Advice for relocating the family (USA)

[PaulCrawhorn]

Looking for very sailing-oriented community, can be anywhere in the lower-48, either coast. Prefer mid-size city but within an hour of major metro would be OK.

Good quality public high school A MUST!

Maybe a college town?

Ebike friendly, public transport, walkability would be great.

But the #1 factor (besides kids' schooling) is lots and lots of sailboats, marinas, suppliers, surveyors, boatyards etc

I am relatively "poor", but can afford a high rent ($3K) if necessary until I am full-time liveaboard after kids are out. Job opportunities in IT a plus.

Minor factor: prefer temperate weather, not raining all the time, ideally little to no snow.

So far thinking Chesapeake region, or between Northern Cali and Seattle.

[psk125]

Sounds like Annapolis or Baltimore area to me.

[Pandor]

Originally Posted by psk125

Sounds like Annapolis or Baltimore area to me.

Annapolis is a great town. But it does fall short on a number of the requirements:

There is almost no public transport in naptown.
Walkability is great - but only in touristy downtown. You still need a car to do all your shopping because every shop within walking distance of downtown only sells non-useful knickkacks to the tourists.
You will also need a car to get from your home in the outskirts to Annapolis if you only have $3K to spend in rent.
I can't speak to the public schools except that they certainly compare much better than those in Baltimore.

[goboatingnow]

I was moving the family to Annapolis , but plans changed

Severna park high school is ( was ) very good , was happy to send my teen there

Yes you need a car , but that’s true of nearly everything in the US

[PineyWoodsPete]

On the W Coast, nothing but San Fran. fits your dream - and that seems pretty perfect, but don't know what $3K gets you in rent. Nothing else between conservative, totally car-oriented So. Cal. and Seattle even remotely fits...

[kalise]

Have you looked into Port Townsend WA or Port Angeles WA.

IMO neither meet EVERY ONE of your specifications ..but also IMO each meet your most important specifications.

Plus Port Angeles has the Olympic Peninsula Collège ..the Olympic Medical Center Hospital ..excellent PAHS ..V.G. local transportation ..every community service you may need ..almost everything within walking distance ..a small city located between the sea and the mountains with it's own Symphony Orchestra.

Check it out (https://www.visitportangeles.com/)

[Utahsailor]

Consider Marblehead MA, or other towns on the North Shore of Boston. Very good schools, lots of sailing, a non touristy walkable downtown, lots of rental apartments. Rt 128 and downtown Boston a tech Mecca. Train into Boston from Salem, Manchester and Cape Ann (all good sailing towns).

[MJH]

Originally Posted by PaulCrawhorn

Looking for very sailing-oriented community, can be anywhere in the lower-48, either coast. Prefer mid-size city but within an hour of major metro would be OK.

Good quality public high school A MUST!

Maybe a college town?

Ebike friendly, public transport, walkability would be great.

But the #1 factor (besides kids' schooling) is lots and lots of sailboats, marinas, suppliers, surveyors, boatyards etc

I am relatively "poor", but can afford a high rent ($3K) if necessary until I am full-time liveaboard after kids are out. Job opportunities in IT a plus.

Minor factor: prefer temperate weather, not raining all the time, ideally little to no snow.

So far thinking Chesapeake region, or between Northern Cali and Seattle.

Give Puget Sound a good look; anywhere from Olympia in the south to the Canadian border. Many small to medium waterfront towns that don't freeze over the winter. Cruising grounds go all the way to Alaska and the Canadians are very friendly. Plenty of IT jobs. Educational opportunities galore. I've lived here since 1986 and sailed here since 1995.

[oleman]

La Jolla and Del Mar Ca, absolutely perfect weather year round, great at sea weather off Southern Ca. Good school system for Ca. Must have deep pockets. Probably the best year around weather in the Continental USA!



Bremerton WA area, Seattle West to Pacific is the best area, weather is mostly cold and overcast at sea year round.



Brunswick GA, hot and sticky in summer good at Sea weather during warm months.



Pensacola FL, good cost of living, schools good for FL. Gulf of Mexico in that area is not cluttered with oil rigs or other trash.



Mobile AL, same as Pensacola except in AL.



Lest expensive area to live on the water is probably PALACIOUS, TX, (South West of Houston) that is the shrimp boat capitol of the USA.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by kalise

Have you looked into Port Townsend WA or Port Angeles WA.

IMO neither meet EVERY ONE of your specifications ..but also IMO each meet your most important specifications.

Plus Port Angeles has the Olympic Peninsula Collège ..the Olympic Medical Center Hospital ..excellent PAHS ..V.G. local transportation ..every community service you may need ..almost everything within walking distance ..a small city located between the sea and the mountains with it's own Symphony Orchestra.

Check it out (https://www.visitportangeles.com/)

I'm not one to usually someone to welcome to Washington anyone I'm not familiar with.
But you say good schools, sailing and seafaring, and a progressive communities?
We, as said we cannot offer all of these desires you mention.
But it's defineately a great opportunity.

And as a progressive, I would personally welcome you outright.
So I second this comment above.

I would suggest the P. Townsend, area, Bellingham, if you can afford it Vashon, San Juan, Lopez islands are amazing, friendly and both progressive and reclusive.

Boatyarddog

[Utahsailor]

After Boston I should have mentioned Portland ME. A small city with good schools, a walkable, likable downtown. Lower cost of living than Boston. The best sailing, right on Casco Bay with sailing towns and marinas within easy driving distance. Becoming a tech center with a new technology school endowment of $100 million. Train to Boston. Cold winters but great skiing a two hour drive away.

[Celestialsailor]

Northern California. Bring lots and lots of money.
P.S. Do you have a boat?

[Letitbe]

Someone looking for “tolerant” sounds pretty intolerant.

[Cheechako]

Many spots on Puget Sound, Washington fit your request. The problem for sailing is the long wet winters.
Anacortes
Port Townsend
Bellingham
South sound - Olympia or many other places really.

[cdcorl]

Live aboard year round? Maybe SoCal or Puget Sound. Even Chesapeake is tough in the winter