Looking at the Vancouver area

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by LIFELEADERSHIP

Thank you so much for the information. This is SO helpful as we search for options. I'm a little freaked out by the Snakes and bugs... scorpions and tarantulas. Where do they appear ? Anyway to stay away from them ?

Mostly an issue if you live out in the country. If you live within an urban area or established subdivision you don't see them much. Mostly fire ants.

Most Texans get on good terms with their exterminator. We had a guy who just came out 4x per year like clockwork when we lived in the country. When we moved to the burbs it wasn't necessary.

[LIFELEADERSHIP]

That makes me feel better. We would live in the burbs probably not the country. Thank you, texasdiver.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by LIFELEADERSHIP

Thank you so much for the information. This is SO helpful as we search for options. I'm a little freaked out bjy the Snakes and bugs... scorpions and tarantulas. Where do they appear ? Anyway to stay away from them ?

not to worry, millions of people live with pests

In TX, I occasionally find them in my shoes, bed, shop... but never bitten / harmed, nor was I in Colorado for 28 yrs. (lots of rattlesnakes on our farm).

PNW is pretty 'pest free' (unless you are a fruit grower)

[LIFELEADERSHIP]

Shoes, bed ----- What ? That would freak me out. I could not handle that. Hopefully that is not
the case in urban areas.

[Pmichelle31]

I've lived in Texas for my entire 35 years and we are actually looking at a move to the PNW. It is a significant difference in weather so that will be an adjustment and I may hate it once I get there and want to move back. I have to say, everywhere I've lived in TX, we've made close friends with our neighbors. We do get together a lot and my daughter always has play dates. The notion of moving somewhere where people are so independent is not encouraging for a young mom but we have to go where my husbands job is.

As far as bugs, snakes ect... Yes, fire ants and spiders can be terrible but if you get professional exterminators, they aren't that bad. I've always kept it under control so it hasn't been an issue. On our land, snakes are prevalent so if you buy land, be prepared for a few snake visitors, especially in the hill country. Texas is wonderful and my heart is here. I agree that as far as out door activities and natural beauty it doesn't rank as high as the PNW.

[perigee]

OP, whatever you do, don't schedule a visit for summer, that will not give you an accurate view of the region, I think too many people visit during that time, they fall in love, move and then become miserable with the reality of Northwest living. Come in November, when we usually start to get our wind storms, when the days are noticeably shorter and the clouds are low. This year the storms were especially bad and dragged out, I finally got a decent night sleep because the howling winds weren't waking me up throughout the night.

You keep saying how you like the rest of the year in MN, so I don't see why you would want to move to a place that most consider is a cold, damp, dank and dark region. I was talking to someone recently that lives in South Carolina and loves it, I couldn't handle the heat, humidity and bugs, but that is describing a MN summer and you apparently like it. He said he loved living near a beach he could actually swim in and unlike Florida the weather isn't as oppressive.

If we're still in the running for retirement schedule a visit in mid November or later. It's a beautiful region, but it does have it's negatives and only you can determine if the pros outweigh the cons.

[dudeman1961]

"Camelot Weather Index"

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