Learning, Sharing, and Teaching > Ask a Mustachian

Mustachian Relocation Guide

<< < (64/64)

lifeandlimb:
Good to know, thank you @Sandi_k  and @Log!

We're going to put off making a moving decision for another couple years, but these are good things to keep in mind. Personally I think the bay area of California is one of the most beautiful natural places I've seen—I'm a big fan of those green and yellow rolling hills, maybe even more than deeply lush, heavily wooded areas.

Sandi_k:

--- Quote from: lifeandlimb on June 22, 2023, 01:32:11 PM ---Good to know, thank you @Sandi_k  and @Log!

We're going to put off making a moving decision for another couple years, but these are good things to keep in mind. Personally I think the bay area of California is one of the most beautiful natural places I've seen—I'm a big fan of those green and yellow rolling hills, maybe even more than deeply lush, heavily wooded areas.

--- End quote ---

Ha! They are only green and lush from January-March. And then it's yellow and brown.

But I love the hills and valleys, too. Downtown Pleasanton is charming, and close in enough that you can access BART. Livermore is another 10 miles out, no BART, but a charming walkable downtown, and a good restaurant scene.

If you're retiring and not commuting, you can choose to live just a bit further out, and still have access at non-commute times. ;)

Arbitrage:

* City, State, Country: Bellingham, WA


* If a suburb, distance from city: N/A
Bellingham is its own hub city.  However, it is nestled between two major metro areas: Seattle (about 1 hour to the north suburbs, 90 miles to downtown) and Vancouver, Canada (25 miles to Canadian border, and 50 miles or so to Vancouver).


* Average housing cost (specify rent or buy):Houses are currently around $700k median; rents apparently $1800-2000
Housing cost is a pretty big issue here for those who aren't bringing their money from elsewhere.  Local pay isn't high, and there isn't much in the way of good-paying local industry.  I work (part-time) remotely, and relocated from California, so it wasn't a big deal for us, but I can certainly empathize with those who aren't transplants.
Nearby smaller cities (Ferndale and Lynden are the next tier of cities ~20,000 people, then unincorporated areas like Sudden Valley and a bunch of pretty small towns) are cheaper, but still not really cheap.


* Indoor Hobbies:
TL;DR Don't move to Bellingham just for what you can do indoors - it's perfectly fine but not what is driving people to live here.  Okay, the beer scene is great (most microbreweries per capita in Washington) and the food scene is good for a town this size, as there is a sizeable college in town - Western Washington University.  Certainly, I wouldn't move here if I were a true foody, but you can find plenty of variety, and Vancouver isn't far for more "authentic" ethnic food.  There are a few museums, which I haven't been to yet.  There are two separate walkable downtown-like areas, which are both quite nice and charming in their own ways.  We've got a bouldering gym, a trampoline park, a "ninja" gym, and a climbing wall at the YMCA, but no true full-fledged indoor climbing gym or great indoor public swimming.  They are in the planning stages of building a full climbing gym right now, but likely still a few years off.


* Outdoor Hobbies:Ohhh lordy, where to begin
The outdoor activities and the scenery.  This is where it's at.  3 large lakes basically in town, including one that's part of a public park and kept free of housing development and motorized boating.  There are public access points to all of them.  Lots of paddleboarding, kayaking, surfski activity.  Not many sand beaches, but there are a couple on the lakes, some on the river, and some small rocky/sandy beaches just south of Bellingham Bay. 

Bellingham Bay and nearby - also quite accessible with several public parks.  Speaking mainly from a kayaking perspective - you have several choices, and you won't need to face big crowds or lug your gear very far.  Access points just down the road at a couple of state parks as well. 

Mountains, essentially in town, with endless hiking overlooking all manner of postcard-worthy views.  Larrabee State Park is the only point where the Cascades meet the ocean, and has lots of trails to take advantage of that. 

Mountain biking deserves a special shout-out.  It's a big part of the city culture.  Galbraith Mountain has world-class biking and can be easily ridden to from anyone living on the eastern side of town.  I do so frequently.  New trails are frequently popping up there, but more raw trails in various surrounding mountains as well.  Unlike many of the other true mountain biking destinations, we have the luxury of great trails + city co-located.

Bigger mountains just a short drive away.  Skiing/snowboarding at Mount Baker - snowiest resort in the USA, albeit usually of the heavier PNW variety since it's not very high elevation.  The resort has its own character: you're not going to find high-speed chairs, apres-ski bars, or top-tier amenities, but you're also not going to find crowds, lift lines, or expensive lift tickets.  The terrain itself is pretty good, but you've got to keep an eye on the snow quality; we'll get southerly atmospheric rivers from time to time that will warm up the entire area and drop rain on the ski resort, degrading the snow and causing flooding concerns near the river basins.  Backcountry skiing is reasonably popular here as well. 

Ski to Sea race - this annual multisport race embodies a lot of what Bellingham has to offer - 8 people and 7 sports in a relay from Mount Baker Ski Area to Bellingham Bay.  Cross-country and downhill skiing, running, road biking, river canoeing, cyclocross biking, and sea kayaking all in one race. 

City parks - so many gems.  Not only official parks, but also designated open space areas that are kept wilder.  The city and county also prioritize maintaining our green space, watershed, tree cover and "park equity" across less privileged areas, so there's little fear of it all getting developed and paved over.

National parks, 3 within driving distance - Olympic, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier.  I confess that we haven't visited yet.

San Juan Islands - the ferry terminal in Anacortes is about a 45-minute drive.  Lots to see and do in the islands. 

Canadian proximity - Vancouver and the North Shore, Squamish, and Whistler are all pretty close.  The Nexus pass (we're still on the waiting list) makes crossing the border trivial.

Basically, it's a great place for nearly any outdoor activity aside from surfing, scuba, and sunbathing (all of the shelter from the islands keeps our waves quite small, and the water is coooold).  You don't need to go far for most of these activities, either, and won't be fighting crowds. 


* Weather (High Temps, Low Temps, Seasons, Sun):Four seasons, with a long, drizzly, dark winter
Part of the reason we moved here was for milder weather and climate change resilience.  There's no getting around it, though - you don't get a ton of sun here.  It's one of the least sunny cities in the country.  I grew up in an overcast Midwest city and find that it doesn't bother me that much as long as I keep making an effort to get outside throughout the winter.  The minimal sun from late fall through early spring definitely gets to some people, though.  Lots of people recommend SAD lamps and Vitamin D.

What might surprise people is how dry and sunny the summer is here.  It's truly glorious most of the time, and in my opinion about the best in the entire country unless you really like true beach weather.  It can occasionally be spoiled by wildfire smoke blowing in from Canada, Eastern WA, or Oregon.  Temps are usually in the high 60s or 70s, with generally low humidity, but we'll still get down to the 50s overnight so things don't get stuffy aside from the occasional heat wave.  This past summer, I don't think we hit 90 a single day, and were only in the 80s maybe 10 days or so.

Early fall is great as well, as we start to mix in the occasional shower, crisp mornings, and the leaves change.  Around late October the weather changes quickly, and from late fall until early spring it's a lot of the same - highs mostly in the 40s, lows mostly in the upper 30s to low 40s, lots of cloud cover, lots of drizzle with the occasional harder rain.  Certainly can get windy as well.  One nice thing that you won't see on the weather reports or forecasts unless you look closely at the hour-by-hour - we'll often get "sun breaks" during the day, which represent a great opportunity to get outside and get that Vitamin D. 

Snow is rare, but from time to time the winds will come down through the Fraser River Valley and bring some true winter weather.  It rarely stays accumulated, but icy roads can happen and the snow removal capability of the city isn't good. 


* Favorite things:Other than outdoor activities?
Lots of favorite things already described, so I'll go for some non-nature stuff:
For a North American city, it's very bike-friendly.  There are no speed limits above 35 in the city.  There is a city-wide pedestrian and bicycle network plan that is regularly updated, being implemented over time, and we see regular improvements.  If and when the network is completed, it'll really be something.  While there of course are the pockets of resistance, bike culture is tolerated well.  I ride an e-bike around town year-round, and can get from my (fairly centrally located) house to basically anywhere in the city within 20 minutes.  It is quite hilly, so the electric assist is definitely appreciated.

There is no real traffic.  Okay, the long-time residents will complain of how bad the traffic is getting, but if you have the perspective of basically any city of size - there is no real traffic.  You can be stuck at a couple of light cycles at the hotspots in town, and of course if there's a crash or other temporary issue the freeway or roads will get backed up, but we don't ever have to plan around traffic unless we're heading to Seattle.  Mind you, since I e-bike everywhere, this wouldn't be an issue for me anyhow, but of course when I do drive the family around it's such a boon to my psyche after spending the previous 20 years in traffic-choked California metros.

The schools are good, but in a different way than where we moved from in California.  There is far less emphasis on good test scores and piling on homework, and far more emphasis on critical thinking and the 'whole student.'  Our kids certainly get more attention to what they need here, and are much happier in school, but I'm sure they won't do as well on standardized tests had we not moved.  The local university, WWU, is a very strong teaching school, and the public schools here benefit from that.


* Least favorite things:Homelessness issues
Like many places all along the West Coast (and elsewhere), we have a problem with homelessness, and related problems with property crime and public drug use.  Now, I'm not going to blame those related problems completely on the homeless population, but to deny the connections is silly, IMO.  You will certainly find loads of bikes being torn down in the open in homeless camps.  Camps are routinely rotated around town, then eventually cleared out by the sheriffs.  You'll see the broken down RVs parked around, lots of panhandling, and mentally ill people wandering across busy streets or shouting.  There are plenty of efforts to help, but the problem is bigger than the help thus far.

Another thing to mention - traveling by plane can be complicated.  The local airport, BLI, is a fantastic experience to fly through.  However, it only flies commuter jets to Seattle (Alaska), and a few western state destinations via Allegiant and Southwest.  Heading east can be difficult or impossible through BLI.  Internationally, many people will fly through Vancouver, but domestically this usually means finding your way to Sea-Tac.  There are certainly options, but they can be confusing and take some time and effort.  High speed train plans from Vancouver down through Portland are being considered (and I'd personally be thrilled), but don't count on that happening in the next 20 years, if ever. 


* 'Must Try':Sooo much but this has rambled long enough
A few things to mention -
Visiting Picture Lake and Artist Point in the summer
Hiking Oyster Dome
Spending a sunny day at Lake Padden
Walking the Interurban trail and Taylor Dock between Boulevard Park and Fairhaven
Doing the loop at Stimpson Preserve
Mountain biking at Galbraith


* Stupid ordinances/laws:No fluoride in the water
For whatever reason, Bellingham is one of very few cities in the USA that does not fluoridate their water.  Yes, I know there are people who love that and will point to various studies.  The good thing is that we have excellent drinking water, sourced locally from Lake Whatcom.  The bad news is that you'd better stay on top of your dental care.

I would be remiss not to mention the political outlook here.  Bellingham is bright blue, but much of Whatcom County is red, bright red in areas. 


* Words of wisdom/Advice:Truly awesome and gorgeous place to live; but bring your money, your rain gear, and a sun lamp.  I'd be happy if you brought your bike and left your car behind as well.
I have no regrets about moving here.  You might find yourself getting pretty tired of clouds and chilly dampness come February/March, so some people take a late winter trip to Palm Springs or Arizona to rejuvenate their spirits.


* Sustainability options (gardening, solar, etc):
Not going to be world-class here.  Lots of cloud cover, and the growing season isn't very long unless you have a greenhouse.  Solar still works, of course, but you'll need a bigger array. 

Colterha:
Hey everyone,

I’m probably breaking some rules here but am looking for community (preferably of the Mustachian variety) in Tulsa, OK.

Just read post #53 of 53 in the email series and I need to find my “urban tribe.”

Is anyone local or can point me in the right direction?

mustachian816:

--- Quote from: Arbitrage on December 21, 2023, 11:37:51 AM ---
* City, State, Country: Bellingham, WA


* If a suburb, distance from city: N/A
Bellingham is its own hub city.  However, it is nestled between two major metro areas: Seattle (about 1 hour to the north suburbs, 90 miles to downtown) and Vancouver, Canada (25 miles to Canadian border, and 50 miles or so to Vancouver).


* Average housing cost (specify rent or buy):Houses are currently around $700k median; rents apparently $1800-2000
Housing cost is a pretty big issue here for those who aren't bringing their money from elsewhere.  Local pay isn't high, and there isn't much in the way of good-paying local industry.  I work (part-time) remotely, and relocated from California, so it wasn't a big deal for us, but I can certainly empathize with those who aren't transplants.
Nearby smaller cities (Ferndale and Lynden are the next tier of cities ~20,000 people, then unincorporated areas like Sudden Valley and a bunch of pretty small towns) are cheaper, but still not really cheap.


* Indoor Hobbies:
TL;DR Don't move to Bellingham just for what you can do indoors - it's perfectly fine but not what is driving people to live here.  Okay, the beer scene is great (most microbreweries per capita in Washington) and the food scene is good for a town this size, as there is a sizeable college in town - Western Washington University.  Certainly, I wouldn't move here if I were a true foody, but you can find plenty of variety, and Vancouver isn't far for more "authentic" ethnic food.  There are a few museums, which I haven't been to yet.  There are two separate walkable downtown-like areas, which are both quite nice and charming in their own ways.  We've got a bouldering gym, a trampoline park, a "ninja" gym, and a climbing wall at the YMCA, but no true full-fledged indoor climbing gym or great indoor public swimming.  They are in the planning stages of building a full climbing gym right now, but likely still a few years off.


* Outdoor Hobbies:Ohhh lordy, where to begin
The outdoor activities and the scenery.  This is where it's at.  3 large lakes basically in town, including one that's part of a public park and kept free of housing development and motorized boating.  There are public access points to all of them.  Lots of paddleboarding, kayaking, surfski activity.  Not many sand beaches, but there are a couple on the lakes, some on the river, and some small rocky/sandy beaches just south of Bellingham Bay. 

Bellingham Bay and nearby - also quite accessible with several public parks.  Speaking mainly from a kayaking perspective - you have several choices, and you won't need to face big crowds or lug your gear very far.  Access points just down the road at a couple of state parks as well. 

Mountains, essentially in town, with endless hiking overlooking all manner of postcard-worthy views.  Larrabee State Park is the only point where the Cascades meet the ocean, and has lots of trails to take advantage of that. 

Mountain biking deserves a special shout-out.  It's a big part of the city culture.  Galbraith Mountain has world-class biking and can be easily ridden to from anyone living on the eastern side of town.  I do so frequently.  New trails are frequently popping up there, but more raw trails in various surrounding mountains as well.  Unlike many of the other true mountain biking destinations, we have the luxury of great trails + city co-located.

Bigger mountains just a short drive away.  Skiing/snowboarding at Mount Baker - snowiest resort in the USA, albeit usually of the heavier PNW variety since it's not very high elevation.  The resort has its own character: you're not going to find high-speed chairs, apres-ski bars, or top-tier amenities, but you're also not going to find crowds, lift lines, or expensive lift tickets.  The terrain itself is pretty good, but you've got to keep an eye on the snow quality; we'll get southerly atmospheric rivers from time to time that will warm up the entire area and drop rain on the ski resort, degrading the snow and causing flooding concerns near the river basins.  Backcountry skiing is reasonably popular here as well. 

Ski to Sea race - this annual multisport race embodies a lot of what Bellingham has to offer - 8 people and 7 sports in a relay from Mount Baker Ski Area to Bellingham Bay.  Cross-country and downhill skiing, running, road biking, river canoeing, cyclocross biking, and sea kayaking all in one race. 

City parks - so many gems.  Not only official parks, but also designated open space areas that are kept wilder.  The city and county also prioritize maintaining our green space, watershed, tree cover and "park equity" across less privileged areas, so there's little fear of it all getting developed and paved over.

National parks, 3 within driving distance - Olympic, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier.  I confess that we haven't visited yet.

San Juan Islands - the ferry terminal in Anacortes is about a 45-minute drive.  Lots to see and do in the islands. 

Canadian proximity - Vancouver and the North Shore, Squamish, and Whistler are all pretty close.  The Nexus pass (we're still on the waiting list) makes crossing the border trivial.

Basically, it's a great place for nearly any outdoor activity aside from surfing, scuba, and sunbathing (all of the shelter from the islands keeps our waves quite small, and the water is coooold).  You don't need to go far for most of these activities, either, and won't be fighting crowds. 


* Weather (High Temps, Low Temps, Seasons, Sun):Four seasons, with a long, drizzly, dark winter
Part of the reason we moved here was for milder weather and climate change resilience.  There's no getting around it, though - you don't get a ton of sun here.  It's one of the least sunny cities in the country.  I grew up in an overcast Midwest city and find that it doesn't bother me that much as long as I keep making an effort to get outside throughout the winter.  The minimal sun from late fall through early spring definitely gets to some people, though.  Lots of people recommend SAD lamps and Vitamin D.

What might surprise people is how dry and sunny the summer is here.  It's truly glorious most of the time, and in my opinion about the best in the entire country unless you really like true beach weather.  It can occasionally be spoiled by wildfire smoke blowing in from Canada, Eastern WA, or Oregon.  Temps are usually in the high 60s or 70s, with generally low humidity, but we'll still get down to the 50s overnight so things don't get stuffy aside from the occasional heat wave.  This past summer, I don't think we hit 90 a single day, and were only in the 80s maybe 10 days or so.

Early fall is great as well, as we start to mix in the occasional shower, crisp mornings, and the leaves change.  Around late October the weather changes quickly, and from late fall until early spring it's a lot of the same - highs mostly in the 40s, lows mostly in the upper 30s to low 40s, lots of cloud cover, lots of drizzle with the occasional harder rain.  Certainly can get windy as well.  One nice thing that you won't see on the weather reports or forecasts unless you look closely at the hour-by-hour - we'll often get "sun breaks" during the day, which represent a great opportunity to get outside and get that Vitamin D. 

Snow is rare, but from time to time the winds will come down through the Fraser River Valley and bring some true winter weather.  It rarely stays accumulated, but icy roads can happen and the snow removal capability of the city isn't good. 


* Favorite things:Other than outdoor activities?
Lots of favorite things already described, so I'll go for some non-nature stuff:
For a North American city, it's very bike-friendly.  There are no speed limits above 35 in the city.  There is a city-wide pedestrian and bicycle network plan that is regularly updated, being implemented over time, and we see regular improvements.  If and when the network is completed, it'll really be something.  While there of course are the pockets of resistance, bike culture is tolerated well.  I ride an e-bike around town year-round, and can get from my (fairly centrally located) house to basically anywhere in the city within 20 minutes.  It is quite hilly, so the electric assist is definitely appreciated.

There is no real traffic.  Okay, the long-time residents will complain of how bad the traffic is getting, but if you have the perspective of basically any city of size - there is no real traffic.  You can be stuck at a couple of light cycles at the hotspots in town, and of course if there's a crash or other temporary issue the freeway or roads will get backed up, but we don't ever have to plan around traffic unless we're heading to Seattle.  Mind you, since I e-bike everywhere, this wouldn't be an issue for me anyhow, but of course when I do drive the family around it's such a boon to my psyche after spending the previous 20 years in traffic-choked California metros.

The schools are good, but in a different way than where we moved from in California.  There is far less emphasis on good test scores and piling on homework, and far more emphasis on critical thinking and the 'whole student.'  Our kids certainly get more attention to what they need here, and are much happier in school, but I'm sure they won't do as well on standardized tests had we not moved.  The local university, WWU, is a very strong teaching school, and the public schools here benefit from that.


* Least favorite things:Homelessness issues
Like many places all along the West Coast (and elsewhere), we have a problem with homelessness, and related problems with property crime and public drug use.  Now, I'm not going to blame those related problems completely on the homeless population, but to deny the connections is silly, IMO.  You will certainly find loads of bikes being torn down in the open in homeless camps.  Camps are routinely rotated around town, then eventually cleared out by the sheriffs.  You'll see the broken down RVs parked around, lots of panhandling, and mentally ill people wandering across busy streets or shouting.  There are plenty of efforts to help, but the problem is bigger than the help thus far.

Another thing to mention - traveling by plane can be complicated.  The local airport, BLI, is a fantastic experience to fly through.  However, it only flies commuter jets to Seattle (Alaska), and a few western state destinations via Allegiant and Southwest.  Heading east can be difficult or impossible through BLI.  Internationally, many people will fly through Vancouver, but domestically this usually means finding your way to Sea-Tac.  There are certainly options, but they can be confusing and take some time and effort.  High speed train plans from Vancouver down through Portland are being considered (and I'd personally be thrilled), but don't count on that happening in the next 20 years, if ever. 


* 'Must Try':Sooo much but this has rambled long enough
A few things to mention -
Visiting Picture Lake and Artist Point in the summer
Hiking Oyster Dome
Spending a sunny day at Lake Padden
Walking the Interurban trail and Taylor Dock between Boulevard Park and Fairhaven
Doing the loop at Stimpson Preserve
Mountain biking at Galbraith


* Stupid ordinances/laws:No fluoride in the water
For whatever reason, Bellingham is one of very few cities in the USA that does not fluoridate their water.  Yes, I know there are people who love that and will point to various studies.  The good thing is that we have excellent drinking water, sourced locally from Lake Whatcom.  The bad news is that you'd better stay on top of your dental care.

I would be remiss not to mention the political outlook here.  Bellingham is bright blue, but much of Whatcom County is red, bright red in areas. 


* Words of wisdom/Advice:Truly awesome and gorgeous place to live; but bring your money, your rain gear, and a sun lamp.  I'd be happy if you brought your bike and left your car behind as well.
I have no regrets about moving here.  You might find yourself getting pretty tired of clouds and chilly dampness come February/March, so some people take a late winter trip to Palm Springs or Arizona to rejuvenate their spirits.


* Sustainability options (gardening, solar, etc):
Not going to be world-class here.  Lots of cloud cover, and the growing season isn't very long unless you have a greenhouse.  Solar still works, of course, but you'll need a bigger array. 

--- End quote ---

Great suggestion on Bellingham.  I love those mid sized cities that are just far enough (1.5-2hr) outside of the commuting belt to be their own community but not too far from a major city that you can still drop in a few times a year for an international airport or other special events.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page