Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed.

ChristieAcres · #41 01/08/13, 01:37 AM

Ruby Beach, WA

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

Another shot at Ruby Beach, WA

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

Lake Crescent, WA

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

Log Cabin at Lake Crescent, WA

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

Another shot of Lake Crescent, WA

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

This was out by Elwah, WA, don't remember the name of the waterfall.

I have a lot of other pics, too. The Olympic Peninsula is my favorite part of WA State!

SkagitBrooms · #42 01/08/13, 01:54 AM

Beautiful shots!

Wayne02 · #43 01/08/13, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigb02z28

The major job requirement is to be within an hour of either a Childrens Hospital, or a hospital which has a department just for children, NICU, etc.

My wife is a pediatric nurse and refuses to go back to adults (Something about 40 year old men always wanting their pillow fluffed, lol).

You have a lot of stuff on your list - land prices, acreage, etc but the bottom line is these deals all come down to employment for most people. And you have a pretty targeted employment requirement so it's best to start there and focus your August visit to those areas that actually have the real potential to satisfy that requirement, because ultimately everything else is secondary.

Find the hospitals that meet the above requirement specifically. Determine the true average commute times for that specific area and draw a circle around the hospital for a distance of one hour out. Those are your targeted areas, and now via net research you can pencil in land costs, taxes, school quality, laws, regulations, crime rates, etc. And when you visit in August you know where you need stay. When it comes right down to it, it really doesn't matter if you visit and think the Pacific Ocean is one of the most magical things you've ever seen if the area where you would likely be living is not to your liking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigb02z28

We are planning a vacation in August to visit both sides of the state and see for ourselves.

If you visit western WA in August you will think you have died and gone to heaven (most August's anyway), but the period between the last two weeks of July through the first two weeks of September only account for two months out of the year. Just keep this in mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkagitBrooms

You may want to rent a place at first. Be sure to check the local climate, because it varies a lot. Good luck.

This is a very good idea.

I know it sounds like I'm beating up on my own home state but that is not my intention. I live in western WA by choice because I like it here, as did three generations of my family. I live in the forest, and when I hike/camp/recreate I seek out the forest. I like living amongst the 'giant' trees (well, normal size trees for those of us who live here).

I have spent countless days exploring the western slopes of the North and Central Cascades, as well as the Olympic Peninsula as it is some of the most beautiful country in the world. The recreational opportunities here are incredible. You have the Pacific Ocean, a massive area of inland saltwater water-ways that offer salmon and other types of fishing, a lowland area that comprises some of the most fertile ground available, the mountain foothills that offer both recreational and living opportunities, mountain ranges that are some of the most spectacular in the country, and a history that is steep in agricultural, logging, and fishing.

But... there's always a but.

In a previous life I hired a fair number of folks over an 18 year period who relocated here from other parts of the country, and from direct experience I know that western WA is not for everybody. It costs a business a ton of money to just hire a person, and of course a whole bunch more money should that person decide to leave the company at a later date. It was in our best interest over the long-term to be very honest about the nature of western WA before we got to the point of making serious employment offers to a candidate. Most of the folks who relocated here ended up staying here, however, the percentage of folks who ended up leaving due to the location is high enough that it warrants taking seriously when giving consideration to relocating to western WA.

Trisha in WA · #44 01/08/13, 01:30 PM

OH I missed the part where you were planning a visit in August. Eastern WA is very hot that time of year...in fact it IS THE HOTTEST month of the year! Please don't judge either side of the state by the temp in Aug. You will be disappointed either way.

snoozy · #45 01/08/13, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigb02z28

Thank you for all the replies! Im loving all the pictures!

The wife and I are now even more confused than before even posting! Haha. We are planning a vacation in August to visit both sides of the state and see for ourselves.

We are needing to reevaluate our finances and amount of land we want/need. I'm wanting pigs/chickens and maybe a couple cows. She is wanting fruit trees, and we'll both take whatever veggies we can get.

We're probably a year out at least from moving, but I'm the type that likes to learn/plan as much as possible before the fact.

Pigs and chickens don't take much space at all. I've done them on my 5 acre plot of forest -- only about 1 acre is cleared, so you could do nicely on 2 acres. Cows require more land and actual pasture. Are they for beef or milk? That's a lot of either for 2 people. I've never done cows, so I don't know how much pasture you need for them. Perhaps to supply your beef/dairy needs, you'd be better off buying farm-raised beef and dairy products than in paying mortgage and taxes on the land they require.

Don't forget your ducks. You gotta have ducks here, at least west of the Cascades, if you want to have a garden. Nobody's mentioned the slugs. In eastern WA, they have deer instead of slugs.

Trisha in WA · #46 01/08/13, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoozy

In eastern WA, they have deer instead of slugs.

SOOOOOO true!

ntjpm · #47 01/08/13, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne02

If you visit western WA in August you will think you have died and gone to heaven (most August's anyway), but the period between the last two weeks of July through the first two weeks of September only account for two months out of the year. Just keep this in mind.

HAHHAHAH this is so true, so many people visit at this time and decided to move here, then reality sets in when November comes. Sorry, but I couldn't stop laughing you hit the nail on the head.

Although this last summer was AMAZING 82 days in a row with NO RAIN!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven. BUT, it probably means this coming summer will be like the year before that and we will only get maybe 3 weeks of Sunshine. SIGH.................

I do agree with the others, find your wife her job first and then go from there.

Tracy in WA

Lizza · #48 01/08/13, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigb02z28

Thank you for all the replies! Looks like we'll be sticking to the Eastern side of the state. I will look more into Stevens county.

Could any of you locals steer me in a better direction to searching for land online. I've been looking at landwatch and landandfarm, wondering if theres a more local site. I guess I can check craigslist too, but we don't really use craigslist in our area, too much scamming and theft going on.

Personally I like:

http://www.johnlscott.com/

We live in Western Oregon (Willamette Valley) and I'll echo Cindy. It is more expensive on this side, we needed to move and it took us forever to find something, things sell very fast here if it is decent, we bought this place the first day it was on the market.

We have more jobs though and a better economy. We actually would like to move to the Eastern Side (Bend area) but are here for now. Growing season is much better here too (Western side).

Molly Mckee · #49 01/08/13, 02:56 PM

August is the nicest time of year in W WA. There is nothing prettier than a warm, sunny day on the west side of the state. However, there aren't too many of those days in a year.

The traffic is terrible around Seattle, and we moved to WA from Houston! There is no way I would drive to work in that mess, from any where I could afford a few acres.

I think you can grow as many things in E WA as western. We have much more sun as well as warmer weather in the summer. You do have to water in most areas, but at least in far
E WA that is not a problem.

Traffic in the Spokane area isn't bad at all. You can live in a very rural area and get downtown in less than an hour. Many of the hospitals offer 3 12 hour shifts as 40 as well.

Dusky Beauty · #50 01/08/13, 03:04 PM

Now *I* want to visit the Olympic Penn (thanks for that Lori! :P) Luckily I think Hubby would go for it too-- we love this kind of country.

Do you know anyone that market gardens or sells off farm products Lori? Something I'm always looking at is 1.)how pretty and fertile a place is, 2.)how affordable the land is and 3.)Is there a market to sell my stuff if I grow it

LisaInN.Idaho · #51 01/08/13, 03:23 PM

I live north of Spokane in northern Idaho. Mountains, water and plenty of precipitation so green conifer forests. Here is a picture taken yesterday from my porch.

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

My area would be too far north for you (it takes us an hour and 15 minutes to get to north Spokane) but since the hospital is right off I-90, you should check out the areas around Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Rathdrum, Twin Lakes, etc.
Beautiful area and well within an hour of the hospital. Personally, I think northern Idaho is one of the most beautiful and hidden gems on the planet. But I'm probably biased since it's where I chose to live.

vanet · #52 01/08/13, 04:26 PM

I know I am going to get blasted from all the locals. But here goes. Do not under any circumstances consider the state of WA if you are trying to become self sufficiant. I was born there and spent more than 30 yeas of my life there. Problems: Taxes, most people, regulations, prices, weather, lack of good paying employment and probably some I have forgotten since I have been away a few years. If you want that type of country but at an affordable price without the government and your neighbors causing you nothing but grief. Look at AZ (up north), Colorado (west side), New Mexico (west and north) Oregon, and even northern Cali would be better than WA.Your money will go allot further and you will be among many more like minded people. Good luck with your search.

snoozy · #53 01/08/13, 04:45 PM

Lack of good paying employment? Interesting viewpoint. Considering WA has the highest minimum wage in the country and is a center of IT. Oh, well. Can't please everybody. I'm so glad there are other states for people to find their bliss in.

Wayne02 · #54 01/08/13, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoozy

Don't forget your ducks. You gotta have ducks here, at least west of the Cascades, if you want to have a garden.

Yep, and they will come in the house if you don't keep the sliding door closed.
Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

91redford · #55 01/08/13, 08:43 PM

The west is sweet, but being born & raised here has undoubtedly tainted my viewpoint. as you consider Wa vs Or & other western states remember the newest emerging field for the independent minded among us..

My sister lives in spokane and always tells me how cold it is in the winter, i live 20 miles inland from Astoria, it rains so much in the winter you can get depressed if you don't keep busy. we can both grow good tomatoes in the summer. she has more 100 degree days. we have alot more greenery. if you want a west side location with little rainfall google squim WA, something about the Olympic rainshadow keeps the rainfall lower than any other place on the penninsula. when peeps tell you you wont like it here that really means what?

SilverFlame819 · #56 01/09/13, 02:08 AM

*drools* These pictures should be outlawed.

More, MORE!!!

sgsnoco · #57 01/09/13, 02:22 AM

Most of WA lives in the Puget Sound area to get those high IT wages. It's like Oregon-- jobs are very hard to find outside the handful of big urban centers. There are just more urban centers compared to Oregon's Portland and...nothing else. We at least have Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Everett, Tacoma for Puget Sound job centers. And there's always the state capital, which is fairly sizable, Olympia.

That high minimum wage means depressed employment opportunities in the rest of the state, even Spokane to some extent.

I will probably die in the Puget Sound region working my land with my family, but it is more challenging if you don't have portable skills and a pugnacious attitude when it comes to bureaucrats. However, it's not insurmountable or impossible and can be lots of fun.

Dusky Beauty · #58 01/10/13, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanet

If you want that type of country but at an affordable price without the government and your neighbors causing you nothing but grief. Look at AZ (up north), Colorado (west side), New Mexico (west and north) Oregon, and even northern Cali would be better than WA.Your money will go allot further and you will be among many more like minded people. Good luck with your search.

Actually North AZ is awful for water (see other threads about AZ discussing well drilling trouble and hauling water)
Counter-intuitively, Southern AZ is MUCH better in the respect of ground water. Out here near Phoenix, sure we have cactus above the ground, but we have LAKES below the ground. Clean, delicious, uncontaminated, straight from the aquafur; water.
We do have an awful lot of hobby farm support from neighbors and a bustling nearby metro market for products.

Takes about 3 years minimum and lots of irrigation to get a nice, lush, green lot of grass and trees though that you can basically walk onto in other climates. Cheap fertile land though!

ChristieAcres · #59 01/10/13, 03:54 AM

More pics? Here are some more, different areas. A bit late, so will just post without descriptions...

vanet · #60 01/10/13, 09:52 AM

Dusky, you are mistaken. Although there are places in N. AZ that have very deep wells. They are not nearly as deep as those in Southern AZ. Also many places in N. AZ have very close and very good ground water. Our well is 90 ft deep has a caseing 16" across, and cant be pumped dry. We have had as big as 150 gal a minute pump on it and it didnt drop at all. Along with that we get enough rain during the monsoon season (July to Oct.) to dry farm and not water at all. That being said, the southern part of the state does have a much longer growing season. The only reason I recommended N. AZ is that the area is allot like Washington, Pine tree forests and such, with a similar climate and will support the same type of plants. Once you get down south, gardening is a whole different story. You can no longer grow apples and peaches and such. You will be growing Oranges and grapefruits. Another problem with the southern part of the state is you have to be close to either Tucson or Phx. to get any land and it is expensive. Not Nearly as bad as Washington, but still quite pricey. Up North good Property can still be had rather cheaply by western standards.