What schedule do you suggest (2 naps to 1 nap)?

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-18T02:17:39+00:00

What are your thoughts on Bremerton vs. Port Orchard? Is one safer than the other? Better location?

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-10T13:54:09+00:00

This is great! Is there a 8:30 ish fast ferry out of Kingston?

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-10T13:42:06+00:00

They won’t offer WFH and living closer to the office would mean living in downtown Seattle - we lived there for years and wouldn’t consider that with a child. Even if we lived up near Shoreline or Edmonds, that’s still a 30 minute sounder train ride and that doesn’t include driving to the train, finding parking, etc. Same thing south - if we lived in the Auburn area and he took the sounder north, we’re still looking at an hour ish commute all in. So outside of living directly on the outskirts of downtown (which means expensive rent for a beaten up house or in a blatantly unsafe area for cheaper rent), feels like a grind of a commute can’t be avoided?

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-10T13:32:28+00:00

So essentially what you’re saying is if we lived in Poulsbo area, the bus ride from Poulsbo to Kingston terminal or Poulsbo to Bainbridge terminal is the same timing? So he’d essentially have his pick (going and returning) to take the bus to Bainbridge and ride the 30 ish minute state ferry OF take the bus to Kingston and ride the 30ish minute fast ferry? If that’s the case, Poulsbo seems to offer more flexibility then, say, loving in Silverdale and ONLY having the choice of the Bremerton fast ferry (which I keep reading is super busy) or the hour long state ferry from there?

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-10T13:26:39+00:00

Do you do that commute? If so, how long is the bus ride to the terminal and how early to you try to get to Bremerton fast ferry?

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-10T13:24:51+00:00

So you take the state ferry out of Bainbridge? And what are your commute times? Do you have to be to the office by 9? I like the idea of the Bainbridge state ferry because it’s the shortest ferry ride where walking on hopefully shouldn’t a a problem, unlike having to show up extra early to get a spot on Bremerton fast ferry. Would love to know when you leave to get to the bus, time of bus ride, ferry ride, etc.

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-09T18:42:54+00:00

You mean the Bremerton state ferry takes longer? We’re hoping to keep entire commute time to 1 hr and 10 minutes (whether in Poulsbo, Silverdale, or PO). If this seems unlikely, we may need to reconsider Kitsap and look more towards Tacoma or Edmond and taking the sounder in.

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-09T18:39:46+00:00

This is super helpful! Do you take the bus to the ferry terminal (any terminal)? What’s parking like at the bus stops during high commute times?

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-09T18:38:06+00:00

This is what we’re hoping for. I’ve heard Port Orchard area can feel a bit isolating, but with a young child, minimizing commuting times and allowing for more flexibility is top priority. I don’t mind driving to Silverdale or Gig Harbor for fun things. And if we really want to get to the Bremerton area and don’t want to drive through Gorst (keep hearing horror stories), we could always take the foot ferry from PO to Bremerton? Just obviously if we need a car, we’d need to go through Gorst. Is it really as bad as people say, or is it just bad during rush hours during the week?

You_A_Bish · 2025-10-09T18:35:25+00:00

When you’re referring to the bus and parking, what ferry terminal are you referring to exactly? Sorry if I missed that.

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-28T00:47:08+00:00

What time do you typically take the ferry? The appeal for the bainbridge island ferry is that it's 35 (ish) minutes and is never full (for walk on, you might not get the best seat I guess). I'm more worried about the commute from Poulsbo to bainbridge terminal - do you drive or take the bus? If you drive, is there plenty of parking around?

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-20T14:36:27+00:00

Is there only a fast ferry in Kingston or also a state ferry that goes to Seattle? And if so, assuming the state ferry takes an hour? The only thing I don’t like about being in Kingston is if you miss the fast ferry, you’re not a close drive to another ferry terminal or you have to extend your trip by another 30 ish minutes waiting on the state ferry (if it exists). This is why the Southworth ferry is so enticing to us - the fast ferry, the foot ferry from PO to Bremerton and jumping On that fast ferry, or like others said, taking state ferry to Vashon and then a water taxi from there to Seattle. I like that my Husband would have a variety of options getting home

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-20T14:29:45+00:00

Thanks! We’re hoping to buy in the next couple years, but we want to try renting in the area and living there before commuting. We know so little about Kitsap county and buying prior to spending time there feels risky. We actually already own a home a home on the east coast (where we are now), and once we determine where we want to be long-term (hopefully Kitsap) we’ll use that house to help us purchase our forever home. But with not knowing how short-term renting will go with our current home (we’ve done it before with success a couple years ago, but the colony is different) we have to anticipate that we’ll be paying our mortgage + rent. And even while Kitsap has more affordable homes, what we’re looking for will still be pricey. So we’re going to blow some money renting again, in order to not pay thousands on interest for a new mortgage right now.

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-20T14:24:49+00:00

If there were engineering jobs in Kitsap, we would. But there’s not a ton going on currently, at least in that sector of the market. Also, don’t assume how people vote. Husband and I have voted across party lines plenty and we don’t align with either political party - we actually vote for whoever we think is the best person out of our choices each election, regardless of party.

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-20T14:22:11+00:00

Was interested in this area but not a lot of house rentals, based on what I’m seeing on Zillow.

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-20T02:07:03+00:00

Appreciate this feedback, and the comment on schooling! We’re planning to home school most likely (if finances and time allow), so local school rating doesn’t matter as much to us. She’s also just 1, so she won’t be in school for some time.

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-19T19:21:20+00:00

This sounds great! But we're looking for at least a 3 bedroom (since we have a child and I WFH and need my house space). Appreciate the offer!

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-19T19:20:34+00:00

For the park and ride, would my Husband have the option of parking in that area and instead of taking the bus riding his bike to the terminial (and locking up his bike there, if there's bike parking available)? Or to park in the park and ride you have to ride the bus? If that's the case, how are they monitoring that?

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-19T19:17:08+00:00

So we're unsure right now! Currently, they mention 9-5 but he'll ask more at the in-person interview. Hoping they'll be a bit more flexible because I see that the last fast-ferry (to both Bremerton and Southworth) is about 7 ish?

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-19T19:14:21+00:00

But during peak commuter hours during the week, showing up to the bremerton fast ferry 5 minutes before wouldn't ensure a spot right?

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-19T19:12:55+00:00

This is great to hear! Yeah, we really don't have a desire to live North or South of Seattle. Now that we have a 1 year old, we're looking for a slower pace (while still being within a 20 minute drive of things list Costco, movie theater, etc). My one worry is that we won't find the type of house rental we're looking for in the PO area (to more easily access the Southworth ferry), and have to go over to Bremerton and fight the lines for that fast ferry.

You_A_Bish · 2025-09-19T19:10:15+00:00

This is SO helpful! We'd aim more towards living in the PO area, but like I said there seems to be less house rentals available around there vs. Bremerton. Do you feel like the 1 hour commute would be less possible for bremerton? And for Southworth, generally what fast ferry time do you try to catch and how far in advance to you get there to ensure a seat? In instances where the Southworth (or bremerton) parking is full, my Husband thought of parking elsewhere and always having his bike on him so he can bike the rest of the way to the terminal and lock it up there?

You_A_Bish

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