Seattle attracts many people to move here from other states, if you did why?
In 1994 I moved to Seattle for lots of reasons, a job was not one of them, but many people do move here for work reasons. I am wondering about those of you who moved to Seattle, why did you? I know some of Rain City Guide contributors are natives (lucky you!) and others moved here from elsewhere. Oddly enough many people I have met or know moved to Seattle from Chicago, Karen Kirr here at Rain City Guide, moved here from Chicago and has been chronicling her experiences here on RCG.
I’ll kick this off with a few of my reasons: I transferred within my company from San Diego to the L.A./ Orange County area and it never felt like home to me even after 5 years. Since my family had already moved away from San Diego to Alabama years before, I was looking for another place. I wanted to be able to buy a home (something I would not have been able to in California) and get away from what I called “relentless sunshine”…because coffee is better savored in cooler weather! The place had to have a metropolitan feel to it and be supportive of the arts. Be close to mountains and water because views are important to me…they calm me and give me a sense of space and proportion. I choose to move to Seattle because it seemed to have what I was looking for. The decision was a leap of faith since I did not know anyone who lived here, and it has turned out to be a wonderful choice for me, I love living in Seattle!
I am curious, why did YOU move to Seattle?
On the flip side, what do YOU Seattle or Washington Natives find to be the best things about living in Seattle?
job
Hi Yeehaa,
Very succinct! Did you have a choice to make regarding choosing a job here or elsewhere? If you did, was there anything about Seattle that made you choose Seattle over a job in another city? Are you glad that you landed here in Seattle?
I moved here in late 2000 from the Dallas area. It was technically for a job, but I was already looking to move here. I’d been on vacation here earlier in the year and fell in love with the PNW, particularly the scenery. I was very unhappy in Dallas, and since Seattle is pretty much it’s opposite in climate and landscape, this seemed a perfect place. Now 7+ years later I haven’t regretted a minute of it. I absolutely love it here, even the winters. Within a few months this place felt more like “home” to me than Texas ever did (and I was there almost 30 years).
LHR,
I am in the N. DFW area (Plano) and I regret so much moving here. The people of Texas have become cold, bitter and rude. I am looking to move to Seattle and it was great to read from someone who left DFW.
I am flying by the sit of my pants with three children in tow, any tips would be greatly appreciated. I found this blog by chance.
Thanks!!!
Hi LHR,
Yes there is a HUGE difference in scenery between the two places, Mountains vs Flat (well low rolling hills), Puget Sound vs Landlocked (there are a lot of lakes) and a martime climate!
I agree with you about it feeling more like “home”, I feel the same way about Seattle compared to LA/Orange County. Happy to hear that you love it here and that it is home to you!
U.W. It was supposed to only be for four years, but that was 30 years ago. Most attorney jobs are in cities, and real estate is more expensive in cities, so I seem to pick professions where it’s better to stay in a city.
I’m a native. 🙂 I did live all over California for three years during my early teens and as much as I had fun in sunny California, I missed our neck of the woods. I love our distinct seasons and how many states offer rocky mountain ranges–including an active volcano, ocean, tons of lakes, rain forests…I could go on and on.
I moved here in 1995 from Buffalo, via NYC and Illinois to go to grad school. The choices were Chapel Hill, Atlanta and here. I came out for a visit of the school and two very good friends, and found myself sitting on the beach in Golden Gardens, sun shining, and looking across salt-water at snow-capped mountains. I thought to myself “what other city could you possibly do this in?” Not too many.
Plus I got accepted. 😉
Best place I’ve ever lived (and I’ve lived in the 4 corners of the country, as well as the Tootsie-roll center), and I don’t plan on leaving.
My story seems to be the norm. In my dissertation research, I found that around 2/3rds of the Seattle area population were from elsewhere. Mostly the Midwest, though California gets the grief.
A fair number of locals leave, to my ever-lasting astonishment.
Biliruben, I’m more interested in how you picked your name. Is your name Billy Ruben or did you just happen to pick a medical term?
I’m originally from Florida and had always heard great things about the PNW. Some fiends of ours moved to Issaquah in 99′ and we visited them in 2000.
I was absolutely blown away in just about every category.
In Florida, you can’t walk on the grass because you’ll either get a sandspur (ouch!) between your toes or some kind of bug will infest you. Here, I found the grass to be thin and cool to the touch – no bugs. The air was crisp. The snow covered mountains, vibrant & sparkly downtown, the light rain.
Most of all, the lack of Bush/Cheney bumper stickers sealed the deal for me.
My wife and I decided that we’d move here if we got the chance, and I started looking for employment here in 2003. That failed, so I started a business in San Diego with a friend, which also failed shortly thereafter. Finally in late 2004 I started a new location independent business and things started going well.
My first trip to Tokyo in December of 2005 got me thinking about culture again, and while San Diego was nearly 70F year round, I just wasn’t meeting the people I wanted to meet. Less than 2 months after our trip to Japan, we had packed up everything and moved into a nice apartment in Harbor Steps (downtown).
I’ve lived in Florida, Fairfax Co. VA, San Diego; traveled extensively – and I have to say that this area is easily one of my top 5 favorite spots in the world. I hope to make it my home for many years.
So far it’s been everything I’d imagined and more. Most importantly, we’ve already developed some wonderful friendships with people who share a lot of the same thoughts and ideals.
No, my name’s not William. 😉
I was drunkenly researching the symptoms of a friend’s jaundiced newborn 10 years ago, when I happened upon my first message board. I assumed I would post once or twice and never use the handle again.
Wrong.
And no, it wasn’t an RE message board. 😉
Smallworld baseball (stock-market-type fantasy game), in case you are curious.
Hi Kary,
That was fortuitous that you landed at the UW and it worked out well enough to stay here in Seattle. As big cities go this is a particulary beautiful place to stay for 30 years! 🙂
Hi Rhonda,
You are one of the Lucky Natives! It’s nice that you had the opportunity to live somewhere else for a few years to give you some comparisons.
The mountians surrounding Seattle are amazing, although when I first moved here I did dream about Mt Rainier erupting! The first couple of years I was here I went to Mt Rainier several times with visiting friends and family. It’s so cool that it’s just a day trip to enjoy a little alpine hiking, and not a major 2 week family vacation to a National Park! 🙂 I have since decided that Mt Baker is now my perfect day trip to get up high and breath crystal, alpine air.
I wish there were more postings! My husband and I are seriously considering moving to Seattle in June. We’re currently living in Berkeley where I’m finishing up school and he does the ‘computer thing’ in San Francisco. I’ve read through a book call ‘living in Seattle’ mostly for the neighborhood descriptions, but I’m still wondering how it is ‘to be’ there, which can never really be explained in a guide book!
I’ve visited Seattle only once in 2003, but my husband goes there for business trips often. He would be transferring with his current employer whose office is located in downtown. I’ve heard good things about West Seattle and my husband’s colleague took him for some drinks in Ballard, which seemed somewhat random at the time but apparently there are some really great places to chill and have a drink. Anyway, it’s a bit of a relief to hear other people’s stories.
p.s. I was a little relieved to read the stats about Seattle transplants. My husband and I both grew up in southern California but we’ve both been in the Bay Area for over 10 years… people in norCal hate soCal, people in Seattle hate people from California in general… I asked my husband one day “when will it be my turn to be the hater?” haha and Thanks!
In 2003 my wife and I were getting married and knew we didn’t want to stay in Atlanta. We visited and fell in love with the city. We got married in October, loaded up our stuff, and we were here by the first week of January. By March we were both working at UW, and that May we bought a place in Edmonds (which is a great little town).
But, coming full circle, due to family issues we’re going to be listing our house this week (!!) and hopefully getting it sold and heading back to the East Coast. It’s bittersweet, because we love it here dearly. But, family calls.
Hi Biliruben,
Ah, so Golden Gardens was the tipping point for you…nice imagery with the snow capped Olympic Mountains accross the Puget Sound!
We do have a lot of dramatic vews to enjoy here, with all the hills in the city, the Sound and big lakes, and huge mountains close by. Our interesting topography gives us a lot of view opportunities.
That’s interesting that while working on your dissertation you discovered that 2/3 of the people in Seattle came from elsewhere, what was your field of study?
Glad you got accepted, and have found Seattle to be your home! : -)
I was dragged kicking and screaming away from my soulmate/best friend/cousin in 1969 from beautiful, sunny California where I use to run wild with the neighborhood pack of boys every chance I got.
It took years of therapy to finally shed the heartache and pain of leaving the sandy beaches of Cali and all my friends for the hard stone beaches of Washington state and the chore of making new friends with a new pack of kids and I was only 6. We came here because my mother wanted to live someplace that reminded her of her childhood in Wisconsin but my father refused to go back there due to the snow.
I like it here because all the seasons are mild and we have all four seasons.
My favorite season is absolutely without a doubt fall, because of all the colors, the wind, rain, and warm afternoons.
Hi Synthetik,
So friends lured you here during your visit! 🙂
Seattle is very different from Florida (which is lovely in it’s own ways except for the bugs!) and I agree with you about the crisp air, it’s nice to have a sense of season as Rhonda mentioned. Although not too much extreme in seasonal temperatures…mild, I like mild!
You were persistant in working towards your goal of living in Seattle. I am glad that your efforts were rewarded with a.nice place to live in Seattle at Harbor Steps near the waterfront downtown…very lively and vibrant place to start off in Seattle!
“…what was your field of study?”
Epidemiology. I was studying lifetime residency in relation to melanoma.
Now anyone can go search the library at UW and figure out who I am. Oh no! 😉
Actually, you can just ask in an email if you don’t want to do the sleuthing.
Hi Jules,
You’re gonna love it here! 🙂
Keep your eyes on this post because over time I am sure there will be more responses. There is another post, “10 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Seattle” by Dustin from a while back that has a lot of comments that you will find ineresting too. Also, Dustin has neighborhood blogs on the sidebar that you might want to check out to find out more too.
I love Seattle and I am so glad that I moved here. I have been curious about what has drawn others to come here, because I think Seattle is a very special mix of location, beauty, vibrancy, innovative technology, history and people.
Hi Gary,
Glad to hear you made your dream to live here in Seattle true for while! 🙂
Best wishes on your move back to Atlanta to be with your family, it’s good to be supportive when they need you, and I hope that everything goes well for you.
My sister lives in Columbus GA, and loves to go to Atlanta for the weekend because of the city feel, and some of the lovely neighborhoods surounding Atlanta.
Perhaps someday, you might return to Seattle or
EdmundsEdmonds (and yes Edmonds is a wonderful place!) to live, and I am sure you will visit from time to time. Best wishes on the newest chapter in you life!Hi Jillayne,
See what can be discovered with a post like this…I thought you were a native! 🙂
I’m with you on fall being the favorite season…I love the color, the intensity of the blue skies and glowing yellows and oranges of the season combined with the new cripsness in the air. Experiencing Fall like this was new to me coming from California. So we get to enjoy the seasons and still not put up with very much extreme weather, although I do enjoy the wonder of the occassional surprise snow!
Hi Biliruben,
LOL! 🙂 I’m always curious, but never nosey, so your “secret” is safe with me!
That’s interesting about melanoma study, coming from a childhood, of sun exposure in the southwest and teenage years spent at the beaches in Southern California! Maybe my residency here in Seattle will help to counteract those past expeiences…ah that would be wishful thinking!
biliruben:
You’re a smart individual choosing Seattle over Chapel Hill and Atlanta. And being from North Carolina, by choosing Seattle over Chapel Hill, it’s my honor to declare you an honorary Pirate for life (East Carolina fan).
Ah but for the winters.
Some people mark the opening day of boating season as end of winter, while others look towards Easter or Memorial Day (or even July 5) as the seasonal marker.
As for me, I rejoice when I personally notice, for the first time, that the days are getting longer (still waiting – mid Feb maybe?).
I have lived here my entire life (aside from a few summers in other states).
I love the rain.
I love the mild yet sometimes interesting weather.
I love the trees.
I love how close we are to so many great outdoor activities.
I love the diversity of the indoor activities.
I love that there is a Starbucks on every corner.
I love all my fellow OCD recyclers. 😛
I grew up in South King County and now live on the Eastside so of course I love it here even more now.
I don’t love the traffic.
Hi Eric,
I like your way of rejoicing by personally noticing when the daylight seems to last later in the day! 🙂
Hi Maria P.,
Nice list! 🙂
My wife is the reason we moved here from the Bay Area 3.5 years ago and i had previously lived in Vancouver, BC (same climate but 2 hours north of here) and i hate it here so much that we are separating and i’m moving back to california next weekend.
seattle doesn’t suit me at all and the fact that it’s dark, wet, damp, and cold for 8.5 months of the year is intolerable.
i’m obviously in the minority of posters, but honestly my psyche just cannot handle this place. i get advice from friends to “buy a sun lamp” and stuff and i’m thinking “whaaa? are you serious?”
since my wife is from this climate it doesn’t phase her and, oddly, she finds california too dry… so after 3.5 half years, we’re going out separate ways. funny how location and climate can do that.
i forgot to say that i’m a big sports fan too and the teams up here all SUCK.
it’s impossible to be a sports fan in this town.
Thanks, Deborah. But, it’s actually Chapel Hill where we’re moving, not Atlanta. I would generall concur with Derek’s thoughts on those three areas:
Seattle > Chapel Hill > Atlanta
But, there are some aspects of Chapel Hill that trump Seattle for me, actually.
1. Food. Being from the South originally, I sure do miss Southern cooking living in the PacNW.
2. University options. Seattle has some good schools, obviously. But, nothing out-paces the Triangle with UNC, Duke, NC State, NC Central, Meredith and a half dozen others around! As someone who both works in higher education and is a big college basketball fan, you can’t beat it!
3. For us, it’s all about family, and while we do love it here. They’re all back there.
Moved here from New Orleans 5 months after Katrina.
Decided on Seattle mostly for a job, and because it’s so different from Nola.
The natural beauty here is amazing and the city is clean.
But the dark, damp weather most of the year is not for me. I’m looking to return to New Orleans or somewhere else in the sunbelt this spring.
Hi Nolaguy and Gary,
You know, it dawned on me later on today while I was driving around in the dark, drizzly afternoon that in order to really appreciate the Northwest, it’s important for a person to be okay with cloudy, rainy weather all the time. A person who needs the sun and the warmth for their mental health will not do well here. Sometimes it’s tough to figure that out until you live here.
Nolaguy, the times I’ve been to NOLA on business, it rained off and on, and then it became so muggy that all my clothes stuck to my body. Then giant, winged bugs with stingers started dive-bombing me leaving welts the size of fifty cent pieces. Then I stepped into a patch of fire ants. All we have up here is house spiders so big they could carry a small child down the street.
But you do have Anne Rice. Good luck on your job search back in the sunbelt!
Hi Michael,
Sorry to hear that you and your wife are going your separate ways. I hope that your return to sunnier climes will help to heal your heart and cheer you up. The gray weather does get some people down.
Best wishes on your return to sunny California!
Hi Gary,
You have some wonderful reasons to look forward to returning home to Chapel Hll. I hope you have a great reunion with your family and the friends who are waiting for your return! 🙂
Hi Dustin,
Salvadore Dali is still hi-jacking my photos…can he be made to go away please? Thank you! 🙂
Hi Nolaguy,
Hey you gave it shot and tried something different. It’s usually good to explore something different, because you never know for sure until you try it!
Have fun exploring your next new city, or returning to New Orleans.
Moved here in the 90’s from the midwest entirely because of my work. I think it’s okay overall – probably one of the better places to live in the US but I’m still not completely sold on the place. I’ve found that the water, mountains, creative people, relative lack of violent crime, cleanliness of the city and uniqueness (is that a word?) of the neighborhoods are Seattle’s strong points. The weather and traffic are the major detractors, and unfortunately have a far-reaching influence. The weather pretty much sucks for about 8 months a year, although it is kind of interesting to be living on the set of “Blade Runner” for more than half the year. There’s a ton to do outdoors on weekends, but the traffic can put a damper on that too – just driving to Crystal or Stevens on a weekend in winter or taking a ferry to Orcas in the summer can be so trying as to put a damper on the rest of the experience. Also, if I were moving here now, because of the housing prices I would probably have had to put up with a much longer commute and all the quality of life issues that comes with. Seattle is nowhere near as ‘cosmopolitan’ as it fancies itself, but neither am I so that doesn’t bother me much. I’d say of the places I have lived, Seattle would rank third after New England and the Chicago area, but I very much prefer it to the South. I can easily see how some who grew up in the South would want to high-tail it out of here ASAP (but find it hard to imagine how weather could destroy a relationship – sad to hear).
PS: I thought Dali was intentional. It has a certain allure, though I couldn’t figure out the connection with your post.
Hi czb,
The crowds get to me too, although it’s ALL crowds, at movies, concerts, fesitvals, holidays…. Like the “Blade Runner” reference. 🙂
I was an Art major so in an odd way Dali is apropos….
Deborah, I emailed you instructions on how to make your photo return yesterday… did you not get that email? Feel free to email me!
Hi Deborah,
Interesting set of opinions. I moved here for 3 years for my husband’s job and that was almost 22 years ago!
At the time, coming from the Boston area was a hard transition as Boston/Cambridge was/is such a dynamic place. However, when we moved here housing prices were much better and we were excited to be able to buy a much nicer home than we would have been able to afford in Boston. Now, of course, our prices are on par with many of Boston’s neighborhoods and towns.
Seattle has really grown up. I remember walking down 1st Ave on a cold January Sunday in 1986 only to encounter blood on the street from a stabbing! Of course, this was not the norm, but First Avenue was nothing like it is today. It’s a vibrant and fun street that is great to walk down.
To me, there is just the right balance between a smaller town feel, a metropolitan area, and gorgeous water and mountains. For the ciy dwellers, we have great theater, restaurants, galleries, and shopping. National parks and fabulous beauty surround us providing great skiing, hiking, and boating. ( I feel like a commercial)
The winter gray can be a downer, but having just been back East with the dead grass and barren trees, this is not so bad!
I think people who move to a new city should expect there to be a transition period. Sometimes it can take a few years for a place to feel like home.
Gary:
Good luck with the move to Chapel Hill.
Being a rather liberal town, former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms once called the town a “zoo” and suggested it be “walled off” from the rest of North Carolina?
I got my first taste of Seattle over 11 years ago as a commercial fisherman. I would spend a few days before every contract in Seattle before flying to Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
I fell in love with a girl one year and spent the entire summer here. From the Cascades, to the Gorge, to kayaking on Lake Union, Seattle just had it all for me. The restaurants were great and the seafood was second to none… well maybe my home town of Boston has a slight edge VIVA LOBSTER!!!
After spending 10 years in Arizona it was time to look for another home and Seattle was a natural choice. This time I was more intrigued by the business potential and the entrepreneurial spirit which Seattle oozes. The best part was that I was absolutely right. My photography, website, and SEO consulting business has taken off. I have made great contacts, friends, and look forward to 2008.
THANKS SEATTLE!!!!
Hi Harley,
Interesting story how you came Seattle! 🙂
Seattle does have everything, well almost…I miss the drama of waves. 🙂
There really is an entreprenurial spirit here in Seattle, the UW even has a “Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship” connected to it’s Business School.
Congratulations on your successes here in Seattle…sounds like a wonderful match for you. I checked out your site, it’s beautiful!
I currently live in Texas, and man do I hate it! I’ve been wanting to move out of this place since I was old enough to know better.
My boyfriend and I are planning to move to either Portland or Seattle, and we need help figuring out which one. We’re both looking for a place that “feels like home,” a place where we can feel inspired. If anyone has any pointers, or reasons why we should choose Seattle feel free to email me.
We’d be giving up a lot by moving away (friends/family) so we want to make sure it’s worth it. Texas is too dull for us, we’re not like the people here. Hopefully Seattle or Portland will be more suitable.
Hi Andrea,
I have only been to Portland twice, the first time just a few hours while driving though. The second for a few days working and too busy to do or see anything, so I can’t give you any real insight to compare the two. Perhaps other Rain City Guide contributors or readers will have more info for you.
Check out comment #19 for the link to an earlier post (“10 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Seattle” by Dustin ) that has a lot of great comments about Seattle that you might find helpful too.
What do you like doing, and what are some of your interests?
Great thread, deb!
I moved here in mid-June with next to nothing and have built a life here in Seattle. And no I don’t have a husband or boyfriend, you can make it – take the chance. I left Chicago for a bevy of reasons, but I have to say getting away from the winters there is so amazingly wonderful!
But I also needed a change, wanted to move into a new phase in my life. You can do it, no matter how daunting it seems. I can’t tell you how many times people told me I couldn’t make, but you may just surprise yourself!
Hi Karen!
It’s been fun finding out why people moved to Seattle. Lots of varied reasons, but the have also been a lot of similar themes too! I enjoyed reading about how utimately it came down to a leap of faith, that that Seattle was the place for them and they did it. 🙂
Karen, I am happy to hear that your decision has been a good one for you!
I’ve been reading all of these comments and am excited about my move to Seattle. I’m one of the many seasoned IT people drawn to Microsoft. I’m 37 (but look very young for my age) and am single/no kids. I know no one in Seattle and have ONLY been there once, for my interview. I’m hoping to find a vibrant area of Seattle where I can walk around to fun but not be surrounded by younger people who don’t care yet about early meetings/responsibilities! I would greatly appreciate any help in identifying this sort of area or compiling a list of like-minded people I can connect with when arriving.
Also, I’ve read a lot about Seattle being difficult for single men from out of town who are in there 30’s, is this true?
Hi Eric!
Welcome to Seattle! Ok, I know you aren’t here yet, but Welcome anyway!
Lots of questions; what kind of things do you like to do in your free time, where are you coming from and lived before, what did you like about it and what did you do there?
I am sure you have read the earlier comments about whether on not there is a ‘Seattle Freeze”. About the single thing…the complaint I have heard is that Seattle men aren’t much on asking women out (mostly just want to “hang out”), so if you are willing to do it you should be ahead of the game! 🙂
Hi,
-I am thinking of moving to the Seattle area, but I’ve never visited WA before. I’ve been in California my entire life. Grew up on the central coast, moved to San Francisco, Santa Barbara and now San Diego.
Been in San Diego for 2 months and haven’t been able to find a job. I’m probably not looking hard enough, but I’ve only gotten one interview (out of 40 jobs) and just had one canceled on me. I’ve never ever had such a hard time finding work. Just looking for a simple office/admin job.
My boyfriend’s family is from WA. That’s why I’m thinking of the possibility of moving there with him. The cost of living in California isn’t worth it to me, anymore.
My question is, how hard is it to find work in the Puget Sound area? There seems to be a bias if you don’t have a degree in San Diego (even for simple administrative work). Is this true of Seattle/Puget Sound?
All hope is lost on California…
We loved living on the east side. Cougar Mountain is a great place to live – Green, mountain with lakes setting and easy 20-minute commute to Seattle downtown and Bellevue. Great place to raise family with some lovely neighborhood schools.
Had to move for personal reasons and hated putting my beautiful home on the market!!
http://www.estately.com/listings/info/1462956
Hello everyone, it’s been fun reading everyone’s comments. We are considering moving to an area near Seattle (not sure where yet — we are planning a trip there). We currently live in Sunny South Florida (for the past 20yrs) — We know it’s a complete change, but we need the 4 seasons and nature and mountains, and fresh air…you get the idea. We have 4 kids (8-15yrs old) and are looking for an area near Seattle where we could rent, then purchase a home eventually, but most importantly we need to have great schools for the kids.
Any advice from some of you more familiar with your surroundings would be greatly appreciated.
Also, is there public transportation in WA? I read of the ferries, but any good bus system or anything else? Do you have to have a car to get anywhere?
Are there health food stores (like a Whole Foods) in most areas? Is it a pretty health-conscious place?
Thank you in advance for any info or reference to info that could be useful to me!
The Shoreline school district 10 minutes north of downtown Seattle is really good. Shoreline is it’s own city now and you can Google it. There is a bus system that works really well as long as you are commuting into downtown Seattle. If you work somewhere else you can expect long transfers. The whole area is very health conscious and there are plenty of that style of grocery stores.
“school district…really good” is really relative and rarely overall. Last I looked Shoreline had 2 really good elementary schools, 2 really bad ones, and a couple in between. I think only a parent can decide if a school or school district is “really good” and parents need to balance home prices with schools. Best school might equal can’t afford to live there. So balancing best schools you can get for your money becomes the issue at hand when buying a house.
If you can buy a house for $299,000, most often the school will not be comparable to if you can buy a house for $750,000. Good schools are most often related to economic forces and income level of the parents. The highest testing schools are most often the wealthiest parents. Just is.
Maybe some Seattle parents can answer this, but is it still the case that Seattle school district will bus you to a school anywhere in the district, so it doesn’t necessarily matter what neighborhood of Seattle you live in (for school choice) as long as you are in the city proper?
The comments on buses and health food stores were for the entire Seattle metropolitan area, not just Shoreline.
Hello All, just found this site.
Question (I may have missed it). But those who think Seattle “feels like home” — is it because you feel stifled creatively? For some reason don’t feel like you’re who your “supposed to be”?
I live in South Florida and just got back from visiting Seattle for the first time. Aside from the weather, I’m hooked! Most of it for me is because South Florida has no creativity (just because it’s foreign doesn’t mean it’s “culture”). Everyone seems to be “surviving” (and it’s not just because the economy’s loopy). I guess I’m tired of all the fear that breeds here; I got much more of an independent vibe from Seattle. Sorry if rambling; I know what I mean but have trouble expressing it…
Hi D Rap,
I think there is a lot of creativity here in Seattle! Art, Music, Live Theater and more.
The Arts are very well represented and supported by the communities. While I don’t personally know much regarding Music and Live Theater, other than what I read about in the Seattle Weekly (a great place to find out more: http://www.seattleweekly.com/ ), I am familiar with the Fine Arts in the Galleries (Painting, Printmaking etc.) and it’s very vibrant.
Beyond those types of creativity, Seattle is filled with “Foodies” flocking to all our creative chefs in Seattle restaurants and cafes, then there are the Breweries (check out Laughing Buddha: http://laughingbuddhabeer.com/default.htm ) wineries and even chocolate factories at Theo Chocolates: ( http://www.theochocolate.com/ ). The Seattle Weekly has a great restaurant section too.
Seattle is a very creative place for many types of creative expresssion (lots of fun and creative Festivals too) so I am sure you will find what appeals to you and shake off those stifling shackles!
I have visited Seattle 14 times (13 in the past 6 years). We have no family or friends there, but absolutely adore the city. We live in Ohio and fly out there mostly for Seahawks games, but also have visited most of the state and seen how beautiful it is there. I long to be there all the time.
Housing is so cheap in Ohio compared to the Seattle area and it is the main factor in keeping us from moving there. 🙁
My daughter loves Olympic National Park and I love Mt. Rainier National Park and Northern Cascades National. Snoqualmie Falls, driving east to a concert at the Gorge, etc. There’s so much beauty there!
We’re still considering a move out there and dream about it all the time!
Hi Scott,
Ah….Seattle has definitly gotten to you! : )