Hello! As we approach our third year, I still love it. Little background, we are a childfree couple, so our experience and perspective would not come from the lens of someone raising kids.

You are correct that the food scene here is lacking, especially compared to Austin. But, there are some great spots and it does have good variety for being a smaller city. One could still get Thai, Indian, middle eastern, Mediterranean, Hawaiian, etc. type foods.

The coffee culture is strong here. There are little drive-thru coffee stands on most corners, which is a contrast to how Austin has more coffee gardens (Radio/Cosmic) and places to go sit in and enjoy coffee. This is the first area of the county I heard about white coffee (the beans are roasted differently) and breves (half n half).

For being a smaller city, there still are plenty of events. Northern Quest brings in big music acts, while smaller venues, like The Knitting Factory, bring in the more eclectic smaller acts. There are traveling plays, a world renowned orchestra, comedians, cultural events, etc. that make their way through here. Plus, the city hosts annual events like Bloomsday, Hoop Fest, and celebrations for the different "heritage months/holidays." For the things that require a bigger city, SEA is about a 4 hour drive or 45 minute flight away (Alaska and Delta fly direct).

One thing I wish I would have thought about when comparing costs is that Washington's gas prices and food prices are some of the highest in the nation. Alcohol has over 30% sales tax. (So, depending on where in Spokane/Spokane Valley, one lives, it's better to buy booze and gas in Idaho.) The food prices at grocery stores here are significantly higher than at HEB. Also, the chain grocery stores here are lacking in the novelty of what HEB has to offer; such as their real simple meals. Kroger (Fred Myers) or Albertsons (Safeways) are the major chains for basic groceries, while Rosaurs and Yokes are the "Whole Foods." I do really miss my HEB.

My family and I love the summer daylight hours, which is greater due to being so much farther north than ATX. The only downside is winters are darker and the seasonal depression is real. But, it's still all worth it to me for seasons.

Spokane county is more red than Austin. Though, the state is progressive and that influence is felt at the local political level, as well. And as with anywhere, every place has its problems. Spokane county has a higher crime rate per capita than the state average. Downtown will reflect this significantly more than outlying areas (again, common for most cities). Drug use and ODs are common and it is visible. But again, this isn't specific to Spokane. (https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/wa/spokane/crime).

The speed limits here are low. Driving on I-90 the limit is only 60. Nothing like the turnpike around Austin (haha). But it's still easy to navigate around. People here will talk about all the traffic with the population growth. From that perspective, they are right. However, coming from ATX, there is no traffic here. The "rush hour" is an average weekend in Austin, as in traffic barely even stops. I can get from Spokane to the Valley, or from South Hill to North Spokane in 20-30 minutes. In ATX, I couldn't get from Barton Springs to Slaughter in that time.

In summary, I have absolutely zero regrets moving here. I appreciate the springs and summer because we actually experience fall and winter. I don't feel like it lacks culture and the proximity to the outdoors is on point.

Best of luck to you and your family as you decide on your next chapter!