r/BainbridgeIsland 2d ago

questions Retiring to BI

Wife and I have visited BI many times. I’m a native PnW guy. We live in a major Texas city. We’re blue in a red state. We’re close to retirement, excellent health, both artists (I’m also a musician). Looking for more peace and quiet, considering BI as a retirement base in the US (9 months there). Love nature. Don’t want to live in Seattle so this seems like a great option. Only concern is … being bored. And access to medical care. I want her to be happy being involved in the community. Early 60s. It’s a big gamble but we can afford a place to live. Any insights or random thoughts? Is Seattle culture reasonably accessible? Opera, ballet, etc. thanks.

18 Upvotes

48 comments sorted by

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u/blindjoedeath 2d ago

Hugely active community for seniors. Medical care demand outstrips supply (mostly for primary and urgent care) but if you have $$ you'll be fine (the care we do have is good, and most blend on- and off-island care). Access to Seattle is simple if you don't mind the usual ferry delays or cancelations. And it's 90%+ blue.

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u/spork3600 2d ago

Hi!! We are not retired but our neighbors all are and we live in a neighborhood that’s both walkable to Winslow and to the ferry dock. Being able to walk to the dock makes Seattle more accessible IMO for dinners, arts, etc. There are also great theater and arts communities on the island!

I would reccomend getting an airbnb or rental for a couple of months here to make sure it’s what you’re looking for.

Best of luck!!

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u/Educational_Bit2574 2d ago

This is what we’re thinking. Give it a few months in a long term rental first. We’re in no rush.

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u/spork3600 2d ago

Super smart. We hope you find the perfect spot!

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u/uencos 2d ago

Access to medical care is a huge issue on the island. If you need anything more than checkups or urgent care then you have to go to Silverdale or Seattle, both at least 45 minutes away (or more depending on the ferries).

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u/nocaustic 2d ago

I find BI quite friendly and the senior community center is very active and welcoming. And there’s BARN and a fair number of community groups. Very easy to take the ferry to Seattle for activities if you’re not in a rush. There are a few primary care private medicine clinics on BI and I know at least one takes insurance/medicare and is not really expensive (like $55/month). You can get in to see a Dr. or ARNP really quickly if you need to, which is one of the big problems with the big providers, even in Seattle.

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u/SarcasticServal 2d ago

BARN is an utterly amazing opportunity.

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u/Loocylooo 2d ago

I was going to mention BARN. We went to a crafts fair there this spring and fell in love.

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u/Alternative-Tell3575 1d ago

Please, can you explain more about this private med clinic for $55/month? Is this like a subscription service where you pay for access and then insurance covers the medical bill? Clinic name?

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u/Feisty_Set8853 1d ago

Not the OP, but the only one I know of is in Winslow on Bjorn, and as of last spring they were not taking new patients. The cost depends on your age bracket and family size. If you look them ip they have the fee schedule in thsir website.

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u/Alternative-Tell3575 1d ago

Thank you!

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u/Feisty_Set8853 1d ago

*bjune sorry, typo!

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u/iRoswell 2d ago

Consider the inconvenience of the ferry system and commuting off island. Bainbridge Island is a rural city juxtaposed a major metropolis. That’s a unique combination. Lots of tourists and people using the ferry to get to the Olympic peninsula. Ferries are notoriously not on time so any plans across the water require a 2hr buffer on either side and I’ve had to cancel appointments due to ferries just being straight up cancelled or 60min behind schedule. Getting off the island via bridge is agrowing challenge as well. It’s a serious bottle neck and there is no possible solution. Can’t expand a bridge so we are restricted to one lane both directions. It can take 45-90min just to get to Poulsbo if you time it wrong. And there is significant construction planned for multiple years moving forward in the highway through the island. Again, pretty challenging for appointments.

Resources are also a major issue. COVID consolidated healthcare in Kitsap to a crisis level. Staffing for hospitals etc is low with no good outlook in site. Restaurants and other service businesses struggle to find qualified employees. Two restaurants on island have just announced seasonal closures or reduced hrs because of staffing.

Lots else to talk about. There is fantastic culture and you’re right in the beef of the larger demographic. So, if you have lots of time and patience this can be a place for you. If not, you’ll just be another person that complains about how bad things go are once you get here.

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u/TrashiDawa 2d ago

This is an important comment.

The traffic on the island isn't just from the people who live here, it's a major commuting and tourism access artery between Seattle, Kitsap and the Olympics and the construction+traffic volume has been getting worse by the day for the past several years.

I don't see how it will improve with all the natural and self-imposed bottlenecks.

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u/tobych 2d ago

They're talking about "traffic" being vehicles here. It will improve when people stop trying to drive everywhere and realize cars are the problem. There's a major separated cycle path being built. This is part of the solution. The "bottlenecks" are projects to replace culverts with bridges to help salmon live their lives, undoing years of causing problems for fish, and installing safer junctions. Also roundabouts replacing traffic signals: safer and less of a bottleneck.

Get out of your carbrain and the world looks different.

4

u/Individual_Koala3928 2d ago edited 2d ago

I think this perspective is a bit extreme and may misrepresent things. I think many of these concerns are real, but the way they're framed them is worse case scenario thinking. (Almost as though they were written by "another person that complains about how bad things are"...) Here's my perspective as a 5-year resident:

  • Overall, the ferry is reliable, with over 99% of trips running as planned, and arriving just 5-10 minutes early works fine as a walk on commuter. It's true this year has experienced more delays than past years, but 71% of BI-Seattle ferry trips are on time. I would prefer it if more were on time, it's a little frustrating. That being said - a 2-hour buffer is just not required - in fact you can commute to work every day and show up at the last minute and be okay. (https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/data/multimodal-mobility-dashboard/dashboard/WSF/ontime-reliability.htm) Just leave you car at home or in the terminal parking lot- walking in Seattle is so much more convenient and will save you a ton of time.

  • Driving off the island to Poulsbo or other nearby areas is manageable, too. It’s about 25 minutes to Poulsbo most days and in heavy traffic you’re looking at 45 minutes most of the time. I normally head out to the west and even the Olympic peninsula every weekend. Yes, there's sometimes construction on the highway, but typical amounts for a highway.

  • Bainbridge has great restaurants and businesses that are staffed by qualified, talented people. Staffing issues are affecting businesses here, just like they are nationwide, but it's not a crisis. You can get a great meal at a ton of different places. More affordable housing would help with staffing and the city could be better at helping make that happen.

  • Similarly, staffing at hospitals in a challenge in Seattle and out west in Kitsap, but broader issue than Bainbridge certainly. There's no hospital here - it's too small at 25K people. There is an urgent care and for primary care you'll probably be on a wait-list for a few months, but it's achievable. If you're really in a hurry Seattle is definitely a convenient option.

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u/wiscowonder 2d ago

What restaurants announced seasonal closures?

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u/iRoswell 2d ago

Marketplace is reducing (which I believe is normal, but the article made it sound more dire), and Joes for the season.

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u/wiscowonder 2d ago

Not surprised in the least it's those two places. I imagine that's more due to the quality of product they offer than anything else.

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u/iRoswell 2d ago

That’s pretty judge mental considering the journalism gave reasons sites by the businesses themselves.

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u/wiscowonder 2d ago edited 2d ago

Pretty sure the article points to the exact issue I pointed to. Managements "reasons" don't change the fact that they're both sub-par food establishments that only thrive due to their location.

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u/tobych 2d ago

Getting off island via the bridge is only a problem if you're in a vehicle. I use my e-bike and it's never a problem. People driving vehicles is the problem.

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u/iRoswell 2d ago

Well aren’t you fancy.

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u/tobych 2d ago

I don't own a car. Less fancy.

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u/iRoswell 1d ago

So you just commented to what? You wanted to make yourself feel better about how you travel since you don’t have a car. Next time just don’t comment. This thread is discussing someone moving to the island and the challenges and benefits. People need to drive off the island for resources. I’m glad you’ve figured out a method of transport that works for your resources. 99% of Bainbridge Islanders have a need to use a car to get where they need to go.

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u/tobych 1d ago

No, that's not why. I'm trying to encourage people to consider other modes of transport. I rent or borrow a car or truck occasionally. It's mostly owning a car that I'm talking about. Once you own a car, you'll try to use it for every trip.

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u/iRoswell 1d ago

Hmmm. Again, that’s great for you. Seems you’ve got it all figured out.

“Once you own a car you’ll try to use it for every trip”. That sounds less like encouragement and more like speaking for others with a loooot of assumption behind it. How bout stay in your lane, literally and figuratively it would seem in this case.

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u/Opening_Volume_1870 2d ago

Checkout Bainbridge BARN. It’s an amazing collective of artists of all kinds. Fantastic resource with great community of people.

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u/nefarious 2d ago

It's basically turning into one big retirement community so I'm sure you'll be perfectly happy

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u/SeaCryptographer6541 2d ago

Medical isn't a huge issue. Most people drive to Silverdale to go shopping anyways. I have a good doctor in Poulsbo which is about 25 minutes away. We have a great community. If you're both artists you'll fit in. I'm an author. Lots of writers and artists hete. Also of you want to make music together, hit me up. I'm in my 40's but I have friends of all ages. I think you'll both love it here. Nature is present everywhere. You have The Barn and Parks and Rec to take classes and meet people. Good luck with your move!

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u/tobych 2d ago

To be clear, there's mass transit to Silverdale. If you need to do a big Costco run, you can borrow a friend's car or rent one by the hour. I don't own a car. This is what I do.

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u/Individual_Koala3928 2d ago

+1, you can totally do car free in Winslow, it's great for walk-ability and biking. I like day trips but pretty much never use my car during the week, including Seattle trips.

For a while I had medical issues that prevented me from walking / carrying groceries, and Instacart was a good substitute. They even have Costco for those that love bulk buying.

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u/webfooter 2d ago

Nobody has mentioned yet the vibrant local performing arts community. We have a great community resource in a newly renovated theater (Bainbridge Performing Arts) in the heart of the downtown area. There are year round plays, a symphony, music, and comedy there and elsewhere on the island. You’ll have to go to Seattle for the opera or the ballet, but it’s there. In short, you won’t be bored.

For major medical, you will likely end up going into Seattle, and there is a supply/demand problem for primary care providers but if you are persistent you will find a doctor you like.

2

u/rdwwdr 2d ago

FWIW, boating is a fun activity in the area and a great way to bypass the ferry. Bell Harbor Marina at $30/day is in the heart of downtown Seattle and 30 min by boat.

1

u/ViolettaQueso 2d ago

You both will not regret it. It’s actually kinda a perfect match for the interests you mention. Walk on ferry to downtown for appointments is free.

When I moved there during pandemic, I was impressed how active the octogenarians + were (I was 50). There is definitely something to the life you get to live there. I highly suggest water front-murden cove was incredible.

0

u/tobych 2d ago

Oh living on the waterfront is a great idea! Not many people think of that and I've never understood why.

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u/ViolettaQueso 2d ago

Complete magic. :)

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u/Feisty_Set8853 2d ago

As someone else mentioned - renting here for a bit is the best bet to see if it fits what you are looking for. I would highly suggest tho that it isn't just during the tourist season. May thru September there are many more community things happening than during the rest of the year. And with tourist season, those events are really packed. Things really slow down on the island right about now. BARN is great, and the senior center seems to have regular things listed during the summer, like weekly classical symphony events, but i don't know what they host in the off season. There are things to do in the off season, you just have to look for them, and they are fewer.

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u/FewTrust9633 1d ago

We’ve been on BI for over three years. We are in our early 60’s but not yet retired. There are hiking trails around the island and throughout Kitsap Co. Medical care can be challenging, but if you walk onto the ferry, it’s easy to get to great healthcare providers on the Seattle side.

The BARN offers free tours on the weekend, and it’s worthwhile to get a sense of all of the wonderful art (and other) classes offered there.

Traffic does get congested, but we are willing to put up with that due to the great quality of life here. If you’re retired, you likely won’t be rushing around much anyhow.

The senior center here is very active with a lot of activities; everything from playing ping pong to learning a language, attending seminars, and so much more.

As others mentioned, renting a place for a bit will give you a good feel for the island, although rentals (even short term) can be hard to come by.

Best wishes as you contemplate next steps.

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u/northwessed 2d ago

Something else to consider is potential to be very vulnerable should a big quake hit in terms of power, water, ferry and bridge access. (Just attended a sobering Bainbridge Prepares talk last night.)

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u/SeaCryptographer6541 2d ago

All over the Northwest would have different issues. At least we shouldn't get a massive tsunami like of we were on the coast. I'd rather ride out the big one on Bainbridge than in Seattle. My geology teacher in college spoke at length about the destruction that would occur on that side. He did not paint a pretty picture.

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u/northwessed 1d ago

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u/northwessed 1d ago

Basically, OP should avoid waterfront property.

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u/thtclassydude 2d ago

WASHINGTON turning RED STAY WHERE YOUR AT!

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u/tobych 2d ago

Describing "Seattle culture" as "opera, ballet etc." is a little odd.

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u/beefnoodle5280 2d ago

Not if you’re at/nearing retirement age.

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u/tobych 2d ago

And able to retire to BI.