About 4000 people call Orcas home year-round. Its an interesting, well educated group of retirees, young families, tele-commuters, artists, carpenters, teachers and writers. They generally share a love of nature, an appreciation of the arts, and a desire for a community. It's a place where people help one another, a community where you might chat with a half a dozen friends on the way to the post office.
Orcas is a wonderful place to live. People often say they feel safe and protected here. It has a gentle climate and gentle community in an extraordinary beautiful environment. Many come here to get away from an increasingly confusing world, to find a simpler, and yet sophisticated place to live. It's a special place, because the people who live here, choose to be here!
At first glance some might wonder if there is much to do here, other than hike, kayak, bike or sail. It can look kind of sleepy. It can be that way if you wish, or you could join a group for writers, artists, gardeners, potters or dancers. You could volunteer at our library, hospice, fire department or lead a Girl Scout Troop. Sundays there are services at 6 churches, Friday nights there are sailing races at the West Sound Yacht Club, and summer evenings there is Yoga in the Park. World class performers come to Orcas Center, and with our local talent provide us with a fantastic variety of entertainment year round. You can also Contra Dance at the Oddfellows, join a Marimba Band or sing with the Choral Society. In the summer there are often several choices of entertainment each evening.
We are in the rain shadow of the Olympics and Vancouver. So not only are we centrally located for some spectacular trips, we get much better weather than most of the Northwest. The Olympic rain forest gets 200 inches of rain, Seattle and NYC get 42 inches, and we get 22 to 26; just enough to keep our island lovely and green. Summer days are warm, in the 70’s, sunny with brilliant blue skies, and light breezes. Evenings are cool, and you'll need a flannel shirt. The weather is perfect for hiking, swimming and sailing. Nothing is better than a summer day on Orcas!
