Arlington, WA--Anyone care to give me their synopsis of the locale? (Seattle: fit in, co-op)

[ForestImp]

My husband and I are looking at rural communities to retire to. Hoping to find about 5+ acres.


This area interests me, online. Wondering about the reality of it? Any feedback?


Thanks so much in advance!

[mayfair]

If you are conservative and have a large, lifted pick up truck you'll fit in just fine.

[LookinForMayberry]

Originally Posted by ForestImp

My husband and I are looking at rural communities to retire to. Hoping to find about 5+ acres.


This area interests me, online. Wondering about the reality of it? Any feedback?


Thanks so much in advance!

Arlington was a lumber town back in the day, and also had a lot of family farms in the area. We first started visiting there for the novelty of a small town still like mid-20th century, the cafes served locals, the waitresses called you sweetie as she poured your coffee, the store clerks greeted you, the townspeople nodded as you passed on the sidewalks. Then it got "discovered.

Just of the I-5 corridor, it's become a suburb of other more populated business centers. The locals seem to have gone underground and now the passersby seem to be out of towners looking for some entertainment. A lot of the old businesses are gone, and judging by the number of residential "developments" so are the farmers. Where there used to be no traffic, now that's all there is, traffic and more traffic.

We don't go there much anymore.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by mayfair

If you are conservative and have a large, lifted pick up truck you'll fit in just fine.

I think the reality is more nuanced than that, lots of organic farmers hiding out there in the countryside as well, sizable Hispanic community too. I like Arlington actually, has a characterful historic core, easy reach to some beautiful mountains out toward Darrington as well. IMO, it's one of the best price to value locations in the region, especially as you get out past Jordan Road and Arlington Heights.

[mayfair]

For a more politically mixed area that has retirees, rural acreage and is a little nicer, check out Camano Island.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by mayfair

For a more politically mixed area that has retirees, rural acreage and is a little nicer, check out Camano Island.

Yeah, I agree with that, a lot of artists live on Camano. “The San Juan Island you can drive to”.

[jabogitlu]

Agree with Camano, seemingly pronounced Camino by longtimers.

To add to the list, you could look at the Belfair-Shelton area. Not far from Bremerton, Tacoma, Hood Canal. Maybe a little less artsy than Camano, but it is still largely old school / not gentrified.

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Agree with Camano, seemingly pronounced Camino by longtimers.

Yeah "Camino" is the "Boeings" of Island County. Local dialect.

[jrpuff]

I live just outside Darrington and work in Arlington. If you like the outdoors, it's a nice place to live as you are a stone's throw from the Cascades. I would find a property that is not right off Highway 530 personally. Come summer, it gets very busy with tourists heading out to Darrington and beyond to go sightseeing/camping/etc.

There are lots of options for food nearby. Couple grocery stores (Safeway, Grocery Outlet) within the actual town area, and then several others (Costco, Winco, Haggens) several miles down I5. Good hardware/garden co-op right in town. Cute little farmer's market in the park downtown during the summer. Several Farms in the area. Hospital isn't great, but there are other options nearby for serious medical needs.

Seeing many more people moving to the area from out of state/Seattle, looking to escape the big city life....even out here in Darrington. Other smaller(ish) towns you might consider looking at in this region are the Sedro Wooley area and also areas east of Bellingham heading towards Deming area.

Yes, the smaller towns are more conservaive minded but there is mostly a live-and let live attitude. As long as you (as an "outsider") don't move in and try and critique people's way of life up here and start trying to change things to be "like they were back home", you'll be fine.