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| Aside from the spectacular setting, outdoor
recreation may be the top reason retirees come to Anacortes
and Fidalgo Island. There are twelve miles of
saltwater shoreline, four freshwater lakes, nearly 3,300
acres of city-owned forests and parks and jaw-dropping water
and mountain views all around. Wildlife romp and play
in this natural beauty, and human residents also find plenty to
do, from sailing, whale watching, scuba diving, water skiing
and salmon fishing to snow skiing, hiking, yachting,
kayaking, horseback riding and bicycling (along twenty miles
of trails). And because of its location, Anacortes is the jumping off point for those
retirees ready to explore the vast and diverse Pacific
Northwest. |
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Anacortes exudes a casual, laid-back ambiance
where the living is easy, the air tastes salty and ships' horns
bellow in the distance. There is a thriving boating
community (five marinas and two ferry landings), with boat builders
working on everything from custom yachts (although this has
slowed) to tugboats. Rope
manufacturers and other marine craftsmen stay busy plying their
trade throughout town. Home to a major terminal for the
Washington State Ferries, many large ships use the town's dry dock
for repairs and maintenance. As a nice
supplement to the maritime culture, the arts community is starting
to flourish, with dozens of writers, artists, quilters, musicians
and craftsmen living in and around Anacortes. There are
exhibits, festivals and galleries, and local artwork is displayed
about town. The Anacortes Community Theater presents a year-long schedule, and annual community events include the Arts
Festival (which attracts 100,000 people the first weekend of
August), the Quilt Show and Walk, Shipwreck Days and the
Waterfront Festival (May).
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The downtown is touristy with coffee shops,
bookstores and gourmet restaurants. Nearly fifty antique stores are scattered
about, and there is a new police station, a new library (Internet
access available) and a new
community center. Most necessities can be found in
Anacortes, although many of the stores are specialty shops.
Bellingham, Washington, population 70,000, is 20 miles northeast
and provides more venues for shopping.
Anacortes is easy to navigate,
and Skagit Transit (360-299-2424) operates bus service within town
and to the mainland Monday
through Saturday. The regular fare is $1.00; those 65 and
better ride for $.50. Monthly passes are available.
The Anacortes Senior Center (360-293-7473),
managed by the county, operates
from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and
offers $3 to $5 (suggested donation) daily lunches at the Center as well as Meals
on Wheels to homebound seniors. Activities and
events include parties, potlucks, wellness classes, blood
pressure checks, referral services, tax assistance,
mortgage workshops and much more. Skagit Transit
makes a stop here,
too.
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Island
Hospital is the primary medical facility and is undergoing a
significant upgrade and expansion. It
operates under the auspices of Skagit County Public Hospital
District No. 2 and is a 43-bed medical-surgical
facility and a Level III Trauma Center, which is unusual for a
hospital this size. Island Hospital has also been
honored as one of "100 Top Hospitals" for
performance improvement. Further medical care is available in Seattle. The climate is on the cool side and there are not a lot
of temperature fluctuations. Summers are short, and
the average July high
temperature is 71 degrees F. The average January low
temperature is 34 degrees F. Morning humidity is
roughly 90% year-round but dips to between 60% to 80% during the
afternoons. The sun shines 20% to 40% during daytime hours; winters
are often gray, windy and rainy.
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The weather is probably the biggest drawback to
retirement in Anacortes, although many retirees enjoy a cooler
climate. It is a remote spot, far from big city crowds
and stresses, and may be too isolated for some. And a
fact left out of the tourist brochures is that both Shell and Tesoro have large oil
refineries here. They are a bit of an eyesore when right on
top of them, but
residents say that there are no problems with odors or pollution.
Overall, Anacortes seems to be a sturdy but easygoing town with lots
of seaside character, solid citizens (a few more Republicans than
Democrats) and community pride. Often referred to as the "Magic
City," it may be that perfect spot for a magical retirement. Return
to Page 1
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Great Retirement Spots Newsletter is
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