Best liberal small cities on northern coast (advice on where to move)

[mvpsharky]

I second Providence. Affordable, relatively mild Winters, close to woods and ocean, and easy access to the rest of New England and NYC. Liberal, but not obnoxiously liberal.

[CrazyDonkey]

Look at Tacoma. Jobs are available locally or you can commute to Seattle (express buses or commuter rail). Rents are much more affordable than in Seattle. There are numerous options for continuing your education/training: community colleges, technical colleges, branch campuses (UW, WSU, Evergreen), and universities (UPS, PLU).

Your first priority should be to acquire a marketable skill, either before or after relocating.