree in Marketing. My question is: would commuting to Seattle totally be out of the question? Are there train systems that go to Seattle or is all transportation by car? Also, other than Seattle, any advice on where a fresh college grad like myself should look for a job in that area? Thanks in advance for any help!!!!

sarah

[scirocco22]

Hi Sarah. I actually know several people who commute from the south end of the island to Seattle but they are aggravated by having to deal with the ferry connections.

Oak Harbor will even be more difficult. My recommendation is to try and find a job on the island. If that's not possible, try Anacortes, or the Burlington/Mt. Vernon area. Even Bellingham will be an "easier" commute than trying to go into Seattle ...you've got to remember the horrendous traffic in the Seattle/Everett area.

[gallo]

Oak Harbor is a small military town with a small, but growing, retiree population. The job prospects there are not good. That area (Anacortes, Oak Harbor, Burlington/Mt. Vernon) is not the place for a recent college grad as the only jobs available are mostly in the retail/service industry. Really, the Seattle area would more than likely be the only place that you could put your marketing degree to good use.

It would take anywhere from about 2-3 hours with traffic to commute back and forth to and from Seattle. As scirocco22 says, it’s possible, but you might go crazy doing it. There are no types of commuter trains anywhere in western Washington. Your only way is by car. You can also drive down and take the ferry to Mukilteo, get off, and then drive down to Seattle. In all honesty, this is probably a little longer than making the straight drive. Again, as scirocco22 mentions, the ferry connection can be a royal pain, and I believe the ferry ride is $7 or so.

Sorry to paint such a bleak picture. Congratulations on earning your degree.

[AlwaysSmiling]

I'm sorry to have to agree with the other posters. I wouldn't move to Oak Harbor unless you absolutely have to, i.e., make sure that boyfriend becomes your husband. Then you will get the military benefits. I live on the south end of Whidbey and if I had to commute to Seattle, I'd move. It would take an hour and a half on a good day. Plus, the cost of gas, the cost of the ferry. Too much for me. Please let me know what other questions I can help you with. Congratulations on your degree...feels great doesn't it?!!

[saraheve42]

Yeah, the degree does feel good, AlwaysSmiling!! Thanks to everyone for the responses! They are definitely helping, since I am overwhelmed with the idea of finding a career in a new state! So, its looking like Seattle would be the place to start, as far as a new career...........

[chris]

there are commuter vans that leave the south end of the island. From there a commute would be doable (about an hour to downtown), but not Oak Harbor (unless you have a plane or access to one).

[EasternGirl]

My husband will be posted to Oak Harbour and I was looking for some info on the Island life and employment opportunities in general. We will be moving from Nova Scotia, Canada. We live in a fairly large city at present and wondered how much of an adjustment Oak Harbour may be for me especially. Oak Harbour looks like a lovely City/Town and seems to have some shopping and ammenities. Any info on island life, ammentites, employment. The upside of living there and the downside would be much appreciated.

Thanks!!!

[AlwaysSmiling]

Good Morning,
There are many threads on Whidbey Island. I would suggest you do a search of them, and you will see a lot of comments.
Oak Harbor is a military town. With all your fast food, grocery store, car lots that a soldier might need.
The best part of Oak Harbor is that is ten miles away from the most beautiful park in the world. Deception Pass......very scary to drive or walk over, but it couldn't be more gorgeous.

[khill]

I am a Navy spouse and we moved to Coupeville in 2003. We rented a home there and I worked at the local hospital for a short time. (there are VERY few jobs) The weather there was dreary and rainy most of the time. There was very little to do and we had to go off island for mostly everything. We moved to Oak Harbor in 2004. There is some beautiful outdoor scenery but that is all we found there. Nothing to do.... we were glad to leave. We experienced some undesirable racism while we there. Whidbey Island isnt for everyone.

[aussiegal]

We live in Mount Vernon which is also where many navy folks choose to live for various reasons. My husband works in Everett and he does the commute daily. I agree in general with all the posts. While Oak Harbor/ Coupeville/ Anacortes would be great if you had employment locally, I believe you will have to look further afield to put that brand new degree to use.

I would think that in the Everett/Bothell area it would not be too difficult to find a job in Marketing since many corporations are located in those areas. But that is quite a commute from Oak Harbor.

I always wonder too about commuting from south Whidbey because of the ferries. It's difficult to be locked into and depend on only one mode of transportation to get to and from work.

My best advice would be to take a look at a map of the area and focus your job search so that you and your boyfriend live equi-distant from your respective jobs.