Took the bus to Bellingham today

"This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:" (hkt00)
10/14/2020 at 20:05 • Filed to: Bellingham

I ventured to downtown Bellingham today to pick up some e-juice and was successful in that endeavor. Had an East Coast Italian sub from Jimmy Johns for lunch, pretty good, first time there. Then I wandered around the downtown core for about 9o minutes taking in the scenery.

Granted I didn’t get to see much of the area but I left feeling weird about the place. Lots of neat little storefronts, cafe’s, restaurants. A varied mix of old and new buildings. Nice little houses just a few blocks away. A block from the bus loop smelled reminiscent of NYC.

For some reason however I wasn’t expecting the level of obvious poverty and homelessness scattered all around the downtown core. I’m not quite sure why this surprised me. It probably shouldn’t considering the places I’ve been and the things I’ve seen, but nevertheless I left feeling slightly depressed. The struggle is real.

Edit: I just remembered that I saw this there and am now in a slightly better mood.

Sorry for potato. This angle doesn’t do it justice but the bus driver refused to reverse so I could re-take it.

DISCUSSION (21)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/14/2020 at 20:21

There are maybe 7 towns in this state where you would struggle to find homeless people.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/14/2020 at 20:25

That’s really unfortunate. Byproduct of l ow wages and high cost of living coupled with a lack of mental health care I guess.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/14/2020 at 20:28

Other factors:

- access to services

- mild climate

- wooded areas

- opioid crisis

- other things that that people will passionately disagree with so I won’t go there.

facw > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/14/2020 at 20:42

Aerostars have a way of putting people in better moods!

whatisthatsound > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/14/2020 at 20:54

There are some tastey local restaurants if you ever want recommendations as you get settled in. Then there are some very average spots that are too popular.

Roadkilled > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/14/2020 at 20:54

I’ll take the risk of bringing it up. There is a lack of housing due to poor zoning codes, and too many people who don’t want affordable housing in their neighborhood. Habitat for Humanity built next to me and I have never had problems, but I have neighbors who complain about “those people” as if having a low-wage job is the same has having leprosy.

Add to that all of the new money people who think “I made it on my own, why can’t those people?” while being oblivious to the realities of most Americans.

I lived in St. Louis for 20 years. In that city, there were more people with a lot less to give who did more to care for those in need in their community. Yes, St. Louis had its own set of problems, but I saw more charity there.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > whatisthatsound
10/14/2020 at 21:06

Do tell. I imagine I'll be making my way back there and can always use a tasty bite to eat.

whatisthatsound > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/14/2020 at 21:13

Best bottle shop for every type of beer and really great people - Elizabeth Station

My all time favorite date restaurant is in La Conner called Nell Thorn

In bham the black cat cafe is a tasty spot, and the Bayou spot has good brunch and jumbo. Aslan is average beer with decent food.

Garden Path, kulshan and chuckanut are my favorite breweries in that order.

And all the Indian food places are delicious.

The best though when covid is over is the bham farmers market.

Saracen > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/14/2020 at 21:17

My parents moved to Blaine last year. It’s a very quaint little town. Bellingham seems okay too. I’m aiming to move to somewhere east of Seattle early next year.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > whatisthatsound
10/14/2020 at 21:19

Thanks! I’m going to check them out as I have time. Especially all of the Indian places. I need to find another good Indian restaurant stat.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Saracen
10/14/2020 at 21:23

Super quaint. I quite like it here. On a long enough timeline I will probably see your folks and say hello as we walk past each other, as is the local custom.

Spaceball-Two > Saracen
10/14/2020 at 21:38

Come on over.

fintail > Roadkilled
10/14/2020 at 22:59

Most people who “made it on their own” still received a massive helping hand from either their parents or the system in general, but lack the stones to admit it.

fintail > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/14/2020 at 23:02

I went to school there and lived there for a few years after. Nice town, just big enough to have most amenities while lacking a real rat race. I know the real estate market has gone bonkers lately there, too.

My memories might be a little bit of the period and my age at the time - Dollar pitchers at the Up and Up, Pizza Time, the magazine store (long gone now), Kent Bergsma still operated an indy shop, thick oatmeal stout at Boundary Bay. Wish I could have stayed, but a job moved me away.

fintail > Spaceball-Two
10/14/2020 at 23:03

You’re in Spokane, right?

I’m typing this from my new pad in lower South Hill/South Perry right now.

pip bip - choose Corrour > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/15/2020 at 04:09

many on the bus?

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > pip bip - choose Corrour
10/15/2020 at 09:27

They are limiting capacity to 12 people per bus and have seats taped off to maintain social distancing. Even with that there were a few seats available.

CivicWagonEngineer > whatisthatsound
10/15/2020 at 10:47

Moved my list to a reply to the guy who needs the suggestions

CivicWagonEngineer > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
10/15/2020 at 10:49

Adding to the Bellingham restaurants to try list:

Cosmos Bistro, have good options for breakfast/lunch/dinner

Homeskillet, best breakfast in Bham (chorizo gravy and biscuits is my recommendation but everything I’ve had there is good

California Tacos, fresh juices and big servings for a good price. Tacos are my go to there

Mi Rancho, $1 tacos everyday is really all you need to know. Also a carniceria if you need some mexican style meat

Filling Station, good burgers and cool decor

Hot Mess, food truck with great philly cheesesteak style sandwiches

Super Duper Teriyaki, a favorite among the WWU students, get the Chicken Katsu and don’t expect any niceties from the owner

Roadkilled > fintail
10/15/2020 at 15:47

I live in a neighborhood where many people were born on third base and thought that they hit a triple.

I’ll admit that I didn’t get were I am on my own. I was born into a privileged family. However, my parents tried to make that clear and they stressed that having privilege came with a responsibility to help others. I’m trying to do the same with my own son and I just hope that the lesson is sinking in.

Teaching a teenager isn’t easy, but I want him to know that he has it easy. I want him to understand that people in the service industry are people, not servants. Treat them well and tip them well. The same goes for people in the gig economy. Everybody is hustling to try to get by and they deserve to be treated well for their efforts.

fintail > Roadkilled
10/15/2020 at 23:44

I lived in Bellevue for many years, and worked with many who had, often via the local real estate insanity , affluent parents. It seems I can think of an endless list of “adults” who received healthy often 6 figure gifts to help with a first house, received free rides and new cars while in school, or even lived at home well into adulthood. I don’t begrudge anyone for any of that, so long as they don’t start breaking out the bootstrap mantra. I don’t come from a wealthy background, and I still know I am privi leged compared to many, even if mommy and daddy didn’t shell out 100K for my degree and give me twice that to help with a house. There are a lot of people out there with next to nothing in comparison, and I am thankful I had my own luck.

Knowing one can pay it forward, and treating people well, are indeed valuable ideals. In a nation with a pretty thin safety net, it makes more of a difference than ever.