I've heard conflicting information about building in Ballard (Seattle) or Moss Bay (Kirkland) from local family that actually met Costeau.

Buy a trip permit from WA DOL if driving back without a plate bothers you.

Is there a reason that Skagit or Whatcom counties aren't at the top of your list?

Any particular business sector you'll be looking for employment in? Can one of you get a government, university, or refinery job with decent benefits to give the other some flexibility? Have either of you considered a skilled trades apprenticeship or some other education to get a credential leading to better employment prospects?

It's the same product anywhere you buy it. Probably aren't going to find much selection of top shelf spirits though.

Do you especially enjoy tourist traps? That's what Leavenworth is famous for being.

We absolutely had these shootings in/around Seattle schools in the '80s-'90s, I should know since I was attending a Seattle high school when Columbine happened.

I presume I don't have to explain gang related shootings to you but they were an issue then that has improved but hasn't disappeared since the same social issues at their root still exist. If you haven't experienced sustained bullying/cruelty accompanied by indifference by teachers and administrators who choose not to intervene it's going to be difficult to explain why I didn't find Columbine shocking.

Keep in mind that there's a big influence on the rental market from personal assigned to NAS Whitbey. Mt. Vernon is the closest "affordable" place to rent ofd the Island.

> Except it's the cars that don't chain up!

But 4WD/AWD totally helps with braking. /s

Just because you can accelerate to 40-60 mph in shitty road conditions doesn't mean it's prudent to actually drive at 40-60 mph with shitty traction and seemingly random (to morons) icy spots.

> I got into UW.

/r/udub then and connect with student groups that will get you off campus to explore outside of Seattle.

It might be a lovely time of year to drive the North Cascades Highway to the Methow Valley. You could possibly loop back through the Okenagen.

Talking Rain for carbonated water.

Look on wta.org.

This isn't neat, it's stupidity that hurts/kills innocent people. Washington has had criminal penalities for unsecured loads for quite a while now. Unfortunately it took a sheet of plywood going through a windshield and blinding a woman to get the legislature to pas the law.

Pretty much anywhere in Washington is safe from violence if you're not in relationships with people prone to domestic violence, involved in criminal gang activity, or involved with illegal drugs. If visible homeless people or the potential for property crime are upsetting to you perhaps avoid urban areas but you're going to miss out on urban amenities.

Having recently moved to Oregon (Portland region) I'm getting the impression that Washington generally has more functional local/state government and better public schools.

Pay attention to what communities are directly connected to Seattle via the ferry system, Amtrak Cascades, and Soun Transit's rail and bus service.

Read more about Doe.Bay on Orcas Island. There's a good chance it's not her kind of place but everyone has a different opinion on what's a "nice resort". Perhaps she'd be more into Sleeping Lady, Rosario or Seabrook. Don't underestimate the Pacific coast in the fall/winter but be willing to drive and adjust expectations.

> It's a rough drive but seriously what do these people expect when they take a damn prius down these forest roads?

We went al over the Cascades when I was a kid in a Datsun 210, a Prius might be more capable. We hiked through an lot of clearcuts, perhaps the logging roads were being more actively maintained in the '80s.