Does anyone live on Whidbey Island?

Hey folks,

So I just got a job offer on Whidbey Island, and I'd be super excited to take it, but the offer is contingent on my living on the island.

I have a couple concerns about this.

1) The Mukilteo ferry -- it's like $14 round trip if you bring a car? Add that to climbing gym fees, etc it makes me wonder if it's worth it. Do people purchase parking on the mainland so as to avoid the vehicle ferry fee? Or how easy is it to get around via public transportation? (I'm not from Seattle so I'm unfamiliar with the system)

2) It seems kind of isolated. Climbing aside, I feel like I'd want to leave the island every couple of days to do normal human stuff in the city. (restaurants, bars, dog parks, etc) Is there anything to do as a resident on the island?

Even if you don't *live* on Whidbey, I'd be happy to hear your thoughts.

Happy Friday, kids!

It is a dream to get a job on one of those islands! It would be a gifted life to live there. However, climbing won't be something that happens outside easily or quickly. It's all about trade offs. 

Its a great area I spent the better part of 2 years out there. What part of the Island it only takes about 45 to go from freeland to oak harbor. The trade off is relaxed living but plan on the bars closing around 1230 and things begin shut down Sunday.  Living on the north end you can grab the boat over to Dosewallips easy or zip over to mt Baker area. I work in the city so a 3am wake up wasn't doable. If I could live and work there I would. After 6 months you wont miss Seattle Bellevue at all. 

Sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Take the job, never look back.

Hey I'm probably too late, but I hope you took the job, OP. Whidbey is a great place and I'd live up there if I could.

I was born and raised in Coupeville. If you can find work (remote work didn’t exist back then) it is an incredible place with a lot of class diversity. I spent my teen years snowboarding at Baker and learned to climb at Mt Erie. Just get a gas efficient car and get excited on mountain biking / sea kayaking. The ferry is just the cost living in a more remote location.

No nightlife but lots of tranquility. 

I’m a little late to the conversation. If you already made your decision, disregard my thoughts haha. I haven’t been in MP in a while cause I had a labrum surgery recently, but I live on Whidbey. There’s not much climbing here except Erie. Otherwise, you have to do some driving for a few hours depending on if you live on north whidbey or south whidbey. Like Adam said, it’s quiet and very nice, other than jet noise (also depending on which part of the island you live on). If the cost of living wasn’t so high and maybe a little better social life opportunities, I’d stay here forever, but it’s more of a retirement/family life kind of area.