Lakebay, WA and Surrounding Area

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by wolfdog

And of course, make sure you like rain...a lot of rain.

Depends on what you mean by "a lot of rain". Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula, which are in the rain shadow of the Olympics, averages 46" of rain and 2" of snow annually. That's a bit wetter than Seattle (38") and Portland (43"), and a bit dryer than Olympia (53"). I grew up in Aberdeen (76"), so know what "wet" is.

[ohio_peasant]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

I would imagine it will be more difficult for a newcomer to meet people in a rural setting ... When you are in a car-centric rural area with all the houses set well back from the highway and no one actually walks on the highway then that is more difficult. Also especially if there isn't a lot of mobility and people are basically old-timers who aren't really looking for new friends or acquaintances.

Very true. A large factor is the churning, dynamism and turnover of an area. Notoriously, this is more in cities than suburbs or towns, and even more so, than in the countryside.

Originally Posted by majica26

...As far as friends, I have lived in a large suburb in the center of town for over 10 years. I barely know my neighbors ...

...People our age have young kids, mostly babies and toddlers. We are empty nesters. So, it's hard to make friends with people that are in different stages of life than us, ....

Such lament is common for child-free and [not sure if this captures your position] the secular. Rural or exurban regions tend to be "family oriented" and religious. Regardless of any other aspects of our politics, culture, ethnicity, outlook on life, finances or anything else - if we're locally oddities on matters of children and religion, we'll struggle to find substantial common-ground. We can be cordial with neighbors, but we're unlikely to become genuine intimates.

On the other hand, city-living is rife and riddled with its own travails, such as noise, thorny regulations, lack of privacy, lack of space, congestion of whatever sort, and possibly social policies that we might find to be just a tad too extreme.

Thus the dream is a Jeffersonian-style semi-rural life, where well-read and eloquent gentlemen visit each other's estates to discuss Thucydides and Plutarch. As with so many dreams, this one is unrealizable. How then, to compromise?

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by ohio_peasant

Thus the dream is a Jeffersonian-style semi-rural life, where well-read and eloquent gentlemen visit each other's estates to discuss Thucydides and Plutarch. As with so many dreams, this one is unrealizable. How then, to compromise?

Find a rural area close to a medium sized college town and make some professor friends. Then you've got the rural space and freedom but can hang around with a more international or well-read group.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by ohio_peasant

Thus the dream is a Jeffersonian-style semi-rural life, where well-read and eloquent gentlemen visit each other's estates to discuss Thucydides and Plutarch. As with so many dreams, this one is unrealizable. How then, to compromise?

This is interesting. I know people who live that way (though they don't discuss Greek philosophers, but other topics), but they're mostly women scholars. The areas around some of the Eastern universities, like Princeton, which are semi-rural or small-town, are exactly like that. I don't know why that would be unrealizable for you. I know people in Silverdale who are like that, in their own way. Poulsbo has Olympic College. Not quite the UW, but it's something. Port Townsend has a branch of Vermont's Goddard College that focusses on MA programs in literature, creative writing, and the arts.

[Diana Holbrook]

Or if you aren't sure you want to talk about Thucydides and Plutarch, one modern invention that does help with getting to know people are the many local facebook groups that spring up for most of these rural areas. We have several, and they exist for every small town and neighborhood. We discuss everything from lost pets to local contractors and handymen, to local functions and chit chat.

[wolfdog]

Originally Posted by majica26

Whoa, this sounds bleak. My husband does want to live like this. He wants a few acres and wants to build a home that blends into the natural landscape. I like that idea. The issue is he travels a lot so I'd be the one out there...something to think about. We are vacationing in that area for spring break again this year, so I will consider all of this information as we drive about. Thanks again!

In that situation, you might want to own a firearm.

[wolfdog]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Depends on what you mean by "a lot of rain". Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula, which are in the rain shadow of the Olympics, averages 46" of rain and 2" of snow annually. That's a bit wetter than Seattle (38") and Portland (43"), and a bit dryer than Olympia (53"). I grew up in Aberdeen (76"), so know what "wet" is.

True, spent 25 years down the coast in Newport, to 25" now. "a lot" is relative. And less is better.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by wolfdog

True, spent 25 years down the coast in Newport, to 25" now. "a lot" is relative. And less is better.

Well, 5" isn't better, to my mind, anyway. Usually drier is hotter - I'd rather be wet than hot. It's a question of what you are acclimated to.