For over a month I have been slowly switching everything to Washington State – auto insurance, voter registration, health insurance, etc. Yesterday I finally had enough “proof of residency” documents to get my Washington driver’s license. Woo hoo. I think that makes me officially a resident, although I still need license plates for the fleet (car, van, RV). That will come around the first of the year. Anyway, I bring all this up because today, the day after getting my driver’s license, the Washington Supreme Court banned capital punishment. Go Washington! It feels so good to be in a state where my beliefs are more aligned with the state government. Compare to North Dakota and Wyoming, for example.
Although there is no income tax here, it seems the trade off is going to be the cost of living. I just paid $90 to transfer my driver’s license. Sales tax is 10% and everything costs way more than I have paid in a long time, including all types of insurance and gas. Food seems to be okay, but that is it.
One of my Senior perks will be a free State Park Discovery Pass. That will give me free entrance to all the beautiful state parks and reduced prices for camping. And, like most western states, I am surrounded by National Forests. Another perk: a great library system, with a large collection of online materials. Beautiful public lands and books! What more do I need? Blue state people and they are here in abundance. There are so many things to do and people to meet, people I feel comfortable with. I feel like I belong and I don’t feel as isolated. The problem with hanging out with only other retired people is the isolation from mainstream life. As much as I loved rural New Mexico, I was not ready to be so far from a greater cross-section of people. However, this is the LAST time I switch state residency! It is expensive and requires endless paperwork.
It won’t be long before I head out to Sequim, WA on the Olympic Peninsula and who knows what happens from there! In the meantime, I love Washington and am really happy I spent the money and invested the time needed to set up a base here. I do miss New Mexico, especially right now as my friends from the last two winters are congregating there again. Lunch in Mexico! Hikes in the desert! I will definitely be back for a visit at some point, but the Olympic Peninsula seems like a fair trade!
BTW: I checked the price for a flight from Seattle to Fairbanks, AK in February. I want to see the Northern lights. Cost: $280 round trip! Hopefully, this February, if not, next year.
Welcome to Washington; it’s a beautiful and blue place as you’re discovering.
Thanks so much!
I loved living in Washington. When I moved from the east coast almost 20 years ago, I wanted to move back to Washington (I lived there for a year during my corporate fast track days) and my husband (now ex husband) wanted to move to Phoenix where he grew up. We compromised and moved to Southern California, which I had visited once before our apartment hunting trip.
I remember seeing the Northern Lights the winter we lived in Bellevue. I can’t believe it, but that was almost 40 years ago, way before Bellevue was so built up.
I have discovered that it is never too late to move to Washington!! It is am amazing place.
There are times when I have considered it. But for weather, variety of potential activities (not that I take advantage of them as often as I could), and relatively quick access to beach, desert, mountains, and more, nothing beats Southern CA.
I am sure of that! It is a beautiful place with the best climate!