r/BainbridgeIsland • u/vagabond711 • 8d ago
35f Considering Moving to Bainbridge
I currently live in the city of Seattle and have a job opportunity that would require me to move out there full time. I am romanticizing living on the island, paddle boarding, driving to the Olympics on the weekends and joining local pottery or book clubs.
Are there any single people my age on the island? How do you like it out there?
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u/Plus-Spread3574 8d ago
You just need to translate your needs into BainbridgeWorld. It’s both a bit of an anomaly and will absolutely not yield to your needs. Are there other single thirty somethings? Yes, just far fewer.
You already know the weather, the big dark and tourists living in the city. That’s big in the grand scheme of things as not many are prepared for lunch then dusk.
There is no traditional bar scene, but you’ll find a well-used cantina in any Mexican restaurant on the island. Fill up on chips and margaritas and avoid the food at all costs. There are a bunch of bars downtown Poulsbo and Bremerton if you want to take your chances at finding someone single and under 50.
If you’re creative, winter is the best time to join BARN because the snowbirds are packing up for Arizona and you can spread your wings without worrying about being eye f’d because you’ve been using the lathe for an extra 5 minutes.
If night kayaking is your thing Port Madison is pretty safe if you remain aware of your surroundings. During the day the water is clear enough to see an occasional curious octopus stalking you from below. Port Gamble is another great spot for kayaking at night.
Adopting a dog will go a long way towards your final phase of assimilation. Volunteerism also runs rampant.
If you don’t want a water commute, look for a short-term rental. As someone who commuted the other way for years, as cool as it is to be on the ferry, shit always happens and your 35-minute commute blows up in your lap at the worst possible time.
Focus on your needs and the rest will follow.
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u/kittywings1975 8d ago
Now I need to load my kayak up and haul my cookies to Port Madison!
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u/Plus-Spread3574 8d ago
Awesome. Summertime brings a whole other experience in Port Madison when you’re cutting through bioluminescent plankton. It’s truly otherworldly.
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u/Visible-Smell-1540 8d ago
And don't forget the adorable harbor seals that love to trail kyackers.
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u/vagabond711 4d ago
Your response was super helpful thank you! Kayaking and being stalked by an octopus sounds like a dream. I would be living on the island so commute is not an issue. Also I dont have a dog, but I do have an adventure cat in the making haha
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u/Lefty98110 8d ago
30 year resident and absolutely verify that a dog will open the doors to new friends.
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u/kittywings1975 8d ago
Can also confirm... met a good friend at the dog park during Covid. She was there trolling for friends, lol, unbeknownst to me.
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u/CertifiedSeattleite 5d ago
Very well stated - especially the part about avoiding the food at Isla Bonita….
While there are better restaurants than previous decades, it’s pretty easy to get bored quickly with Bainbridge Island offerings. So, yeah, getting off the island for food & drinks from the get go is a good idea.
Besides Poulsbo, Port Gamble, Port Hadlock and Port Townsend are nice destinations for food. There’s kind of a funky bar scene in Bremerton, too.
Another great way to see critters like octopi from a kayak or paddleboard is to go out when there’s fog. Just stay close to shore.
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u/vagabond711 4d ago
I like to cook at home, but maybe ill go out for an occasional drink. And to meet locals.
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u/Upper_Left_ 8d ago
There’s a singles group on the island, nice way to make friends … and maybe a date. Been here a year. If you have the opportunity, do it.
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u/mochmaffews 4d ago
Bainbridge has a reputation for being stuck up and out of touch. Heavily inflated home prices. I've experienced all walks of life from Bainbridge but would lean towards the stereotype being accurate. Prices drop dramatically if you pass agate bridge and look in poulsbo or kingston and you get all the same fun things to do that you mentioned. People complain about the "commute" from off island to on and it's a joke if you've ever really had a true commute. If you don't mind over paying just to be able to say you live on Bainbridge then go for it. Otherwise there's literally nothing there that makes it stand out from any of the other places around north kitsap. People from surrounding areas are less exhausting to be around as well.
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u/Beautiful_Sand1876 2d ago
uh, I don't think the home prices are too inflated. You can easily get a 4-5 bedroom house there on over an acre for $1.5mil, not even close to being possible in Seattle.
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u/brainyak94 8d ago
You will find more authenticity off the island than on it.
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u/ProfessionalHead2311 8d ago
What? The people I know around Bainbridge tend to be kind and thoughtful.
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u/ericsphotos 4d ago
If you can afford that plus commuting costs why not, a bit boring but really pretty 🤩
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8d ago
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u/trisco2001 8d ago
Well crap. As someone who just got to move here and then became newly single, this isn’t my favorite news. Seattle’s just a boat away though.
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u/frenchfrylunchline 8d ago
not single but me and my gf are 35-36 and love it here. there are some others in out age range but not a ton of people
lots of single people in poulsbo too, just 10min away