Valvoline Restore and Protect

[f355spider]

it's been at least ( I was going to type ten years!) 2009 since the last time I crossed the canada/USA border by vehicle. That was the year Canadians could no longer just show a valid driver's license as proof of entry. USA border guards demanded a passport or refused entrance. I think I last went to Washington state in 2008, to Point Roberts , where many metro Vancouver shoppers would drive over for cheaper groceries, milk, gasoline....and the taverns.
I never bothered to get a passport, so I cannot travel to the USA .
Otherwise i'd drive down to Bellingham, like I did at least 4-5 times between 1987 to 2005 .
Something refreshing about visiting Bellingham.
I just looked up the stats: in 2008 the population was nearing 80,000.
In 2023 : 94,720.
My city of Vancouver Canada is about 3.3 million population.

It was a nice change for me, to go to a small American city with friendlier people, way less traffic , lots of variety, very nice downtown that was walkable, lots of free or cheap parking, plenty of places to eat, lots of greenery, heritage homes.....more, but i've forgotten.
I recently saw a travel YouTube video on Bellingham. Lots of new low rise developments, the city seems even nicer then in 2005.
Happy to see they have not gotten over run by high rise apartment towers, such as my city and the suburbs. Or by gang violence/by homelessness /junkies, street disorder.
In fact, after watching that YouTube video, I'd consider getting my passports and revisiting Bellingham. But for now I doubt I will, the Canada -usa dollar exchange sucks for Canadians. Makes everything too pricey for us.
But I tell you, of all the places I might consider relocating to in the USA, might just be Bellingham.
Of course, never having lived there, I could be fantasizing about some utopia / grass is always greener fantasy land.
What are your thoughts on Bellingham?

I'm up in Bellingham once or twice a month...that is some careful colored filtering and editing. There are homeless and street people...not nearly like East Hastings or DT Seattle..but they are there, just in smaller numbers. But I still love the area and checking out horse properties outside of Bellingham...mostly to the North and South.

 

[Huskyguy68]

Yes, my Canadian friends have PO boxes in Sumas and PT Roberts. Duty free Amazon and eBay shopping...

During the corona virus years, Point Roberts was in big trouble as many Canadians , mostly from metro Vancouver, stopped going there.
Even by 2024, things did not pick back up, their local economy was really suffering.
I recall watching our local News and the Point Robert's mayor was being interviewed and he looked so distressed, almost begging Canadians to return and shop, help the local businnesess recover.
Im guessing Blaine was in a similar situation.
It's been since before 2007 ive visited either american towns, i hope their economies have recovered and the people are prospering once again.
Nice little towns, especially Blaine.

 

[Huskyguy68]

I'm up in Bellingham once or twice a month...that is some careful colored filtering and editing. There are homeless and street people...not nearly like East Hastings or DT Seattle..but they are there, just in smaller numbers. But I still love the area and checking out horse properties outside of Bellingham...mostly to the North and South.

Smaller numbers is the key here.
I would not expect some North West paradise free of problems, but something a city of 100,000 can deal with and not outta control.
I watch and read a lot of news from all over north america, and you tube many of the cities, go to the City Reddit forums, etc.
Bellingham is really never mentioned as far as crime, gangs, gun violence, etc.
So i just assumed it is a pretty decent place to live.
I should look up some city stats .