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Permalink Reply by EmilyNicole98 on April 9, 2014 at 12:42am

Hi! We are stationed in Bremerton, which is a little south of Whidbey.

First of all, the rain - this is a total myth, it doesn't rain here any more than it does elsewhere. I looked up the statistics once and we were like the 23rd state with the most rain and overcast days. So obviously nowhere near #1! The Olympic Peninsula -which is a little further west of the bases- does get more than the rest of the state, but even that is not outrageous unless you're from a sunny state and aren't used to changing weather. 

I can't speak for driving times, I've never been on that island before. I looked up the ferry routes and there aren't as many as I was expecting, leading me to believe that Whidbey probably has most of what you'll need. There are ferries that take you near Everett and Burlington, so those areas should have everything that isn't on the island. Seattle isn't really THAT far of a drive, it's just traffic that you have to worry about if you head that way. It can slow you down considerably. 

So far I've noticed that Washington tends to be either an extremely loved or an extremely hated duty station for people. Those from the south or California generally have a hard time dealing with the weather. We supposedly just had the wettest March on record but it seemed to me that it hardly ever rained - so it's really just all about what you're used to. In the summer though, it almost never rains, the sun is out every single day and you can see the mountains crystal clear in the distance, and the temperature hovers around 75. It's perfect and totally gorgeous! It's one of the best places to be if you're at all outdoorsy, too. Camping, hiking, mountain climbing, everything water-related, whale and bird watching, beaches and parks everywhere...it's impossible to run out of things to do. 

The one thing you have to watch for is the mold. It's everywhere and it's unavoidable. Buy a dehumidifier if you can, it helps. Wipe down your windowsills constantly, like several times a week especially in the winter. Run the fans when cooking and showering, things like that. Keep a close eye on things and you'll be fine. 

Welcome to Washington! :) 

Permalink Reply by AnnieRae on April 9, 2014 at 12:51am

wow, thank you so much! That really was helpful. I've actually researched about the rain and basically found the same thing as what you told me. How is the humidity there? 

I can't wait to be there!

Permalink Reply by EmilyNicole98 on April 9, 2014 at 10:42pm

You're welcome! Where are you from? I'm sure it'll be better here than you're used to regardless though. We're from Michigan and it can be AWFUL there. Washington is much, much better. The temperature rarely goes above 80 and it generally doesn't feel any hotter than it actually is. Technically Seattle is one of the most humid cities in the US but there isn't that sticky, heavy, I-can't-breathe feeling in the air. Something to do with the dew point and the ocean and such lol. So "humid" is defined differently here and it'll be a lot better than states like Florida or Michigan! Plus there's the added bonus of the breeze from the Sound that cools everything off. Wearing jeans in the summer no longer feels like death! 

Tip: buy a rain-resistant jacket and some boots asap if you get here in any month that isn't May-August. I wear winter boots when it rains only because I haven't found a pair of rain boots I like...just get something that won't leak! For some reason people don't use umbrellas here very often...so those things are a must!

Permalink Reply by Proud Navy Girlfriend on April 20, 2014 at 1:43am

Yeah the rain is not that bad so don't worry! Taking the ferry to get off the island is also beautiful and a fun experience and it does not take long at all!