Relocate (Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham: real estate, find a job, college)

[boatguy]

My wife and I are thinking of moving from the upper midwest, MN to be exact. We want to be in a smaller town/city on or near the coast. She is a Social Worker, I'm a Marine Technician/Mechanic/equipment operator. Any ideas?

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by boatguy

...We want to be in a smaller town/city on or near the coast...

The only "city" in Washington on the Pacific Coast is Aberdeen. I happen to like it, but a search on this forum will show that most people consider it a pretty dismal, depressing, place.

If you can settle for the shores of the sound rather than the coast, you will have many more opportunities as there are dozens of small cities on or near the water.

[boatguy]

Any you could reccomend?

[Fat Freddy]

The best thing to do would be to look at a map of the state and do a search on this forum for opinions about any that look promising.

I'll bet it will have lots of info posted about it. Ignore those posts that are obviously by real estate or chamber of commerce shills.

I've always liked Port Angeles.

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by boatguy

..I'm a Marine Technician/Mechanic/equipment operator...

I'm not sure what your trade involves, but if it has to do with large ships, you will be pretty much limited to the port cities of Seattle and Tacoma, and to a lesser degree maybe Bremerton and Aberdeen.

If it has to do with smaller vessels like fishing or pleasure craft, you will probably find jobs all over the sound and the coast from Gray's Harbor south to the Columbia River. Although they may not pay what you are used to, and it may be difficult for your wife to find a job in many of those areas.

[boatguy]

Can anyone tell me about either of these places? Weather, employment, housing, crime? Any local blogs I can check out. Thanks

[StealthRabbit]

a Fed job at the numerous military shipyards might help pay the bills, but they are all located on the sound (inland waters). There is a fishing fleet in Illwaco, just across the bridge from Astoria, OR, where there is plenty of shopping + more jobs, (warrenton). But OR has an 8% Income tax if you earn income there, and live in WA

www.usajobs.com for federal openings

I'd look into Port Orchard, Bremerton, (more social work jobs here) + Port Angeles, Grays Harbor, Illwaco for a lower cost of living than the SEA metro area.

You should also look into Bellingham, as it has a port, it is a very nice area and close to BC, but expensive to live. It has a pretty diverse economy and several college options and decent cultural events.

[theRain]

Originally Posted by boatguy

Can anyone tell me about either of these places? Weather, employment, housing, crime? Any local blogs I can check out. Thanks

Port Angeles will have more opportunities, for sure. Beware of culture shock with these towns, however. The average IQ has got to be lower than the national average! I moved to Port Townsend from a college town, and lived there for more than a decade. That was a shock to my system, but of course the locals don't notice, as most of them haven't ever left the peninsula!! Beautiful scenery though.