Migration Continues

[Lets_Play_Two]

I spent the first 22 years of my life in my home town doing what people do while they are growing up. The next 22 years were spent in Chicago-a short 70 miles from my home town-as I refined my professional and managerial skills with access to an airport which would let you get anywhere. The third phase of the migration took me to Florida and this was the entrepreneurial phase-taking a risk and, fortunately, having it work out. It also developed my skills as a parent when, after my wife died, I raised a 13 year old and a 9 year old on my own. This also taught me that there is much more to life than chasing your tail all over the world for nothing much more than monetary gain. The phase included a return to college to get a master's degree in mental health counseling.

 

This 22 year phase will end this year with my youngest son going off to college and my new wife and I have started the next phase of the migration which will take us from close to the southern most point of the US to close to the northern most point-about 3500 miles. We have bought a house and will be moving to Gig Harbor, WA in early 2011. The 4th phase (I won't say last) will have us living on 7 acres, growing trees, doing business with people who want more out of life, AND riding our motorcycles all over that beautiful part of the world. We chose Washington because we are done with hot, humid weather and we wanted a much more temperate climate---not too cold and not too hot. We already have all the maps from the BMW shops and the NW BMW riding groups and we will be busy all winter bringing sunshine to Gig Harbor and all summer riding in the real stuff.

[Huzband]

Congratulations!

 

Gig Harbor is beautiful place. My Wife's late parents lived there for many years, so I had the pleasure to experience it a few times. We almost moved there ourselves.

[SEATTLE_RIDER]

 

Great choice Bill. We live on the north end of Puget Sound on Camano Island, WA. We also live on acreage and made the switch from crowded Seattle 3 yrs ago. It's a whole different life! As we have, your new location in Gig Harbor is the jumping off point for some of the best riding in the World. You are at the foothills of the Olympic Mountain Range and you're going to have a blast.

 

Give me a shout in 2011.........

[Kathy R]

Yes, congratulations on your next adventure. It sounds like this move will surely be a reward for a life well lived, thus far.

 

Oh, and did al gore say Gig Harbor would remain temperate in our lifetime?

[BFish]

congrasts bill....sounds like it will another successful phase. enjoy it.

[azkaisr]

Worthy and Congrats Amigo.

[tallman]

So, when is the open house?

 

[Kitsap]

Welcome Bill.

 

On acreage just up the road from your new digs.

 

Please hurry with the sunshine as it's a frog strangler at the moment.

[yabadabapal]

Congratulations on the big move. You will love it here. You will be close to alot of great things including some of my favorites.

Port Townsend

Squimm

"The Kinetic races" in Port Townsend where great engineers and people from around the world build man powered contraptions that have to go on land and then into the water and then into a 100 yard mud bog for the final stretch of the race. This race occurs every year.

The Ho Rain forest

and my favorite lake to swim in, Lake Crecsent

Get packing and keep us posted.

 

[Matts_12GS]

Toss my bike in with the furniture and I'll help unload before I ride home!

 

I'm jealous.

[yabadabapal]

Bring it on Matt. We, the Northwest will be waitin for you and we'll take good care of you.

[Boone60]

Congrats Bill. It sounds nice.

[Lets_Play_Two]

Toss my bike in with the furniture and I'll help unload before I ride home!

 

I'm jealous.

 

My wife has printed out your response and says she intends to hold you to it!

[KDeline]

 

We chose Washington because we are done with hot, humid weather and we wanted a much more temperate climate---

 

 

 

Not in my part of Florida. So far I'm not impressed.

[Joel]

When you've done it right, the cliche is true: There's no place like home. I hope your new place, and this phase, turns out to be all that you wish for.

 

In 2008, after a lifetime as suburbanites, we moved to a rural location ~30 miles from town. One of the best things we've ever done. I can't imagine leaving.

[Matts_12GS]

Toss my bike in with the furniture and I'll help unload before I ride home!

 

I'm jealous.

 

My wife has printed out your response and says she intends to hold you to it!

 

 

Bill, the last time we moved we called some friends who flew in from all over the country... Philly, VA Beach, San Diego and we also had some local friends over. We closed on the Friday of labor day weekend and I told the gang I'd throw a monster housewarming party on Sunday if they came to help us move.

 

We were unpacked and in the liquor by sundown on Saturday, and on Sunday we had the party, a ton of food, live music from another friend's duo, people in the pool. A few people had to put together lawn chairs so they had places to sit, but that was the worst of it...

[eddd]

Sounds like a great plan! Congrats.

[jmseattle]

Congrats. It will be a great adventure for you.

 

We chose Washington because we are done with hot, humid weather.

In exchange, for 5+ mos. of the year you'll have wet humid weather...

[Lets_Play_Two]

Congrats. It will be a great adventure for you.

 

 

In exchange, for 5+ mos. of the year you'll have wet humid weather...

 

I have my North Face gore-tex jacket!!!

[wolcott]

Best of luck to you, Bill. The Pacific Northwest is very beautiful and I'm sure you will enjoy it. I agree that the Florida weather can be almost overwhelming hot in the summer/fall, an additional benefits will be no more hurricanes to worry about. Besides motorcycling, there is a great variety of nice places to hike, boat, etc.

[Lets_Play_Two]

Best of luck to you, Bill. The Pacific Northwest is very beautiful and I'm sure you will enjoy it. I agree that the Florida weather can be almost overwhelming hot in the summer/fall, an additional benefits will be no more hurricanes to worry about. Besides motorcycling, there is a great variety of nice places to hike, boat, etc.

 

Yeah, even though we went from 1988 to 2005 without a hurricane hit, the three within 13 months creates the edge of anxiety in the summer all over again. A big reason was also that we have to ride 300+ miles just to get out of the state or into some new scenery. We are looking forward to the many directions we can ride and the abundance of scenery.

[Lineareagle]

The wife and I are looking for a move. So everytime I read one of these types of posts I go on-line and check out the area.

 

Gig looks very nice, lots of homes for sale, I assume the economy hit there hard as well.

But jeez the taxes are a killer!

 

I suppose if you buy low now and toss the difference in the bank to cover the revenuer for 15 years it works out OK.

 

Good luck with the new digs, looks like a great place!

[Lets_Play_Two]

The wife and I are looking for a move. So everytime I read one of these types of posts I go on-line and check out the area.

 

Gig looks very nice, lots of homes for sale, I assume the economy hit there hard as well.

But jeez the taxes are a killer!

 

I suppose if you buy low now and toss the difference in the bank to cover the revenuer for 15 years it works out OK.

 

Good luck with the new digs, looks like a great place!

 

You go to the revenuer with the appraisal given by the bank and get the taxes reduced. The property we bought was last sold at more than twice what we paid for it. And Washington, like Florida, has no state income tax so RE taxes are the revenue generator.