The Bates family has been comfortable enough in its Port Townsend apartment, but the Bateses would like to get a house of their own.

“We’d like a yard and a garage,” mom Kristen said. Son Colby added, “I’d like to be able to have a pet.” Dad Jason noted that rent has been getting more expensive lately, “and I’d like to be putting that money into my own home.”

Richard Paul hails from Illinois, but is visiting his daughter in Seattle for the holidays.

As a retired social studies teacher, he’s hoping to make another trip in the coming year.

“I’d like to travel to Washington, D.C.,” said Paul, who made clear he’s no fan of the president-elect.

Michael Adamson came from Seattle to visit his sister Kay, who lives in town, and he seems inspired by his sister’s example.

“This year, I hope to read 45 books,” Adamson said. “Last year, I read 43. Kay has read a lot more, though.”

Adamson’s literary interests range from historic fiction to science fiction, and of the books he’s read this year, he recommends Justin Cronin’s “The Passage” trilogy.

Spence and LeAnn Byrum were visiting from South Whidbey Island, and they wished nothing but happiness for their sons, ages 26 and 23, as they move to the Pacific Northwest from Tennessee.

“They were attending school back East, and they’ll be completing it here,” LeAnn Byrum said. “They’ve always cared more about happiness than money anyway. And I’d like them to meet nice girls, but that’s just mom talking.”

Port Townsend residents Pat and Fred Awisus are 82 and 75, respectively, so as far as they’re concerned, it only makes sense that they should hope for good health.

“That’s what all old people wish for,” Fred Awisus said.

Although both Fred and Pat are fit enough to walk their dog, Teddi, at a brisk pace, when asked about their current health difficulties, Pat laughed and said they have “too many to list.”

Laura Lewis and Mark Lowder of Marrowstone Island expressed confidence that they’d meet their goal of getting married in the coming year.

The couple has only known each other for six months, but their “extreme level of happiness” when together convinced them to get hitched.

In the meantime, they had planned to take another plunge together, this time at the Polar Bear Dip on their native Marrowstone Island.

“I’d like a more balanced life,” Jessica Durbin said. “Right now, I’m working two full-time jobs, one as a caregiver. It makes it hard for me to maintain a balance between my work, family and personal lives.”

Delphine and Al Ferrera already have a house in Woodinville, but it’s too big for their purposes.

“Plus, we didn’t choose it together,” said Delphine Ferrera, who is hunting for a new home in Port Townsend.

Al Ferrera is a Seattle police officer, so he’s in for a commute either way, but he likes what he’s seen of Port Townsend.

John and Una Anderson’s shared goal for their Port Townsend home is to make their garage not only presentable, but useful as well.

“We want to have a place we can use, and a place other people can stay,” Una said. “The longer we stay in Port Townsend, the more our garage seems to become the focal point of how we greet the world.”