Sitting in the hospital just checking out threads and saw this post. What part of Washington are you looking at? I'm in SPOKANE, right near the Idaho/Washington border along I-90.
Rain/snow/wind/& cold with 2-1/2 months of HotRod/Harley/and Boating weather, and 9 months of Rain/Snow/wind/& cold!!
The job situation here isn't "too" bad, and the cost of living is decent, but on the "West" side, Seattle/Everett/Olympia, is a whole 'nother story!! The cost of living is "somewhat" comparable to So.Cal., the jobs are there, but so are LOTS of people looking for good jobs...lots of competition.
The west side are the "yuppies" (no offense, but think, Microsoft/Starbucks/Quest Communications/& Boeing) the middle is mostly desert and not much other than rodeos going on, and the east side is the "hunters/skiers/snowboarders", I'm none of those types, and have been trying to move back to So.Cal. Since 1985!!!
I have an EXCELLENT job welding aluminum all day, and that's what keeps me here,(other than the life changing curve ball that has affected my little girl recently) as it supports my HotRodding, Harley's, and the DragBoat.
Looking on the internet and googling the areas, you will see the majority of posts saying that the PNW (Pacific North West) is the best place to live and raise kids, but I will HONESTLY TELL YOU, THERE IS JUST AS MUCH CRIME, AND TURMOIL HERE AS ANYWHERE ELSE,!
I just today, left the hospital to go get the family something to eat (other than hospital food), and whitin a 1 block area, there was a major 2 car accident with injuries, an older gentlemen being handcuffed by 2 officers, and at the end of the block in a different situation, a male and female being handcuffed and arrested with a drug sniffing dog going thru their car.
So,.... With that being said, I am NOT discouraging you, but just giving actual facts of my experiences. Feel free to get a hold of me if you like, and I can give you any info that I may have to help you out.
There is a web site called: city-data.com that has lots of good info on all areas of the United States, so you might be interested in that.
There is a huge HotRod following here, and within the past 3 years there have been 3 contenders from Spokane, (all friends of mine that I've helped with their builds) that have competed for the AMBR (Americas Most Beautiful Roadster) award, ...if your interested in the HotRod lifestyle??
Good luck, I see your from Whittier.... I'd swap your Whittier, for my Spokane, in an INSTANT. But that's just me, I just don't like the snow/wind/rain/& cold!!!
Ken
