Sequim Y is open

The long waiting time of about 1 year for all of us active Sequim senior citizens is finally over with the soft and Grand Opening of the Sequim Y which has taken over the place of former SARC (Sequim Aquatic and Recreation Center). I can't emphasize enough how much we all missed our 'full work out' with the lap swimming, water aerobics, saunas and jacuzzi. The immediate sign-up of by over 2000 members proves this more than anything else. Finally, we can reunite with kindred spirit friends because 'Anytime Fitness' and 'Sequim Gym' had split our fitness community. Long story short, we are very happy to be back in our familiar fitness and aquatic center.

We are well aware of the changes the  Sequim YMCA had to take in order to make this a smooth operation and a long time financial survival possible. In the long run we see the close cooperation with the Olympic Medical Center' Rehab and the Y as a big plus. We also welcome the openness of the Y management to our feedback as former SARC members. As senior citizens on a fixed incomer we love that all fitness classes are FREE and included in the membership. I have joined the Tai Chi class with Michael, who has been teaching Tai Chi for 40 years. I love it. However, the are many more  fitness classes to choose from like: Zumba, Water Aerobics, Yoga, Active Older Adults and more. Why not giving it a try? Stay happy and healthy in Sequim with the Sequim YMCA.

Sequim Gyms & Fitness Centers

A while ago we reported here on our Sequim town blog that our beloved Sequim Recreation & Aquatic Center had to close its doors in October 2015. Basically because of mismanagement. Many months later we can finally share the good news with our blog visitors that the Olympic Peninsula YMCA in coordination with Olympic Medical Center, Clallam County and City of Sequim agreed to an alternative with the Y taking over management of the facility when reopening will happen In September 2016. SARC commissioners are using a$731K grant from the county's Opportunity Fund to replace the defunct air handler.

An additional grant by WA State Department of over $273K will be given if the Sequim Y (SARC) switches from propane to a heat pump system which would allegedly save gallons of propane and some $60,000 annually in money expenses. One wonders why PUD recommended a few years ago to switch to propane in the first place?! I assume with the anticipation of the expected savings, we'll soon see a consensus regards installing the heat pump system which might actually extend remodeling time into the middle of September.

Ever since SARC closed we joined, like the majority of senior citizens, the other available Sequim fitness centers. Keoki joined Anytime Fitness because his secondary health insurance AARP (United Healthcare) pays a considerable part of his membership fee.

As my secondary Health insurance Premera does not offer such a great benefit, I joined 'Sequim Gym' with their affordable rate and easy walking distance from our house. BTW, Sequim Gym efforts regards improving fitness, health & fun are very impressive: the gym offers over 30 classes a week at no EXTRA cost as part of the membership. Recently, some special classes were included (for an extra fee) addressing health issues like Parkinson's and Balance problems.

It's great to see how understanding, compassionate and helpful Sequim Gym instructors are. Feeling right at home there, will make it harder switching gyms another time in September but being an active swimmer the use of the lap pool is something I and many other seniors miss currently the most. Honestly, we are very much looking forward to finishing our gym workout again with swimming some laps in the pool, and relaxing in the saunas & jacuzzi plus reconnecting and socializing with all our SARC friends.

Sequim started its 121st Irrigation Festival

When Washington's longest running festival started Friday May 6th in Sequim, I was right there 'downtown' - not that Sequim visitors can get lost in our downtown area! I was actually going for one of my visits to the Sequim Gym, when I noticed the many tents already set up across Washington Street for the Saturday Farmer's Market with arts and crafts and many green veggies in pots - some still teeny tiny and others nice, big and juicy looking ready for harvesting.

Photo of cherry blossom trees in Sequim before the Irrigation Festival

For more information on the festival events this week, visit IrrigationFestival or SequimGazette. The Grand Finale Weekend this week includes the carnival, Sequim History Walking Tour, Logging Show, Truck and Tractor Pull, golf tournament and more. My favorites are the Fireworks on Friday night May 13th 9:30pm and the Grand Parade the next day May 14th 12 noon - 2pm.

Get an impression of the Grand Parade with our Sequim photos from previous parades:

To all our Sequim visitors 'Happy New Year 2016'

Happy Healthy New Year

May all your plans moving to Sequim work out the way they are supposed to

The early morning sun is hitting the clouds building up behind the Olympic Mountains.

A few minutes later the sky cleared up and the snow on Hurricane Ridge - our most visited sight on the Olympic Peninsula - sparkles in the sun.

Sun rise view from Sequim over another part of the Olympics - a feature which every home seller likes to list. The ever changing sun shine and cloud cover make the mountain views unique and special. We prefer those over the water views.

Sequim Town blog loves to hear from you. We are happy to answer your questions about a vacation in Sequim, life on the Olympic Peninsula, moving here, anything beyond our categories on the side bar. Scroll down the list: Sequim Relocation Resources, Moving to Sequim, Vacation rentals and B&Bs, Sequim Hotels, Vacation Highlights and more and you will find a lot of answers about Sequim.

Lucky we live in Sequim

Dear Sequim town blog visitors,
We can't believe it, our 10th anniversary of our life in Sequim is coming up on January 12th 2016. Time to celebrate! For all those of you who seriously consider to move to the Olympic Peninsula now or in the near future, let us tell you, we never regretted the move here one bit. Reading the news about nasty weather reports like tornadoes, snow storms, floods, icy roads and more in states like Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico make us even feel better. Visit Sequim, check it out and make your decision. We welcome new arrivals on a daily basis. Realtors are happy about the 'rush'.

New Railroad Bridge

We are closing the old year 2015 with some good news. In February the rain and high winds from a passing through storm damaged the Railroad Bridge at Dungeness River Auduborn Center and resulted in the closure of the bridge. As the bridge is part of the Olympic Discovery Trail and is frequently used by Sequim residents - we love our bikes past Sequim Airport to Robin Hill Park - and visiting bikers as well, the closure caused lots of inconvenience and detours. After about a 10th month waiting, the new bridge is completed (see my photos from Christmas Day). There will be a Grand Opening of Railroad Bridge steel truss trestle on December 30th at 1pm at the Railroad Bridge Park. See you there!

New riverbed of the Dungeness River

Location of Dungeness River before storm

Another big event negatively affecting the lives of hundreds of active, health oriented Sequim senior citizens happened when our beloved SARC Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center closed at the beginning of November - totally unexpected, we were promised by the board members that SARC will stay open at least till August 2016. Prior to the closure we attended a final meeting at the City Hall about the necessary closure. Hearing that SARC was working on its last reserves of about $20K(!), we were totally shocked and especially surprised when people in charge did not take responsibility for the failure by resigning from their position. This failure did not happen from one day to the next. No private business could have done that.

To cut a long story short, after lots of discussions and meetings of all the different entities - such as Clallam County, City of Sequim, Olympic Medical Center, Sequim High School - which realize how important SARC is to the healthy life styles of Sequim residents is, finally joined forces and a solution for SARC's reopening is in sight. Please, follow the discussions at the Sequim Gazette and at the Peninsula Daily News We are all very happy that a reopening of SARC has become feasible but we are very disappointed about the set time frame for July 2016. Til' then we signed up for two different gyms: Anytime Fitness offers AARP members (United Health) an affordable alternative but I signed up with the general affordable fees of Sequim Gym. Last but no least, forget about doing your swimming at the William Shore Pool in Port Angeles - they raised the daily fees FOR SEQUIM RESIDENTS from $3.50 to $10.50, which we consider totally unethical because the majority of Sequim residents are seniors on a fixed income.

We are looking forward to reuniting with all our kindred spirit Sequim friends at SARC soon.

Moving to Sequim Olympic Peninsula

Relocating to Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula has become a very attractive idea for many vacationers who spent a vacation in Sequim this summer 2015 for different reasons:

Why moving to Sequim?

Baby boomers are looking for the perfect place to retire...

Sequim offers the most moderate weather: mild winters & moderate summers

No EXTREMES!

Tired of living in a big city? 

   

Sequim located between the Olympic Mountains and the Straits of Juan de Fuca 

offers country living with the amenities of big town box stores like Costco,

Walmart, Home Depot, Pennies and more.

Housing

There is a wide range of homes, condos, manufactured homes available at a 

 reasonable price compared to the rest of the nation.

Taxes

   

There is no income tax! But sales tax of a bit over 8% on all non-food purchases

can add up easily. Property tax is a little over 1% of assessed value.  

Utilities

The City of Sequim provides water, sewer, electricity by PUD and trash pickup

within city limits. Be aware that private wells and septic systems in rural areas

in the Dungeness Valley can be a costly expense for construction and maintenance.

Employment

Sequim is foremost a retirement town with needs for tourism, recreation and health

care. There is plenty of work to do for handy men, gardeners, yard & house 

work or nurses and nurses aids for home care or in rehab or assisted living         

facilities. Experienced realtor companies always look for independent co-     workers www.clallam.org

Education 

Sequim High School offers quality education till 12th grade. Peninsula College   

offers adult classes in Sequim and Port Angeles.

Churches 

The over 20 churches in Sequim represent most of the major denominations. 

The Sequim churches are a center for many social events around the year.

Fitness Clubs & Golf Clubs

  

Sequim senior citizens love an active life-style socializing with retired friends at   SARC, Sequim Gym or Any Time Fitness . Sequim residents may play golf in 

Sunland on the weekends or at any time at the 7- cedars resort golf course. See 

golf rates here. 

We love to answer your personal questions about 'Moving to Sequim' right here on the Sequim Town Blog when we feel our answer will be helpful for the big Move!

Sequim weather in October

"What's the weather like in Sequim in September and October?"

Potential guests often ask us when making plans for a monthly Sequim visit at our vacation rental. We always give them the same answer: Next to the summer months July and August, September and October are beautiful fall months here on the Olympic Peninsula. Perfect for hiking the Olympics, visit Sol Duc Hot Springs, kayaking the Straits, joining other visitors on a whale watch boat trip or enjoy an outing to Seattle or Victoria B.C. on Vancouver Island.

OK admittedly, we have to wait a little longer in May for comfy warm spring weather when our friends in Canada in the Okanagan Valley (desert climate) already brag about some warmer temperatures but to tell you the truth, Sequim's moderate summer temperatures and the Indian Summers in September and October make all up for it. It feels like a never-ending summer at this time of the season: blue skies, lots of sun, warm pleasant temperatures after 10am with lots of bikers runners and walkers out on the Olympic Discovery Trail. And yes it's true, Sequim residents still greet each other!

Like the rest of happy Sequim people, we enjoy the extended summer - on Sunday it was a bike ride via the Railroad Bridge to Sequim Airport - as much as we can and as long as we can. Don't forget sometimes the 'change' in weather to the colder season can happen without much ado. Well, and for those, who want to find out what Sequim weather is like in November and December during the holiday season, here is the good news. We had a cancellation at our fully equipped vacation rental for November. The apartment is now available starting November 11, 2014. If you are interested and/or have any questions, please, email us. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
p.s.
Thanks Erin & Kevin for your wonderful photos from the Pumpkin patch.

Is Sequim the best town to retire in US?

Sequim best retirement city?

Yes, for us definitely. For all those who have followed our blog "Sequim Town" over the years or even for the many guests who stayed with us at our Sequim Vacation Rental over the last few years - by the way, an impressive 50% of those ended up moving to Sequim and live here now for good - this is nothing new.

View from Bell Hill over Sequim Bay, the Straits and Cascade Mountains

But now the 'Huffington Post' and 'Fox News' individually named Sequim as best retirement city in the USA, which makes our little town really stand out among retirement options. However, we can't agree with all the reasoning of those two -  like pot is now legal in WA and therefore in Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula, which might be the biggest attraction for some - we love best the closeness to the ocean (Straits de Juan de Fuca) and the mountains (Olympic National Park), the moderate temperatures all your round with a very average of annual rain fall between 12 - 15 inch. One can't beat small town living with big town amenities - Costco and WalMart on the top of shopping opportunities.

View over Sequim Valley, with the Straits and Mt.Maker in back

SARC Sequim Aquatic Recreational Center including modern work-out equipment, big variety of exercise classes, Olympic size swimming pool, steam and hot saunas and wonderful jacuzzi has become the morning meeting place for seniors, "competing' with our top notch Senior Center, to socialize and stay in best shape ever.

Coming back to the fact that Sequim got named in the top of best national retirement cities, this development is not welcome by everybody in town. We all love our peaceful living, wonderful natural environment and neighborhood watches to keep us safe. So some consider more retirees as 'intruders', even though most of them have been one not far ago.

John Wayne Marina

We all got to realize that only change can make things happen. Wouldn't we all like to see the value of our real estate property going up or see our health care system further improve?! So let's embrace change and welcome the new retirees to Sequim!

Sequim Jamestown Golf Course views

Come for a visit and you might want to come back to stay!

Elks are roaming on Sequim's meadows

We told our Sequim Town visitors before about the herd of Roosevelt elks roaming in Sequim. Much to the delight of our visitors, not always welcome by the farmers who have to protect their crops from the seemingly always hungry elks.

Recently we read in the Peninsula Daily News that the connection between the collars and the signs on Hwy 101 does not always work right. We had noticed that in the past too but figured it cannot hurt to pay a bit more attention in case the elks are really close-by.

Our friends Erin & Kevin took some nice photos of the elks this summer and shared them with us. Enjoy the photos. Hope you can plan a Sequim vacation for summer 2014 and can take photos of the herd yourselves. Remember you don't won't to get too close to the elks. They can become quite aggressive, especially the bulls 'protecting' the herd.

If you have any questions about Sequim or a vacation in Sequim or moving to Sequim, Just leave a comment and we will answer you.

Sequim reunion of Hawaii expats

Dear Sequim Town visitors, real ones or cyberspace ones,

When we moved to Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula from Hawaii in January 2006, we didn't know a soul here in Sequim but that should change soon. We found lots of kindred spirits at SARC (Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center) where Keoki started teaching his Easy Stretch class - still going strong now: Mondays + Wednesdays 10:45am at Sarc for those who live in Sequim and surrounding areas - and among the big group of Hawaiian expats, people like us who had moved to Sequim from Hawaii.


The Hawaiian expat group puts a reunion together twice a year, once in summer and another one in winter during the Christmas holidays. Last Saturday we all came together for our summer luau to celebrate our lives and blessings with a great Hawaiian style pot luck luau and lots of Hawaiian music by volunteers who love to play the ukulele and other instruments.

What would be a Hawaiian luau without the traditional Hawaii hula?! Hula teacher Mahina and her hula halau from the Sequim Senior Center danced to their own and to all the Hawaiian expats' entertainment. Just look at their smiling faces in the photos! They tell you how we all felt: loving our lives in Sequim yet enjoying great memories of our lives in Hawaii!

We would like to thank John and Margret Mitchel who opened their beautiful Sequim home and property for all of us and made this summer Hawaii luau party a full success with their TLC. Mahalo, Margret and John!


You want to move to Sequim, a Sequim vacation home is the first step to learn about life in Sequim.

Tags: What is it like to live in Sequim, Sequim events

Sequim Library hosts a 'Whodunit'

Dear Sequim visitors,
First things first, we really love our Sequim library. One can find almost any book there and if they don't have the book you want at our Sequim location, it's easy to order it. The Sequim library also offers book sales at least once a month where you can buy paper backs as cheap as 25cents. Perfect for getting books for going on vacation. Those who come on vacation to Sequim will like the Sequim library a lot because it also offers free Internet service.

The Sequim Library 'Whodunit' seems to be a great fun addition to the library. This past Friday night a hoard of amateur CSI'ers descended on the Sequim library to solve the mystery of who killed the book author. The library hosted this event, inviting all, young and old, to come and solve the mystery. The Sequim library was packed and we were divided into groups of 4 to 6 persons, given a clue sheet and a crossword puzzle to complete in case of ties. There was a cast of 8 characters who read from scripts detailing the storyline and slipping in clues along the way. The story mixed in locales in and around Sequim, mostly in a funny way. We were given 3 breaks to discuss our clues and to roam the library to find more clues stuck here and there.

The Friends of Sequim Library provided a table of snacks to satisfy any hunger pangs brought on by all that thinking. The evening ended as we turned in our choices of who killed the author, the motive and the weapon used. The first place team received $25 gift certificates for a local restaurant, 2nd and 3rd place received a Lotto ticket each. All in all it was a great way to spend a couple of hours on a Friday evening. I for one am looking forward to the next mystery to solve at the Sequim Library.

Tags: Whodunit at Sequim Library, Sequim Library mystery

Sequim July Summer Round-up

Dear Sequim visitors,

Well, to tell you the truth, so far Sequim and the Olympic Peninsula did not really enjoy a summer, yet. The annual precipitation is already over 10" very close to our annual average of 12". Too many gray and rainy days and only sporadic days of sunshine but our Sequim vacation rental guests are so happy to escape the long lasting heat waves in AZ, TX, NM or PA. What can we say? We still feel blessed and comfortable to be able to enjoy the cooler weather in Sequim this summer when 22 states of the rest of the nation are exposed to sweltering temperatures. So what's happening this summer in Sequim?

Sequim Lavender Festival

Despite the rain during this year's Lavender Festival - long time Sequim residents told us that this is a first - I think it was a success. When I visited the new Lavender Festival in the Park on Saturday I missed a bit the vibe of the Street Fair in Fir (we had some drizzle rain then), which we enjoyed on Sunday noon. Great audience, beautiful arts and crafts. Everybody had a great time! I did not go to a farm with the tour bus but saw that the buses were crowded as usual. Yesterday I shopped at Jardin du Soleil and they told me that they had a great crowd enjoying the lavender fields and their lavender products!

You pick Berries in Sequim

The Camron Strawberry and Graysmarsh Berry Farm opened late this year in June for picking strawberries. However, since the rainy weather fruits were not really big and sweet, so u-pick strawberry season was not a big success this year. Yesterday I picked for the first time raspberries at Graysmarsh after I had picked the first sweet berries at my bushes. Raspberries obviously loved the rain. The fruits are big, juicy and sweet. Graysmarsh sells them for $2/lb I also checked their early blueberries which should be ripe for picking by the end of the week.

2011 Tribal Canoe Journey

When walking to SARC yesterday, where Keoki is teaching his Easy Stretch class, I noticed in Fir St next to the Sequim High School tennis courts tons of tents on the grassy area which had a sign for the'2011 Tribal Canoe Journey', which is organized by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Their colorful canoes are coming from the west while others are crossing from the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Today the canoes will paddle to Port Townsend and then head further to their gathering place at La Conner.

New Sequim Soccer Fields in Carrie Blake Park

Yes, that's what the current dirt piles on a huge 13 acre area will be in Carrie Blake Park. Before all that digging, there was 'just' grass and Canadian geese and ducks roaming around on it, bikers biking the Olympic Discovery Trail and the senior people of Sequim walking through the peaceful scenery with beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains. Looks like some people came up with the idea this area should be made into 5 large and 3 small new soccer fields. We heard of a petition so we could vote for or against this project, but we and most of our friends never saw it.

Now we are wondering whether this new Sequim project, which is actually paid for by donations to Sequim Family Advocates, will not only be in the best interest of the 'alleged 1000 children waiting to play there' but also of the senior community of a retirement town like Sequim! How that can be accomplished will still to be seen. Another interesting question will be who will be paying for the maintenance costs for 13 acres of playground since the city of Sequim is already under financial pressure as is.

Let's hope the new Sequim soccer fields in Carrie Blake Park will be an improvement for Sequim, for the children AND the seniors and last but not least fro the wild life in Carrie Blake Park!

Tags: summer in Sequim, Sequim events, Sequim City projects

Sequim Retirement Home celebrates

To be specific, well-known Sequim retirement center 'The 5th Avenue' turned 25 on Thursday this week and celebrated its birthday with Sequim residents. The retirement center had invited visitors to 'high tea' and tours at the retirement home. We joined the afternoon celebration which included a few birthday speeches, horse-drawn carriage rides a taste of the delicious food the retirement serves its residents and tours through the building in a beautiful garden setting. See my photos.

On the tour we were able to view some of the apartments which include , 1-Bedroom and 2-Bedroom units which are available for rent on a month to month basis. Most of the apartments have large patios or balconies. Amenities and services like full meal service, house keeping, utilities, transportation and activities are part of the monthly rent. Sequim retirement home rentals start at $1950/mo. for a person. A 2-Bedroom condo rents for $3225/mo. for a couple meaning one definitely has to have some decent savings or have a good pension to be able to retire at '5th Avenue' Sequim retirement home.

With 87 being the average age of residents, Sequim residents obviously take their time to check themselves in. We all want to be and stay active, healthy and independent as long as possible. However, it's a good thing to know that Sequim town has a nice retirement home as '5th Avenue'. To check things out on your own, you can always come to Sequim. An affordable charming Sequim vacation apartment makes your visit easy.

Tags: Sequim Retirement Home