Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[ValerieJ]

Interesting! Most of the properties have dense brush or trees that would need to be cleared or kept from taking over property. If you cannot burn, how would you dispose of yard waste/cut trees?

You can burn your brush here. It is very forested and green.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hello from Park City, Utah! My husband and I are looking to move to the PNW area this year. I really wanted to be close to Corvallis OSU hospital, but not finding any homes there that we like. So we headed north and are now focusing on Olympia to Centralia, fringes of Vancouver, and around Port Angeles. I am concerned about three things: the weather, veterinary-hospital care for all of my critters, and access to urban amenities (like costco and petco). Anyone live in these areas and can share their experiences living there? Thanks!!

I lived in Olympia area for a few years... tried to talk hubby into moving back due to affordability but he found it too "small city" for his liking. But it's definitely still big enough to meet your basic urban needs (I remember celebrating the day they announced a Trader Joes in the area lol... I was driving to Tacoma just to shop at one).

Centralia is noticeably smaller and more worn down looking overall. Caveat: I never lived there, just went down there for a bit of shopping and dining.

Both are somewhat isolated in that they kind of stand alone instead of being sandwiched between other larger urban centers. North of Olympia is Fort Lewis and an air force base, so you don't really see another urban center until Tacoma.

Weather is... okay? Colder winters, hotter summers than further north into the Sound.

 

[Hinotori]

Interesting! Most of the properties have dense brush or trees that would need to be cleared or kept from taking over property. If you cannot burn, how would you dispose of yard waste/cut trees?

Get burn permit. Im rural Pierce county and it's free online from my local FD. Can only burn oct through may. And not if under burn ban for air quality or fire safety. Inversions are usual reason for air quality ban.

We do have yard waste cans available and are picked up alternating weeks with recycle. We don't use it.

I know that I really need a couple goats to truly keep up on the vegetation. I have a hard time just mowing 2 acres. The other 16 gets to stay wild.

Be aware of water on properties. That is restricted what you can do around it. Streams, ponds, marsh, stuff like that. It's actually pretty common on the west side of the mountains.

 

[Hinotori]

By the time you see Joint Base Lewis-McChord you're just outside Tacoma. It's eh over there.

Graham wasn't too bad when we moved here. Population has almost quadrupled in last decade and the town itself isn't much to talk about but we get to show up in the police blotter with frequency. Glad we're out and closer to Kapowsin in an area that cant be built up. That's a good side to the water. Rural Sensitive Resource. Keeps people away. 2 streams, marsh, and edge of 40 acre pond = no subdivisions. Elk and deer eat my trees, though. They are bad neighbors.

 

[ValerieJ]

I'm thinking perhaps you ought to consider Lewis County. We are pretty rural, but not so many restrictions. We do have a burn season. Wouldn't want to start a fire out here in the forest.

 

[Iain Utah]

What a great group of people on this thread. Such helpful information! Thank you!

It has been interesting learning about the state restrictions on wetland areas. My property is almost 50% federal wetlands, but in Utah, wetlands make the BEST horse grazing pastures, and we get tax credit for using the property that way. But our wetlands are only "wet" during spring snow run-off, and likely WA's wetlands are more like FL wetlands, and not good for livestock's hooves. So, I've avoided those properties. But I love the year-round creek at our place, and having a natural water source on our next property is a huge deal.

I can get with burn permits. That is the same in Utah. Wildfire danger and air quality both major concerns in Utah. Over my husband's protests, I didn't see the need to install a fireplace/stove here since we don't have that many trees on our property. I regret that decision, so a wood-burning stove is a big requirement for new home.

Someone mentioned that the further north into the sound, the more temperate the weather? I read that Port Angeles area gets significantly more sunshine in the winter which is why that area made our list, as I love sunshine. But then I think I'd rather sacrifice my love of sunshine to be along the I5 corridor, closer to OSU. I have three horses in their mid-20s. Got them as babies and will do anything for them to make sure their senior years are truly "golden."

As for urban vs rural, I want my cake and eat it too. I want urban lifestyle but need at least 10 acres for my animals in an area where neighbors won't mind my having 3 dozen geese.

I'd love to share addresses or listings of places that are catching our eyes for input, if you don't mind.

 

[ValerieJ]

What a great group of people on this thread. Such helpful information! Thank you!

It has been interesting learning about the state restrictions on wetland areas. My property is almost 50% federal wetlands, but in Utah, wetlands make the BEST horse grazing pastures, and we get tax credit for using the property that way. But our wetlands are only "wet" during spring snow run-off, and likely WA's wetlands are more like FL wetlands, and not good for livestock's hooves. So, I've avoided those properties. But I love the year-round creek at our place, and having a natural water source on our next property is a huge deal.

I can get with burn permits. That is the same in Utah. Wildfire danger and air quality both major concerns in Utah. Over my husband's protests, I didn't see the need to install a fireplace/stove here since we don't have that many trees on our property. I regret that decision, so a wood-burning stove is a big requirement for new home.

Someone mentioned that the further north into the sound, the more temperate the weather? I read that Port Angeles area gets significantly more sunshine in the winter which is why that area made our list, as I love sunshine. But then I think I'd rather sacrifice my love of sunshine to be along the I5 corridor, closer to OSU. I have three horses in their mid-20s. Got them as babies and will do anything for them to make sure their senior years are truly "golden."

As for urban vs rural, I want my cake and eat it too. I want urban lifestyle but need at least 10 acres for my animals in an area where neighbors won't mind my having 3 dozen geese.

I'd love to share addresses or listings of places that are catching our eyes for input, if you don't mind.

I think you might like the areas just south of Olympia. In fact, just south of Tumwater. You would be close enough, but have the area you're looking for. Actually Centralia is only about 10 miles from Tumwater (and Costco). We go to church in Centralia and because it is on the way, we'll go on up to Costco today afterward. There are some nice areas outside of Centralia. The town is a little farm town like all of them in this county, but the countryside is very pretty. And we don't need burn permits here. Just have to follow the rules, which are posted clearly on the road sides, and especially near fire stations.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to the thread !
We are in a small town in Lewis County.
We just have 3/4 of a acre plenty enough for us.
They moved DH to Seattle this time.

 

[ValerieJ]

Welcome to the thread !
We are in a small town in Lewis County.
We just have 3/4 of a acre plenty enough for us.
They moved DH to Seattle this time.

What do you mean this time??? What's going on with DH???

 

[pennyJo1960]

What do you mean this time??? What's going on with DH???

The kidney stone has killed the kidney now the infection has done it.