Question for Washington & Colorado DU'ers...

[usaftmo]

Relocating and considering Seattle and Colorado Springs (including the towns close by). Have done some comparing of cost of living, and there's not a huge difference (in my opinion at least).
http://www.bestplaces.net/COL/

The only area that is more expensive in Seattle is housing (77% more expensive). Seattle is more expensive in other areas, but my military retiree/disability pension and/or benefits neutralizes that.

One huge plus about the Seattle area is that it's near Canada (never been there). Unfortunately Seattle no longer has an NBA team, and has never had an NHL team.

Something that worries me about Colorado Springs is that Focus on the Family has its national headquarters there...so I'm sure that some neocons are sprinkled throughout the Colorado Springs area.

If you're familiar with either Seattle or Colorado Springs please let me know what you think. Thank you in advance.

:patriot:

[24HRrnr]

1. Not that I can help,

but both would be more, um, progressive than my corner of SE Washington.

Good luck with the move.

[grantcart]

3. Pomeroy?

[24HRrnr]

4. Asotin

[grantcart]

2. If your thinking of Washington State

I would suggest Wenatchee.

It has drier milder weather but still 4 seasons. Go north and you have the beautiful Cascades and lake Chelan.

Want to go to Seattle for an NFL game its a short drive.

Cost of living very very low.

[gateley]

6. I vote for Washington, because I was born

in Seattle and lived there until 6 years ago (and am trying to find a way to move back!.) I've always been very proud of Seattle and Washington State - good, progressive people.

If the costs of Seattle are prohibitive (and I just read where their utilities will be going up, but that's probably everywhere in the country) Grantcart brings up a good suggestion -- East of the mountains. There are many cities and towns there that might fit the bill.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide!!

[usaftmo]

17. What about north of Seattle?

Somewhere between Seattle and Vancouver?

[gateley]

18. Lots of great cities and towns between Seattle and Vancouver --

and you'd be that much closer to BC! I don't know if you've visited Canada, but (Vancouver and Victoria -- all I am familiar with) are wonderful!

Bothell, Woodinville, Edmonds, Bear Creek, Marysville -- all great places. Even further north to Everett. Really, a lot of options.

[otohara]

5. Colorado Springs

it's also military because of AFB - lots of retired military living there, so you are correct - there are many a republican's there and neo's. Ft. Collins is nice, Castle Rock is between Denver/CS.

[hlthe2b]

13. Colorado Springs is as beautiful as it is Right Wing...

Take that into account or pledge to try to be the change you wish to see, in the words of Gandhi.

Denver and Boulder are the liberal strongholds--western slope remains very libertarian. Southern Denver suburbs all the way down to the "springs" is all REPUG, though not all are RW fundies. Lots of former Southern Californians, who tend to be fiscally conservative Ayn Rand types, but not necessarily so socially conservative, though they'll go along if pressed.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

7. Olympia, Washington.

More liberal than Seattle. Very beautiful. Take the ferry to Victoria -- 14 miles across the strait.

[spindrifter]

9. Uh--which ferry would that be? Do you mean Pt. Angeles?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

10. Yep.

Was called the Blackball back when I lived there in the 70's.

[spindrifter]

8. Seattle is great!

If you want to live more economically, you could check out some of the suburbs to the north. The suggestion about Wenatchee is great if you just plan to enjoy city life some of the time, but want to reduce your cost of living. I do not recommend Pierce County, however, even though Ft. Lewis and McCord AFB are there--too much meth crime for my taste in the little towns that dot the county.
If you want to live in Seattle--well there are plenty of houses and condos for sale.

[mdmc]

11. Everyone I know hates CS... everyone I know loves Seattle

:shrug:

[SheilaT]

12. The traffic in

Colorado Springs is unbearable, in my opinion. I've had occasion to drive through CS several times in recent years, and I was truly appalled at how terrible the traffic was and how awful the drivers.

I haven't been to Seattle in over twenty years (other than to change planes once), but I did like it a lot on that visit.

Also, Colorado Springs is extremely conservative. Friends who live in other parts of Colorado have said that the Springs is laden with conservatives, neocons, what have you.

[spindrifter]

16. Seattle's traffic supposedly

"drove" Boeing HQ out to Chicago, but it's improved dramatically since gas prices went up. Don't forget, we always pay more at the pump than most areas.

[gblady]

14. I live on Bainbridge Island....

a 35 minute ferry ride from Seattle...
it's paradise here, scenery wise...
as costly as Seattle, perhaps a bit more...
still has a lush, green rural feel to it.
check it out!

[pscot]

15. Nobody goes to Seattle anymore

It's too crowded.