Debating a move to Port Angeles. (summer, water, fire)

[elkotronics]

Mech Andy - yes I am missing the Oly Pen. I've only got three years left to work. Not much time to go but there's time to sell our house here and pick out one in another state for retiring in. I'm actually getting a re-hankering for SE Arizona. I'm looking at a house there now that's only 2/3rds the value of our house here in Alamogordo, but I really like what it offers for the money.

I loved SE Arizona, Cochise Stronghold, Fort Bowie, Chiricahua National Monument, Kansas Settlement. Plus, I like to go to Tucson and Phoenix to take in rock shows.

So it's a work in progress. I'd relocate to Forks if I came back home to Washington state. Indeedy.

[Greytraveler]

Unless I missed it, there was no discussion of health care, access to doctors and quality of local medical facilities. My impression, after a bit of reading, is the PNW is behind the curve when it comes to health care in many communities. Just something to look into because it is possible there is more to it.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Greytraveler

Unless I missed it, there was no discussion of health care, access to doctors and quality of local medical facilities. My impression, after a bit of reading, is the PNW is behind the curve when it comes to health care in many communities. Just something to look into because it is possible there is more to it.

MY parents and recently an Aunt had many occasions to use the hospital in Port Angeles, Olympic Medical Center, including emergency surgery. They did sometimes have to go to Bremerton, however, for more specialized care. My aunt had to be flown by helicopter from Olympic to Seattle due to being overwhelmed with Covid patients last June. That's our main reason for staying on this side of the water when we retire.

[MechAndy]

There is a nice looking hospital that the S’Kallam tribe built in Sequim.
It’s not small at all.
It’s just a few blocks east of the main road on the west side of town.
There is also life flight insurance for about $70 per year that covers all of your family if you need it.

That said this is the boonies if you are used to the big city life so no there is not an abundance of large hospitals every few miles.

[Greytraveler]

Hemlock140 - I have done much reading and research in the last few weeks. We are in our early 80's and need to be assured of rapid response if a health care need arises. So far have not had any significant issues. A false alarm some time back when my wife had symptoms of a heart attack I called 911. The EMT's arrived in what seemed like a lot less than 5 minutes and the second group almost as quickly. Six people in all. The clinic for our PCP is four miles from us as is the lab. A major medical facility including oncology is around 16 miles. These are my baseline measures. Not convinced many if any places can meet or beat.

Surfing the real estate web sites I see many very desirable homes, some with beautiful water views. It is difficult for me to give up the idea of moving to the PNW. Which we love. We will continue to visit and enjoy our favorite spots and restaurants. But, it looks like we will be staying at North Lake Tahoe. If the smoke gets out of hand, we will hook up the fifth wheel and head for the coast.

Sorry if this ramble is TMI

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Greytraveler

Hemlock140 - I have done much reading and research in the last few weeks. We are in our early 80's and need to be assured of rapid response if a health care need arises. So far have not had any significant issues. A false alarm some time back when my wife had symptoms of a heart attack I called 911. The EMT's arrived in what seemed like a lot less than 5 minutes and the second group almost as quickly. Six people in all. The clinic for our PCP is four miles from us as is the lab. A major medical facility including oncology is around 16 miles. These are my baseline measures. Not convinced many if any places can meet or beat.

Surfing the real estate web sites I see many very desirable homes, some with beautiful water views. It is difficult for me to give up the idea of moving to the PNW. Which we love. We will continue to visit and enjoy our favorite spots and restaurants. But, it looks like we will be staying at North Lake Tahoe. If the smoke gets out of hand, we will hook up the fifth wheel and head for the coast.

Sorry if this ramble is TMI

We love North Tahoe and until Covid went every year for a vacation, staying at Homewood, Carnelian Bay, or most recently Incline. A few ties we flew to Reno and drove a rental over Mt. Rose, but more often did the 14 hour drive, staying overnight in Yreka, CA. My late aunt had a cabin in Tahoe City, where we would go as kids in the 1960s for a few weekends every year. My wife and I spent out wedding night at Tahoe Vista on the way to our honeymoon at Yellowstone in 1974.

Back on topic, my first real boss who hired me in 1975 is 84, and happily living in Gig Harbor.

[MechAndy]

The wife and I were talking about this just recently.

Her boss just bought a nice place in north Lake Tahoe.
His plan is to use it as a second home and eventually retire there.

We were saying that it’s very similar to what we are doing other than he doesn’t have to spend 12-13 hours to get there.

Wifey said his emergency medical situation is slightly better because of Reno being close.
She does have a point to a degree but it’s not all that much better is it?

I see it as slight advantage over the Olympic peninsula but not all that much if at all.
Thoughts?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

The wife and I were talking about this just recently.

Her boss just bought a nice place in north Lake Tahoe.
His plan is to use it as a second home and eventually retire there.

We were saying that it’s very similar to what we are doing other than he doesn’t have to spend 12-13 hours to get there.

Wifey said his emergency medical situation is slightly better because of Reno being close.
She does have a point to a degree but it’s not all that much better is it?

I see it as slight advantage over the Olympic peninsula but not all that much if at all.
Thoughts?

The Tahoe area was invaded by wildfire this summer. All the firefighter power in the world, from what I read, couldn't stop it. I don't know what the end result was, as I didn't keep up with the news. It's something to bear in mind, in any case.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

The Tahoe area was invaded by wildfire this summer. All the firefighter power in the world, from what I read, couldn't stop it. I don't know what the end result was, as I didn't keep up with the news. It's something to bear in mind, in any case.

Yes, in fact my sister was there, and ended there stay early, due to the smoke. Later my boss went, and she too came back early. She went gain last week because the VRBO people gave her credit for the days they missed, and while it was nice, the water level was really low, with nothing flowing into the Truckee at Tahoe City. The fire containment only reached 100% this morning after it destroyed 1,000 structures including more than 770 homes. I don't expect to go back in summer again, possibly in May or early June.

[MechAndy]

I skied Tahoe for years.
Tahoe is nice but I couldn’t live there.
It’s just to crowded to spend more than a few days for me.

With the climate heating up and lack of snow and rain I’m sure that place will change.
I think the PNW will continue to have more to offer for me.