Welcome!

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In 2017 my husband Steven and I stumbled upon the sandy beaches of Ocean Shores and into a sense of awe. We were enamored by the clean ocean air, roaring surf sprawling for miles up the coast and the laid-back beach town feel. With the roaring Pacific Ocean to the west,

North Bay to the east, Damon Point to the south, and 23 miles of interconnected freshwater canals and lakes stretching up and down the middle, this was our utopia. This is where we wanted to retire.

 

But as an out married gay couple cresting into our 50’s, we were understandably cognizant of the culture of our community. We didn’t know early on what to expect. Who are these people? Do the Trump signs outnumber the Biden signs? Are we isolated liberal misfits in a bastion of small-town conservatism? Are we safe here?

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So we invested time to get to know people, one by one, month after month, over the last six years: gracious neighbors, intrepid business people, talented artists, folks walking down the street with kids and a dog on the leash waving hello with smiles, glad to strike up a friendly conversation.

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Through those conversations, invitations to potlucks and plugging into circles of local common interests over the years we found diversity and acceptance all over our Ocean Shores peninsula, and beyond. I’d like to share that beautifully diverse, inclusive community through this ongoing publication.

 

Welcome to Coastal Pride. While centered in Ocean Shores, this publication includes southwest Grays Harbor County.

 

How Coastal Pride evolves will be organic. It’s a curated eclectic mix of local and non-local contributions. It will ebb and flow as it finds its community rhythm and its future.

 

Thanks for taking a look and joining the ride.

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Have a story idea or would like to contribute an article? Drop me an email below. I'd love to hear from you.