Well it's Official... You North-West Folks

[justintime2]

So Congratulations Mrs.  Good Work, I'm proud of you!  

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:crimson'>NOW...  

Who has a Job for Revlis?</span></span>  

He he he... Yeah you all can see how hard working I am...    

I am soft spoken, polite, friendly, and most of all Completely full of shid.  BUT I show up on time, and will bust my ass to get a job done right.

Anyhoo, now would be a great time for any of you Seattle locals to "sound" off  (Get it?) with answers to a few questions.  And any other suggestions...

1. Is it practical to live on one of the Islands just across from Seattle and take a ferry every day?  Too Pricey?

2. If I have to commute to Seattle is there a direction I DO NOT WANT TO BE COMING FROM?

3. Is Gold Bar TOO far East for a reasonable commute to Mt. Lake Terrace?

4. Anyone know a good realtor up there that they trust?  I am going to need to be in a house come March.

5.  Any areas I should really stay away from?  Rough Parts of Town?  High Tax Areas?  Other Trouble spots?

Anyhoo, I am really excited about getting back to some mountains, Crisp Air, and cooler weather.  

Looking forward to meeting new folks, even though I will be missing my Tampa people.  I Promise you all will be in my heart all Summer!!!!  

Rev

Congratulations to both! I have done a full corporate move before and it is great. Hard to move on your own ever again.

1 - You probably wont find the islands to be very practical.
2 - It all sucks
3 - Do not ever mention Goldbar again.

4 - NO
5 - Can't think of any specifically but it sounds like you are on the right track in staying north of Seattle.

I am in Bellingham about an hour north of Mt. Lake Terrace. Which company is she going to work for? If you don't want to say that is fine too. We go up to Whistler quite regularly for unwind time. Although all we seeem to do is punish ourselves by rallying up there, drinking ourselves to death, and returning to await the next trip. One of our FF's parents have a condo in Whistler they don't often use. Your welcome along if interested.

The Osyter run to Anacortes every year is awesome, mini Sturgis. We are also planning a trip down to OR next summer for some track time and to ride HWY 30! I have yet to meet any of the WA or Canada guys but hope too next year!

 

[Revlis]

Thanks JIT2 I appreciate it. Your serious about Gold Bar Though? It looked kinda nice tucked in the woods. That is what we are really looking for, something in the Mountains, preferably within about 40 minutes of Mt. Lake Terrance, So the twisties would be part of my everyday commute...

OR

We are thinking about a Condo in a Highrise Downtown. Figure we would be commuting backwords that way, well she would be anyway.

Thanks for your input. I am really looking forward to meeting all you NW folks. We should try to organize a small NW meet somewhere...

I am going to be laying a little low until I get some new gear though. Right now I don't even own a NON perf Leather... Hell it gets cold down here in 60 degree weather. So I am going t0o be after some new gear, as well as some HI-VIZ gear for the Rain and Fog... Gotta Be seen...

 

[Kento-Moto]

NW Rocks!

seeya soon...

 

[Kento-Moto]

Oh and best of luck to Mrs. BTW if you are interested in a straight commission job send me a pm. - Kent

 

[Revlis]

You have a PM...

 

[Revlis]

Congrats Mrs. Revlis on your new job. Hope to hook up with you Rev, maybe crash MSF's place in Maple Ridge . Only 2-3 hours away. Iced lives there also, and maybe try to get RSD off the rock and meet on the mainland!

Sounds like a plan... Looking forward to meeting all you flannel wearing folks, and I am really looking forward to being able to wear flannel myself.

I do want to get hold of RSD though. I got an address so that should make things a bit easier.

Rev

 

[stkr00]

Belated CONGRATS to you Mrs.Revlis, and also to you Rev

I hope you like the change in climate. We moved from Charleston, SC to SE Wisconsin seven years ago, and we can't wait to get the hell out, and go back down South. We were in SC for 12 years.

Seriously, though...I hope the move goes well for you, and you're ale to find the real estate that your looking for. Just remember to have the floors cleaned and the laundry put away BEFORE you go jumpin on Lilah.

 

[Sane_man]

Congratulation's to you both!!!!!!!

I have a friend who was a former co-worker that lives in Lynwood. Living in and working North of Seattle is the best of all world's. My friend lives in Lynwood, and he has an easy commute to downtown Seatle where he works.

You can buy some really nice homes in that area that average about 1 acre. I looked at some homes in Snohomish county that had property's that ranged from 8 to 20 acres, and were selling in the $200-350k range.

Make sure you look at the tax rates in each county. Sales tax and property tax varies greatly in each one.

If you are going to work in downtown Seattle, you probably shouldn't live to far North though.

I'm so jealous.

 

[Revlis]

Belated CONGRATS to you Mrs.Revlis, and also to you Rev

I hope you like the change in climate.  We moved from Charleston, SC to SE Wisconsin seven years ago, and we can't wait to get the hell out, and go back down South.  We were in SC for 12 years.

Seriously, though...I hope the move goes well for you, and you're ale to find the real estate that your looking for.  Just remember to have the floors cleaned and the laundry put away BEFORE you go jumpin on Lilah.

Well I look at it like this.  I fuggin hate Florida's heat and Humidity.  It makes me irritable and miserable.  It's been four years, and I still cannot deal with it.  I am from some serious Northern Blood.  Not Nordic, but North.  I have family still in Wales and when we would head back to visit it was real easy to go for a couple weeks and never see the sun.  It would be misty and cloudy the whole time...  And I loved it.  It was'nt Freeezing cold, just chilly and cloudy.  You quickly learn the value of wool.  

Now I was in Seattle awhile back and the weather reminded me a great deal of typical English weather, and I dig it.    I think there are some misconceptions out there regarding Seattle weather.  The winter lows aren't that low, and though it's cloudy alot, and it frequently sprinkles the annual rainfall is less than many other places in the country including Tampa...    

STKR00, Don't abandon all hope man, my experiance in the Midwest was pure misery weather wise.   All winter it was cloudy, grey, dead and COLD.  Snow would stay on the ground for weeks at a time and temps were seriously low.  Then come summer it was way hot and Shiddy...  Don't loose hope man, just get the hell outta the midwest.  Omaha taught me one thing and that is to stay the HELL OUT...  

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[Revlis]

Congratulation's to you both!!!!!!!

I have a friend who was a former co-worker that lives in Lynwood.  Living in and working North of Seattle is the best of all world's.  My friend lives in Lynwood, and he has an easy commute to downtown Seatle where he works.

You can buy some really nice homes in that area that average about 1 acre.  I looked at some homes in Snohomish county that had property's that ranged from 8 to 20 acres, and were selling in the $200-350k range.

Make sure you look at the tax rates in each county. Sales tax and property tax varies greatly in each one.

If you are going to work in downtown Seattle, you probably shouldn't live to far North though.

I'm so jealous.

Thanks for the inputs man. It helps.

We are considering a few options. Live in Close, in a "Neighborhood" kind of house and have a short commute. In Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mt. Lake, Forest Lake, etc...

OR

Live Downtown or closer to downtown and commute backwards OUT to Mt. Lake. Maybe a condo or something... Not too sure about this option though as I really want an actually workshop, maybe with a forge...

Hard to do that in a "Neighborhood" or in a condo for sure.

SO

Do we move out to Snohomish, or another town East, get some property and workshop and hell maybe a Mtn Road to ride on... BUT is that going to put us TOO far out of town for a decent commute? we could handle an hour commute if it meant we got the Barbie dream home on a few acres, with the big shop... So mostly I get the feeling I am going to have to head out there and give it a try before making a final decision on where to live out there.

I did notice the LARGE variations in tax rates from one area t another. Fairly high Sales Tax but no Income Tax helps out a whole lot.

We'll see. Mostly I am just happy as hell to be getting out of Florida. I know some of my friends down here like it and get tired of hearing about it, but Florida is pretty much the dangling wang of the nation. It's muggy, Hot, Sticky, and WAY overcrowded. I think folks that have never lived anywhere but Florida have no idea how beautiful and comfortable much of the rest of the country can be. Especially when it comes to getting AWAY, being by yourself somewhere. Something that is just about impossible to do in Florida.

 

[babuski]

Revilicious....the pluses of this move more than outweigh the minuses. I have travelled extensively to the Pacific Northwest and I must say that the Hayabusa and the Pac Northwest will LOVE each other. YOu are literally hours (in some cases minutes--depending on your love for speed) from the MOST GORGEOUS real estate on Earth. Whister, Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, Banff, Mt. Ranier, Mount Hood, Columbia River Gorge, Anacortes, San Juan Islands, Beautiful British Columbia, the Oregon Coastline (nicer than the Cali coastline). I really envy you. The rain and clouds are overstated and Seattle is wonderful. You gots mountains, you gots ocean, you gots nice lakes and twisties....the most perfect riding background in the world. Congrats to the wife and to you. Screw looking for a job.....ride all over that part of the country it is exquisite.

 

[babuski]

If I lived in that part of the U.S., I'd have 30,000 miles on my bike instead of 13,000.

I am sincerely overjoyed for you...particularly since Chicago is expecting some freezing weather next week. Still will ride...but much less.

 

[stkr00]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Revlis

Here's the reason I hate it up here.  It's not the worse weather in the country, but it's bad enough for me, and it only gets worse over the next couple of months.

Local 10 day forcast



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[Revlis]

Revilicious....the pluses of this move more than outweigh the minuses.   I have travelled extensively to the Pacific Northwest and I must say that the Hayabusa and the Pac Northwest will LOVE each other. YOu are literally hours (in some cases minutes--depending on your love for speed) from the MOST GORGEOUS real estate on Earth.  Whister, Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, Banff,  Mt. Ranier, Mount Hood, Columbia River Gorge, Anacortes, San Juan Islands, Beautiful British Columbia,  the Oregon Coastline (nicer than the Cali coastline).   I really envy you.  The rain and clouds are overstated and Seattle is wonderful.  You gots mountains, you gots ocean, you gots nice lakes and twisties....the most perfect riding background in the world.  Congrats to the wife and to you.  Screw looking for a job.....ride all over that part of the country it is exquisite.

AHH, Refreshing words of encouragement! Thanks Man. I remember driving up there and really liking alot of the roads and scenery. If I were a sunworshipping BeachBunny I would imagine that I'd be pretty displeased with this move, but seeing as I really do stay outta the sun as much as possible and tend to perk up during cloudy cool days? I think I am going to be in heaven.

I cannot wait to get out there and start exploring. The WHOLE AREA is just begging to be ridden and I have both mountains and coast to choose from

this has me pretty stoked. Sure the YEAR AROUND riding may not be ideal but it's an option with the proper gear at least.

I am pretty excited, though it's been tempered by a healthy dose of Job finding, House selling, and home buying reality. This is the first time we have had to sell then buy a home so I am sorta sweating that whole process. Once on the market my house should sell in about a week or less. I am not going to be aiming for absolute TOP dollar on this place just a fast fair sale.

Over all though I am just excited. Lot's of good people up there, and I think the slightly more down to earth, Laid Back approach will suite the Wife and I very well.

I am also REALLY Excited for the Mrs. She was a little stressed about moving us some place that we want to go and finding a position that really fit for her. I was just pretty stoked that every place she interviewed with made an offer. So that had to reinforce for her that she is doing top notch work and is in demand, it was good for her.

So thanks a bunch for the encouraging words Babuski, it's really appreciated! Be sure to look us up if your ever in the Seattle Area, we are allways good for a dinner at least!

Rev

 

[Revlis]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Revlis

Here's the reason I hate it up here.  It's not the worse weather in the country, but it's bad enough for me, and it only gets worse over the next couple of months.

Local 10 day forcast

Hey Bro, I here you, I remember what happens up there in the Winters...

Now here's the Current Tampa 10 day. Not too bad for winter...

 

[Revlis]

And Here's the Seattle 10 day. Not too bad, definitely a change of pace...

 

[Revlis]

It's the Summer time temps that have me the most excited about Seattle.  I WON'T HAVE TO HIDE INDOORS ALL SUMMER!!!!  

Here's what sealed the deal in regards to getting out of Tampa.  Crime...

<span style='color:darkred'>Crime in Tampa (2002):
37 murders (11.7 per 100,000)
204 rapes (64.3 per 100,000)
2,334 robberies (735.5 per 100,000)
3,714 assaults (1170.4 per 100,000)
6,283 burglaries (1980.0 per 100,000)
16,088 larceny counts (5069.9 per 100,000)
6,720 auto thefts (2117.7 per 100,000)
City-data.com crime index = 1048.8 (higher means more crime, US average = 330.6)</span>

VS  Seattle

<span style='color:blue'>Crime in Seattle (2002):
26 murders (4.5 per 100,000)
152 rapes (26.2 per 100,000)
1,576 robberies (271.7 per 100,000)
2,338 assaults (403.0 per 100,000)
7,290 burglaries (1256.7 per 100,000)
26,742 larceny counts (4610.0 per 100,000)
8,308 auto thefts (1432.2 per 100,000)
City-data.com crime index = 580.8 (higher means more crime, US average = 330.6)</span>

There is a jump in Non-Violent crime, but looky at the drop in Rape, Murder and Assault.  Even though Seattle has about 200K more folks.

Now what if I take us outside of Seattle just a little bit.  Edmonds is a VERY likely candidate for us...

<span style='color:seagreen'>Crime in Edmonds (2002):
0 murders (0.0 per 100,000)
5 rapes (12.3 per 100,000)
11 robberies (27.0 per 100,000)
14 assaults (34.4 per 100,000)
168 burglaries (412.9 per 100,000)
832 larceny counts (2044.8 per 100,000)
130 auto thefts (319.5 per 100,000)
City-data.com crime index = 160.8 (higher means more crime, US average = 330.6)</span>

And instead of the Wife and I commuting to a High Crime area she will at leat be commuting to a nicer place....
<span style='color:green'>Crime in Mountlake Terrace (2002):
0 murders (0.0 per 100,000)
8 rapes (38.2 per 100,000)
7 robberies (33.4 per 100,000)
19 assaults (90.6 per 100,000)
92 burglaries (438.8 per 100,000)
530 larceny counts (2527.9 per 100,000)
116 auto thefts (553.3 per 100,000)
City-data.com crime index = 226.0 (higher means more crime, US average = 330.6)</span>

Then we look at the Comfort Index.

Comfort index
Similar to humidity but gives a more realistic measurement because relative humidity is not adjusted for temperature. The comfort index accounts for the subjective experience that 80% humidity at 85 degrees is much more uncomfortable than 95% humidity at 50 degrees. Higher values are usually preferable because they indicate more temperate climates overall.[/QUOTE]

Tampa has a comfort Index of: 6  Yup, 6...  

Seattle's Comfort Index is: 61  So it's a step up, especially if you don't like heat and humidity.

Oh and Milwaukee Comfort Index of: 36

And for Comparison San Francisco is a 53

And Lastly, Denvers comfort index is: 68

So in just about every way imaginable except cost of living, Seattle should be a real positive change for the better...  Clouds or no.  

Just thought I would share, let ya'll know that I have been doing my homework...

Here's a taste of Summer Highs...

Tampa TAMPA INTL AIRPORT, FL
Elevation 10 feet (3 metres)
Weather for Thursday, August 19, 2004

TEMPERATURE

MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURE
91.9°F
Maximum temperature reported during the day.


SEATTLE/BOEING FLD, WA
Elevation 16 feet (5 metres)
Weather for Thursday, August 5, 2004

TEMPERATURE

MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURE
75.2°F
Maximum temperature reported during the day.

So, over all I should be a lot more comfortable, the riding is going to be more suitable for me anyway, and we will have to worry less about crime...

 

[Revlis]

Oh and I'm babbling... Sorry..

 

[babuski]

Oh....and another thing Dr. Revilicious....

In April (or maybe its May)....you and the Mrs...can get on that Hayabusa (or drive a car) and head up toward Skagit Valley. It is, without a doubt one of the coolest sites during Tulip time. This is no small tulip region either....people always told me to go to holland michigan...and see a real tulip fest. Well it took 10 years but I finally went up to Holland and I said "you call this a tulip fest? Skagit Valley is 5 trillion times bigger and better than this amateur garden."

Now. Revenator...I don't know if you and your wife are into this kind of thing, but you drive up thru this tulip fest and spend a day or a short weekend in LaConner. Nice little shops, places to eat and bed and breakfasts. Great for a Hayabusa day run too. You'll travel thru thousands of acres of colorful tulips. Only Amsterdam has greater fields (I've seen those too.)

And, if the weather is a mite cold, you just turn your busa south and drive for a few hours and it will warm up nicely. You are literally in one of the best places for motorcycling (assuming it ain't raining).

You can do all sorts of trips to Mt. Baker, Olympia National Park, Vancouver Island, Mt Hood. You will be an old man before you cover all this terrritory.

I am so happy for you....I think you are going to love it.

 

[babuski]

You can also do a short weekend around the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. They have a highway that goes along the river. At sunset and sunrise it is spectacular. Great scenary, a gigundo waterfall (the name escapes me at the moment). After a ride by the river, you head back to the Oregon coast, you Midnight falcon will love the drive along the ocean. Set your GPS to tillamook and you'll have a wonderful ride for the day.

Hell...I should just move there myself....since yesterday was a sad day for me....had to add the stabil to the gas tank, remove the battery and change the oil for a few weeks of winter down time.....