Here is a shot of downtown Arlington, Washington, my next destination for life and adventure. Don't know when I am going to find a place there, but rents are much lower than in the Seattle metro area (as in 70% of the cost of my current place).



The apartment I'm looking at is in one of the buildings down the right side of the street in the above photo. More info after Wednesday on that.

Facts about Arlington:

Population: 11713
County: Snohomish
Latitude: 48.1818
Longitude: -121.98

From the official Arlington website:

Incorporated in 1903, the City of Arlington is located in northern Snohomish County approximately 10 miles north of Everett and 40 miles north of Seattle. The City limits cover an area of approximately 8.2 square miles, and is roughly bounded by the Stillaguamish River and its flood plain on the north-northwest; I-5 on the west; 164th Street NE to 67th Avenue then 172nd Street on the south; and by SR-9 and the South Fork Stillaguamish flood plain on the east. The City of Marysville lies to the south, and the Tulalip Indian Reservation to the southwest. Further east up the Stillaguamish Valley is the City of Darrington.

What I like about the area:

- lower taxes
- lower rent
- There's a Haggen grocery store there where I can get all my hippie food
- the Stillaguamish River and all the swimming holes
- The Bistro (a great restaurant, truly great)
- convenient to destinations farther east, as in hiking destinations and skiing and stuff like that
- no ferry fare

What will suck:
- not close to my support network
- way too far away from the Cajun (I know, we'll make it work, like he said)
- not living 30 feet from Puget Sound
- probably have to give my cats to someone

I'm trying to be brave and responsible and excited. It's working, mostly.