I am thinking about moving here.

[ccharles000]

Hi I live in NC and it is to hot and there are to many repubs. How are the taxes and the weather. I think I might like Washington because it seems like a good liberal state.

[singilarpoint]

1. Not too bad

I have been living here for a few years and I feel that Washington really grows on you. It really does not get very hot here very often. I'd also like to say that there are many jobs available. If you want to be in the best part of the state you will have to move to the Seattle area. In my opinion Washington State is pretty much a red state with a huge blue stripe running up and down its west coastline. But, all in all, I'd have to say it's a great place to live. Check out Rep. Jay Inslee's Website. I am proud to tell you that he is my Rep!!!!!!

[maxsolomon]

2. i moved here because i hated the humidity in ohio

but man, this year has been COLD. if you want to be warm but not sweaty, move to the interior of the state. if you want to be in a liberal bubble, move to the puget sound area, and drive over the passes to get warm.

portland is good, too. no sales tax in oregon.

[The Blue Flower]

3. I recommend it

I lived in many places (including Hawaii) before I moved to Seattle 8 1/2 years ago. I felt at home as soon as I got here. Love the weather and the scenery. As for it being chilly this year--having lived in the southeast and on the east coast (and hated the heat and humidity), I just imagine that someone has just left the outdoor a/c on, and it's just what I like.

[bow-tie]

4. Born in NC?

"Tarheel" Mindset? Better stay back there, you couldn't stand the rain.

[ccharles000]

5. I think I could stand it.

I love the rain.

[Sanity Claws]

6. Rain is not the only problem.

The lack of sunlight can be depressing.
In winter, the sun rises around 8 AM and sets around 4 PM. During the few hours it's out, the sun doesn't rise very high in the sky. Combine that with the omnipresent cloud cover and you have a very dark winter.
I think you should take a trip in December to the area before making up your mind, IMHO.

[maxsolomon]

8. true. trips to warmer climes are really valuable.

especially in the winter.

but right now, on june 23, its under 60 degrees at 10 a.m. with a featureless, solid grey marine layer overhead. which may or may not burn off.

summer starts on july 4th, then its glorious for 2 months, then it gets iffy again.

[uppityperson]

7. Which part of WA?

East side is more repub, west of Cascades more liberal. The weather differs also. E gets colder/hotter. W gets more clouds, some places wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more rain. The far west side is true rainforest, but there are rain shadows also.

There are rural areas, small towns, larger towns, cities. Universities abound. Cowboys in the deserty east side. Orcas in the San Juans.

[ccharles000]

9. ...

I really like Tacoma, Bellevue, Vancouver.

[Sanity Claws]

10. Bellevue is an island of red in blue Western Washington

If you want to be in a blue place, Bellevue is not it. Their Congressman is Reichert, Republican. Bush has had fund raisers there.

[ccharles000]

11. Thanks for telling me.

What do you think of Vancouver.

[SahaleArm]

13. Bellevue is blue - Richiert won because of Pierce County

Kerry and Gore both won Bellevue. The Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish) is 1/3 foreign born so it's trending more and more blue.

[newmajority]

14. Bellevue is "green"

Money that is, not environmentalist. Though some of the rich people there actually DO give a shit about the planet as well.

[XOEnterprises]

12. Tacoma's cool.

Maybe I just live in the liberal college bubble, but it's a nice town if you're in the northern part. Lots of parks, nice downtown area, Point Defiance. You'll run into a little of the "We're Seattle's bastard stepchild" syndrome. And it's not too far from Seattle-about an hour, and Portland/Vancouver's 2-2.5 hours.

I do agree with the rain thing; I'm from Eastern Washington(there right now!), and that's one thing it has over the coast-at least you can see the sun in the winter in the east.