Where should we move???

[Unrepentant Fenian]

We've lived in Arlington WA for over 30 years. We loved Arlington and had no plans to leave. But Amazon is building a facility in our little town that will bring in 10,000 workers. The building isn't even finished yet and traffic is already intolerable and it's going to get worse.
I'm 66 years old and close to retirement. Unfortunately, we feel that we're going to have to move. We'd love to to stay in NW Washington but are willing to consider other places in the western US. I'm originally from Connecticut and have always loved Vermont but I won't put our dog in the cargo hold of any airline.
When we sell our home, we will have around $ 350,000 to buy a new place. We'd like a small town and don't need a lot of land. I'm hoping that people will share their opinions on a good place for us to land. If you want to suggest anything, please do. It will be a great help to us.
Thank you!

[at140]

1. Depends on weather you like

I lived in WA state before but got tired of long rainy cold winters.
Now living in Florida where it is always hot & humid except for 3 winter months. For $350k you can buy a a very nice house in middle America,
away from coasts. But check weather carefully.

[Unrepentant Fenian]

7. Thanks! My brother and sister live in Florida. I love visiting there but I think the heat...

and humidity would suck. I was a photographer for the Audubon Society and loved every assignment when they sent mr down there. I'm getting old and fat and I sweat just scratching my head.

[Unrepentant Fenian]

11. We've alway though about Florida. Still not sure. Thank you!

[theophilus]

26. I've heard that when the sea level rises the Aqua People pay top dollar. Seriously,

Florida is horrible right now, DeSantis et. al., and it isn't going to get better anytime soon because of the climate crisis. Beware.

[we can do it]

2. Rehoboth Beach, or nearby.

[Effete Snob]

3. For $350k?

Is that what one of the submarine watchtowers is going for?

[Unrepentant Fenian]

8. Your reply confuses me, but I'm kind of glad for that...

But thank you for playing.

[Effete Snob]

12. What might one buy in RB for $350k

Two bedroom apartment sized condos down in Bethany start at over $500k

https://www.bestofbethany.com/sea-colony-idx-ppc.php?_ppc=sea%20colony%20condos%20for%20sale&gclid=CjwKCAjwwo-WBhAMEiwAV4dybZU1A9O2Yarbs5KySv751AJCIqD9Hl4yGpC2I5nUWt_R7uNMkvpIVxoCeYQQAvD_BwE

[we can do it]

14. I know, was thinking a little farther out.

I’m in town RB and it is crazy expensive.

[Effete Snob]

17. Oh...

A signature feature of RB are the WWII submarine watchtowers:

[we can do it]

13. Hahaha too funny

[Unrepentant Fenian]

4. I'm sorry , but where is Rehoboth Beach?

[CurtEastPoint]

5. DE

[Unrepentant Fenian]

9. Thank you!

[Effete Snob]

15. It's where the Bidens vacation

You can get a two bedroom apartment sized condo for $800k ish.

Here’s a nice 5000 square foot lot for $2M

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3-Laurel-St-Rehoboth-Beach-DE-19971/126527787_zpid/

Traffic on the main road is at a standstill for hours at a time on summer weekends.

[Deuxcents]

6. Hmmm..a quick look looked good

I keep saying it’s time to leave Florida n if Rubio gets re-elected..I’ll be saying it louder!

[Unrepentant Fenian]

10. Guys like DeSatan scare me! LOL

[Faux pas]

16. ...

Hoquiam? It does depend on what you want for the money. Prices are rising here. We live on 1.8 right across from the river.

[Rebl2]

18. No other

cities in WA you would consider? I would think there are other small towns there to consider.

[Mister Ed]

21. That was my first thought, too.

If the OP loves northwestern Washington State but is dismayed at the prospect of growth in their hometown, then why not keep it simple and move to another, smaller town in Northwest Washington?

[multigraincracker]

19. I like the medium size town

I live just outside of. College town and located halfway between 2 Great Lakes. Just outside the city limits so low taxes and paid cash, $134,000 for a cute little house on 2 acres. We have winter and summer and should never run out of water.

I’m in my 4th forever home. 😋

[at140]

23. Haha I beat you on that score

I am in my 5th for ever home haha.
But seriously I love this house bought for $272k 3 years ago,
now getting offers for $410k. It was new construction, and we negotiated for covered Lanai in back porch, Blinds on all windows, ceiling fans in all rooms including the Lanai, crown moldings in living room & master, and all stainless appliances installed. It was the best move in house ever.

It is close (6 minutes drive) from shops, hospital, restaurants and 10 minutes from miles and miles of uncrowded beaches. Best part is the sub-division is surrounded by woods, so quiet and no traffic noise. Just a lucky purchase.

[ret5hd]

20. Far northern NM and/or far southern Colorado

Weather is excellent…check out Trinidad CO.

[theophilus]

27. Second this. Both areas are beautiful and less politically dangerous. nt

[betsuni]

22. I have no advice, but my family moved to Steilacoom, WA when I was young

and it was a beautiful little Sleepy Hollow town. When Tacoma was chosen for the railroad terminal, everybody moved north and Steilacoom fell asleep.

I haven't been back in decades and don't really want to, prefer my memories of the town as it was. Old people in old historical houses, abandoned 19th century orchards of apples, crabapples, pears, cherries, plums, hazelnuts. Massive blackberry bushes lining the railroad tracks, massive blackberry cobblers. Floating on driftwood logs during high tide in the Sound on long summer evenings, those gorgeous sunsets and the Olympics black against the colors.

The E.R. Rodgers house that used to be a boarding house until after WWII, I think, was a big creepy old place where an old man who had a little museum there lived (it became a restaurant famous for its ghosts -- included in "Ghost Stories of Washington" and "Ghost Stories from the Pacific Northwest" as is the nearby Bair Drugstore). We used to peer into the dark dusty interior of Bair's where all the old fashioned drugstore goods and the big soda fountain were left as they were the day it closed down earlier in the century. It became a restaurant too and the ghosts weren't happy about it. E.R. Rodgers is now a law office and apparently the ghostly activity stopped. Can't blame the ghosts. The little grocery store where I'd buy penny Jolly Ranchers and Red Vines became a French restaurant. The old people died off and their houses remodeled and sold for exorbitant amounts. Trees cut down because they blocked the view.

But I'm sure it's still a beautiful place.

[MissB]

24. I grew up

By lake ki.

[FSogol]

25. Shenandoah Valley

I like the Harrisonburg area, but Staunton is nice too.

[nolabear]

28. Ocean Shores is interesting.

What do you need? Medical facilities will count for something. The coast is fascinating. You have to put up with the Trumpers when you’re away from the cities but you know that. Buses are affordable though and the wildlife is spectacular.

[AntivaxHunters]

29. I love it here in Colorado

[meadowlander]

30. Bellingham-ish?

$350,000 won't get you a converted shipping container anywhere in greater Seattle but I think Bellingham is slightly more affordable, large enough to have access to decent healthcare, near the Canadian border if you want to jump over to buy prescriptions, and not too far from the Vancouver airport if you want to travel anywhere. And it's small townish but at least there's still a university there so access to good bookstores, arthouse cinemas, international food, etc. if that stuff is important to you.

The median house price is still $744,000 but if you found something smaller and a bit further out you could probably get something decent.

In terms of retirement, I would be thinking about somewhere I could age in place for as long as possible - where I will still have access to the activities I enjoy/services I need when I am no longer able to drive myself. So I'd be wary of going too small town or out in the middle of nowhere.

Also do you have plans if one of you needs to go into assisted living? It might be worth working back from facilities you like so that the other person won't be too far away.