if you could live anywhere on the sound..?
- Thread starter SurfnFish
- Start date
I'll chime in, may not be the authority but will add my POV. We are both 60 y.o., both grew up in Puget Sound and similar to you spent 19 years in Bend OR moving back up to the sound last fall. We chose Bainbridge primarily because our daughter and son in law live in a Seattle neighborhood but we didn't want to live on the I5 corridor. We are close to them and downtown, 40 min ferry, yes the ferries have issues and there is a cost associated with them but OK for us. Medical on the island is so so, Virginia Mason Clinic, concierge, etc. A bit more in Pouslbo and a hospital in Silverdale/Bremerton obviously lots of medical in Seattle.
Bainbridge is relaxed and that was our goal. Prior to Bend we lived in Woodinville, index on the NF, Everett and Seattle proper.
BI may not have the best beach fishing but it works for me and better beaches are a shortish drive away. Years ago I used to fish the OP alot and I am doing that again which i really enjoy. Not a saltwater boat guy so can't speak to that but once I'm at Coleman dock in Seattle I can be on the Yak in the canyon with driftboat in 2 hours or less for resides etc.
Long response, sorry. PM if you want specifics.
Bainbridge is relaxed and that was our goal. Prior to Bend we lived in Woodinville, index on the NF, Everett and Seattle proper.
BI may not have the best beach fishing but it works for me and better beaches are a shortish drive away. Years ago I used to fish the OP alot and I am doing that again which i really enjoy. Not a saltwater boat guy so can't speak to that but once I'm at Coleman dock in Seattle I can be on the Yak in the canyon with driftboat in 2 hours or less for resides etc.
Long response, sorry. PM if you want specifics.
Divad
Whitefish
Nowhere. In the next 5 years it’ll all be closed fishing for sportsman, warm water sharks will bite your pecker off and you’ll catch more needles than fish if we continue on this path. Then when you get back to your car your windows will be smashed, everything stolen and seats defecated on.
probably would be if the usual bummers stayed off it
thnx, good stuff...just finished a hang on the OR coast. Pretty stunning how much more crowded it has gotten in just the past decade, makes me think I may need bigger waters and more elbow room
Pink Nighty
Legend
Puget sound sucks, dont you know??
got nothing positive to contribute other than snide b.s., why not just stay out of the thread
Did you fish? The crowds have increased past Labor Day especially post COVID. The other thing I've noticed is the age - lots of Boomers with nothing to do but fish and play...
I have a 2nd home just outside of Shelton.
30 min. trip to Tacoma or Olympia for big issues.
Lots of lakes, plenty of moving water, some peninsulas and islands, not as populated and the correct side of I-5.
Dining is weak, some residents are really odd folk.
In the greater region there is plenty of land off the water to build what ya want and lots of salt/fresh water homes to fill a void.
30 min. trip to Tacoma or Olympia for big issues.
Lots of lakes, plenty of moving water, some peninsulas and islands, not as populated and the correct side of I-5.
Dining is weak, some residents are really odd folk.
In the greater region there is plenty of land off the water to build what ya want and lots of salt/fresh water homes to fill a void.
never broke out the rod on this run, just too crowded at the usual lineups, so was content to surf with friends.
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
I like Anacortes. They say the hospital is very good. Plenty of hiking and biking trails on the island (Fidalgo). A few top notch trout lakes, a short drive to river Salmon fishing and top notch Bass fishing. Plenty of boating opportunities to get big fish, crab and shrimp. The beauty of the coastline and forests are impressive. The weather is usually very pleasant, but it may snow a couple times a year. The people here seem to be very polite. No gang graffiti and very few homeless. Everything I need can be purchased without ever getting on a freeway. If I drive North, East or South, I quickly see less desirable places. A boat ride West from here is an island paradise, that is both expensive and inconvenient to live in.... I like it here.
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Im biased but there is nowhere on the sound I'd rather be than Hansville.
Healthcare available in Bremerton/Silverdale has been find for our needs thus far, but we are just a ferry ride from the city if ever needed.
Kitsap in general would get my vote.
If I could truly pick anywhere to live I'd get a waterfront house at Driftwood Keys just down the road where they have a private marina. A house on the sound with a dock out back is my mega millions dream.
Healthcare available in Bremerton/Silverdale has been find for our needs thus far, but we are just a ferry ride from the city if ever needed.
Kitsap in general would get my vote.
If I could truly pick anywhere to live I'd get a waterfront house at Driftwood Keys just down the road where they have a private marina. A house on the sound with a dock out back is my mega millions dream.
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
Here in Anacortes there are many slips, lunch ramps and travel lifts for boats of all sizes. Just four miles away there are Islands such as Saddleback that can be quickly accessed by even the smallest of boats. Cypress Island Is close by with many beaches and campgrounds (also a trout lake). Lummi Island is not far and is a popular salmon spot. Just outside the harbor has very good crabbing. Nice place to have a boat for sure.
Manette in Bremerton is pretty centrally located, but for me it would be somewhere unlikely to get bigger, with good fishing access--like Coon Bay.
Divad
Whitefish
Fine SurfnFish I'll provide you with some useful info since you don't enjoy humor. Out of those 3 Port Ludlow is going to be a much less crime impacted and peaceful community. Just ask the sound fisherman how much anxiety they get leaving their car at X beach to go fish. Luckily for me if the tweakers see me walking out they'll spot the 4x16 scope attached to my ar that's affixed to my back, modern Legolas.
Ludlow only has 1 small food bank service compared to multiple in the other two (and yes this is a statistical profiling measure for crime). It also has no needle exchange programs (compared to multiple in Poulsbo area and 1 in Anacortes). Although Anacortes only offers once a month so you have to be a pretty planned junky. Median home price is low. One medical clinic and youre split between two large hospitals (Silverdale, Townsend).
There you happy now you grouch!
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
I've spent much of my life in the big city. Anacortes has been a very welcome relief from many of the big city problems. I am still astonished at the lack of crime here. Kayaks are left unlocked in yards, docks with multimillion dollar yachts are left unlocked and open to the public, I feel comfortable leaving my $300 BBQ in my yard without a chain lock. In a big city, all of this would be simply absurd, and the thefts would happen within minutes. Of course there is a criminal element here but dang....not a lot.
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
If I drive north to Bellingham I see lots of homeless in campers. If I drive south to Everett I see urban clutter. If drive west to Sedro-Woolley I see Tweeker compounds.... I'm not saying that these areas are not nice...just that Anacortes has much less of that kind of stuff..in my experience.
Yeah Hansville no question.