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| economy - 4/3/2013
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| Contemplating moving to Seattle - 2/25/2013
I am contemplating moving to Denver or Seattle, from Alexandria, Virginia. Actually, I never really considered Seattle, until I read some of the comments. I do not really know who and what to believe i.e., there seems to be a wide range and varying degree of opinions, with respect to either location. I just wanted a honest perspective, without emotion. I will be working from home and looking to enjoy life and the surrouding area. [read more...]
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| I LOVE Seattle - 1/2/2013
I have to say, I am very disappointed with a lot of what I have seen on here. I moved to Seattle from Vermont, and I absolutely love it here. The temperature is a lot warmer, and it rains LESS here than it does back in Vermont. Yes, it's true that the winters tend to be cloudy, but the rain is rarely more than a drizzle and there are still at least a few sunny days a month. The summers are absolutely amazing. Warm without being too hot and nothing but sun and clear skies for three months.
Seattle is definitely one of the most beautiful places I've been to. The mountains that surround the city are breathtaking and you're never more than 30 minutes from either lounging on the beach or skiing down a slope.
My husband and I had originally planned on moving to Seattle just for a few years for work and then going back to Vermont. Now we're so in love with it we decided to stay and raise our family here. Don't listen to all the naysayers on this page...the truth is that the weather here isn't any worse than a lot of places, and it has so much to offer.[read more...]
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| The High Cost of Living in Seattle - 12/26/2012
Seattle and most of its suburbs are expensive, both in terms of the costs of housing and in the cost of government. In the latter case this is particularly true in terms of how poorly state and local government design, build and maintain the infrastructure. Top that off with a climate that can be depressingly wet and gray for a substantial part of the year, and a retiree, unless equipped with substantial retirement savings, can find it a rather limiting place to live. [read more...]
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| The Real Deal Seattle - 8/24/2012
I approach Seattle from the standpoint of someone who chose to move here rather than being from here. For full disclosure, I was moving back toward the neck of the woods I am from when I met my future husband and of course 13 years later, children, a pug, a home, here I am. I am a real estate broker in Seattle and often work with clients new to the area. I think I tell it like it is: the good, the not so good and all the things in between, including what you will come to appreciate and love about it over time.
Is it gray outside for many months of the year, well of course it is! Is it harder to meet people here than lets say the south; you bet it is but when you do make friends, you make them for life! Are the schools surprisingly spotty...well yes and no depending on where you are. Do I know every nook and cranny, every school, basically the best of the best about what makes Seattle a wonderful place to live...I try to and I make it my business to do just that, all while doing it from the perspective of someone who the city really had to grow on to the point where I now don't know if I could live anywhere else in the United States. Surprising? Well it surprised me that's for sure! I would love to answer any and all of your questions so bring them on! [read more...]
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| Rain in Seattle - 7/19/2012
Note: the information shown here for Seattle is INCORRECT. It does NOT have 152 sunny days per year. It's more like 58. We have about 155 days of RAIN per year.[read more...]
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| Weather - 6/1/2012
Seattle has very long winters with gray and drizzly days. Summer are short and typically only arrives around July. The best months are August and September.
Winter days are short. Dark at 5 p.m. Summer days are long with dusk around 9:30 p.m. Seattle has a very temperate climate. Winter's lowest temperatures while I have lived here (since 1995) are in the 20 degree Fahrenheit range. Average range of winter climate is in the 30s. Summer highs are around 75 and sometimes in the 80s. [read more...]
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| As of May 25, 2012, 4th Highest Gas Prices in Nati - 5/27/2012
Seattle has gotten way too expensive for the common man. Due to the state's high gas taxes Washington State now has the 4th highest gas prices in the nation and the 7th worst traffic. Costs keep going up more than salary increases. Unless you work in a high paying sector, don't come here. I'm making plans to exit.[read more...]
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| The Northwest's Quality of Life - 2/13/2012
The states of western Washington and Oregon are generally better than other regions of the country. However, the cost of living is higher. While there are employment opportunities in the high tech industry, good paying jobs for older workers are hard to find. Heading south to a warmer climate for half the year is appealing for those who can afford it. Auto traffic congestion can be a real inconvenience also. In time, it is hoped that the Seattle/Tacoma Area will achieve its plans for a more integrated rail system. Portland's light rail sytem is great in comparison to most cities around the country. Unfortunately,there is no long-term vision among government planners and officials. Efforts to get the public and private sectors to partner up in and build smart communities outside of Seattle and Portland have failed. And any thought of developing a West Coast High Speed Rail Corridor between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, with a future link to California is a waste of time. The conclusion of a Eugene Streetcar feasibility study concluded that the City has no vision or leadership, and that a broader economic strategy was needed to revitalize the community's business district. Like most towns, there's a barrier in getting around the good-old-boys, as well as corruption. [read more...]
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| living in Seattle - 2/12/2012
I have lived in Seattle most of my life. The best houses and safest place to live is Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island and Bellevue. They are all suburbs of Seattle. Bellevue is more of middle class metropolitan area. Houses likely start at $450,000
Sounds like a lot of money and it is but the quality is not really there unless you live in Medina and that would mean your house is worth at least $1,000,000. Great shopping and food. Some up scale clubs if your into that. Several churches
. Apartments in bellevue ate rather dated and don't have much to offer unless you live near downtown Bellevue. Kirkland is upper middle class city nice parks. Close to the city Redmond where beautiful Marimoor Park is. No real entertainment. Great place to raise children. However very limited in cultural diversity unless Asian and White is diverse enough for you. Very fewlimited apartments. Several privatechurches schools near by. Issaquah is an upper middle class city. Houses start in the high $400,000 but due to the housing market housing cost have decreased and that statement applies to all of the cities
The schools curriculum is top notch for students. That is the reason why I moved here although I don't like my son's teacher. Apartments rentals start at $900.00 but can increase to as much as $2800.00. I have a 3 bedroom apt 2name bathroom and medium quality apartment and the rent is $1545.00 plus water and sewer
Total expense is $1648.00. Each apt gets 1parking space and of you want a garage it will cost $150.00. Issaquah has lots of trails. It's a small suburb. Cultural diversity is limited White and Asian being the majority, a growing Indian population certainly more than Blacks which are 1% of the community. A small Hispanic community likely less than 1%. There are a few mixed race couples and children .
I am mixed heritage Black and White. I have three children that look Black and 1 that looks White. My husband is White. There are a few African families maybe 3.
Severe churches. No nightlife. A few pro football players but we don't them and you will know when you see them because they stand out like a sore thumb. Crime is minimal. Washington state is looking to approve gay marriage on Tuesday. I'm against it and that was the reason why I was on the website looking to move. The communities I mentioned are all the ones I would be willing to live in
I failed to mention Mercer Island. This city is anthe island. It is upper class about 5miles to Seattle connected by a freeway. Houses like start at $650,000
. Schools are meet the highest of standards. Large Jewish community. The majority population os White[read more...]
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| Rain - 1/2/2012
Seattle is known to be a rainy place but in reality it is the gray skies that are dominate here. Rain is usually little more then drizzles, sprinkles,heavy fog, or a mist. Most people who live here don't use umbrellas. If it is raining hard enough to warrant an umbrella it is probably windy too which makes the apparatus useless. [read more...]
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| General Impressions - 12/17/2011
I love living in Seattle. The weather is moderate, it rarely rains more than a drizzle, and there are distinct seasons. Plenty of sports and recreation options. Good education. Diverse population. Wonderful restaurants. Wide range of employment options. Good transportation systems. Strong healthcare systems. Down sides are: culture of friendly, but cold, cynical indifference (thus it is difficult to have deep relationships); no sense of community in order to get important projects approved and started in a timely manner; strong "me-first" attitude.[read more...]
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| Seattle Quality of Life - 12/12/2011
Location: size of the city, views, restaurants, outdoor living - all top notch.[read more...]
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| What you should believe - 12/9/2011
So here you have it, I would say that Seattle is kinda rough around the edges probably due to the fact that much of it is the lifestyle the authorities make it to-be-that-way. If and when the cops have to show up to a scene they will only assume that you should be in serious need of attention just to not waster their time or the tax-payers money, Downtown is the way it is to 1)Allow liberals to rant and rave all day and some of the night, 2)Give you a sense of being in the original Old Fashioned America (If you give someone a reason to shoot, stab or mob you, or just punch you then chances are that you did deserve it), 3)The state/ Country boarders Canada so "we have to show them WHY we are different" - of coarse that can be taken anyway you want it- not trying to be sarcastic. 4)Washington is mostly conservative (but not Seattle) so that still has a bright side meaning if you are weary of using your First Amendment then maybe you can incorporate the "second-half" of the Second Amendment to some degree and make more of a point to whoever you're trying to get a message across to. So there it is folks Seattle is just a good 'ol American town that welcomes anyone who is just tough enough to stand diversity with a little drinking of finer wine and seasonal fishing. If you're not assimilated to fishing or making friends with fishermen then do yourself a favor and accept the place for what it is because frankly I don't see people interested in changing that anytime soon, not saying you can't try. If that doesn't work then I guess you can always ask ACLU to help you on your revolution - again I'm not being sarcastic but you see what I'm saying?[read more...]
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| Seattle Is Not Unfriendly to Newcomers, But Quite - 12/7/2011
NATIVE is not telling the whole story. We moved to Seattle from the Midwest and found Seattle to be much friendlier than our previous town. Seattleites are very polite (possibly to a fault) and engaging. Yes, the much-reported passive aggressiveness is present, but only in the same proportion, and in place of, the bigotry, racism, and xenophobia found elsewhere. If you expect to find immediate friendship in the local Starbucks you might be disappointed. But if you become involved in your local school, church, library association, volunteer group, youth sports organizations, or other positive social circle, you will be welcomed and befriended freely and warmly. Outdoor volunteer groups are especially welcoming and offer the reward of regular activities in the spectacular natural settings around Seattle. But you must leave your provincial attitudes and prejudices behind if you wish to blend in.[read more...]
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| My take on the whole "outsider" issue... - 10/19/2011
First off, to the idiot who just vomited acidic vitriol all over this forum, gimme a damn break. I can see where you're coming from with regards to the rich, mindless yuppies who come from far and wide to drive up our housing costs and cause an already crowded metro area to become even more crowded. However, those aren't the only people who move to this area in search of a better life with better jobs in a very, very awesome section of the PNW. There are decent, respectful folks who aren't rich who chose to move to YOUR city of all places out of all others (should make you feel a bit special, right?) and who blend in very well with the local culture.
I am one of those people. I was born and raised in Oregon myself, but every time I visited the Seattle area / Western Washington, I always thought of myself living there someday, because it was like coming home. After 30 years, finally I got the chance to move up here for my career (yes, I'm a techno geek, and no I don't care what you think of me.).
Let me wrap it up for ya: I just moved to Mountlake Terrace, a suburb of Seattle, last month, and I do not regret it one bit. Hate driving up here, but I love walking everywhere! You know what? I fit right in up here from day one. I don't want to ruin the Seattle area and/or culture; I've already embraced it long ago. I'm a long-time Mariners fan, have developed a strong interest in Seahawks football, have a very discerning taste when it comes to coffee, am fascinated by the sheer amount of cool things to do in the Seattle area, the local food and sense of community is awesome as well, Almost Live! cracks me up and is one of my favorite shows since moving up here (I swear I've seen it before...), the climate and rain suit me very well, being of Nordic / Scottish blood, the culture shift is almost non-existent as a native PNW man, and I understand the people who inhabit the area, especially the natives. I have a long-standing and deep respect for the very talented musicians from the area, especially when I was a teenager in the 90's. I was wearing flannel shirts and logging boots long before that stuff became a huge New York fashion trend, and stopped shortly after these east-coast condo-dwelling yuppies started wearing that stuff without any idea why. Before the forests shrunk in Oregon, my entire family worked out in the woods in some aspect or another, so we all dressed like that, more or less. I didn't realize that stuff was called the "grunge look" until the early 2000's.
Look, I don't want Seattle, or its suburbs to grow any more dense than they already are, and I certainly don't want to lose the Seattle I admired as a kid. However, being antagonistic and spiteful towards outsiders doesn't solve anything. The greater Seattle area is my home now, and I'll continue to think of myself as a local. [read more...]
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| seattle natives - 9/24/2011
Hey "Native" Ever wonder how communities of Ethiopians, Somalians, Ukrainians, and other self confident individuals have thrived in Seattle? They don't need your "friendship" or the approval of the rest of the people who lived here before they got here. If you are neurotic and codependant, then yes, you will have a hard time making new friends and meeting people. I am going to say that it seems people from California and the south seem to be too high maintenance and self conscious to really fit in, if you need a lot of other people to validate your existence this isn't the place for you.
There are a cadre of people who wish to reclaim a Seattle "identity" but frankly they are such an absurd minority that the rest of the population ignores them so they can continue their splendid isolation. The rest of us continue to make friends with whoever we wish, recent residents or life long Seatilites. Please ignore whatever stereotypes these natives or self absorbed transplants make up, this is a city where you make yourself happy or miserable just like anywhere else. [read more...]
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| Seattle: It's Okay - 9/9/2011
First off, it may be a good idea to get a reality check about Seattle, and then of course, we'll get to the good stuff. I'm a Seattle native-and it is true, Seattlites are passive. I don't think I've ever had but one close friend ever. I can say after living in crappy-because-I-can't-find-a-job California after a few years it was a lot easier to make friends there. California IS friendlier, but we're debating the good and bad of Seattle here. In Seattle, people are nice in a friendly way, though not actually willing to make friends. Seattle is not the most sociable city (maybe the weather?).
It's a great place to be, though I don't recommend living here unless you're fairly well off or don't mind running into the many hipsters and young trendy couples with 2.5 kids. They are rampant in this town, especially in condo-ridden Ballard.
You may find it difficult to live in Seattle 9 months out of the year if you're from a warm climate. All the stories you've heard about the rainy weather in Seattle are true and then some.
The cost of living is high, and transportation is at the $2.50 per bus ride (and climbing) mark. Rent is high, though still reasonable for a large city (about $900-$1500). There is also a lot of petty crime, and rising violent crime. Traffic is getting worse, so prepare for a commute whether you're in a car or on the bus.
We can't overlook the culture that Seattle has to offer, and the Emerald city offers a lot of it. Seattle has great theater and opera, and it is underappreciated. The seafood IS the best. Wild salmon makes for good eatin'. We have museums, good colleges, and some interesting neigborhoods (check out Fremont). The air quality here is good, and you don't need a car to get around.
All in all, Seattle is just like a lot of other big cities; stressful, but good if you have a positive attitude and some bucks in the bank.
Please do a lot of research no matter what town (or country) you end up in. Good luck!
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| Don't move here - 9/3/2011
Believe the other negative reviews about Seattle.
The people here are passive-aggressively hostile and unfriendly. Many of them are not from here, and because of this have no real friends from Seattle.
It is cool, cloudy and drizzly 9-10 months of the year - that's non-stop - as in gray skys and NO sunshine. With no friends and you stuck inside for 10 months, you will become severely depressed just like the vast majority of the other invaders.
And then you have the hostility of the Seattle natives. The people who were born and raised here, and have called this their home for all of their life. We HATE the invaders. We give them the cold shoulder, ignore them and avoid them like the plague.
You see, it's very simple. Seattle used to be a great home - 25 plus years ago. Most of the people living here were native to Seattle. Seattle was a large city with a small town feel. High quality-of-life, low congestion and low cost-of-living. Yes the weather sucked, but we were used to it and really knew nothing different and considered it normal.
There was a Seattle cultural identity that one was born into. A culture that was formed by a life long exposure to a peculiar climate and geographical isolation. This shared isolation forged life long friendships and familiarity with fellow-native idiosyncrasies, creating a culturally unique community. Seattlites took great pride in being different. You are either a Seattlite or not. And yes, this same social paradigm exists for all of the Seattle suburbs like Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, ETC. Basically the entire Seattle region.
In 1979 Bill Gates and Paul Allen decided to move their merry little band of tech dorks from New Mexico to Seattle. Shortly thereafter began the introverted nerd invasion. The presence of so many invading nouveau-rich out-of-towners completely changed and ruined Seattle. Cost-of-living and congestion skyrocketed. Quality-of-life was plundered.
Every new person moving here makes the already horrific traffic worse and raises what has become an unreasonable cost of living. You moving here will only intensify the problem. And no, there is nothing special about "You" that makes you an exception to the rule. You can't move here and "become" a Seattlite, or "join the club" as many have tried. We used to loath the California invaders, but since the invasion began we have expanded our sentiments to include people from every corner of the globe - literally.
Before you are tempted to yell "xenophobia!", let it be known that Seattle natives are not frightened of other cultures. Seattle is, and always has been, a culturally diverse city. It is a matter of too many people being crammed into a small area, and the precipitous drop in quality of life as a result, that is the problem.
In a nutshell, Seattle natives HATE invaders. We don't want you here - anymore than we would want the neighbors dog to use our lawn as a toilet. We will not make friends with you. We already have our native friends.
Stay away.
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| Don't move here - 9/3/2011
Believe the other negative reviews about Seattle.
The people here are passive-aggressively hostile and unfriendly. Many of them are not from here, and because of this have no real friends from Seattle.
It is cool, cloudy and drizzly 9-10 months of the year - that's non-stop - as in gray skys and NO sunshine. With no friends and you stuck inside for 10 months, you will become severely depressed just like the vast majority of the other invaders.
And then you have the hostility of the Seattle natives. The people who were born and raised here, and have called this their home for all of their life. We HATE the invaders. We give them the cold shoulder, ignore them and avoid them like the plague.
You see, it's very simple. Seattle used to be a great home - 25 plus years ago. Most of the people living here were native to Seattle. Seattle was a large city with a small town feel. High quality-of-life, low congestion and low cost-of-living. Yes the weather sucked, but we were used to it and really knew nothing different and considered it normal.
There was a Seattle cultural identity that one was born into. A culture that was formed by a life long exposure to a peculiar climate and geographical isolation. This shared isolation forged life long friendships and familiarity with fellow-native idiosyncrasies, creating a culturally unique community. Seattlites took great pride in being different. You are either a Seattlite or not. And yes, this same social paradigm exists for all of the Seattle suburbs like Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, ETC. Basically the entire Seattle region.
In 1979 Bill Gates and Paul Allen decided to move their merry little band of tech dorks from New Mexico to Seattle. Shortly thereafter began the introverted nerd invasion. The presence of so many invading nouveau-rich out-of-towners completely changed and ruined Seattle. Cost-of-living and congestion skyrocketed. Quality-of-life was plundered.
Every new person moving here makes the already horrific traffic worse and raises what has become an unreasonable cost of living. You moving here will only intensify the problem. And no, there is nothing special about "You" that makes you an exception to the rule. You can't move here and "become" a Seattlite, or "join the club" as many have tried. We used to loath the California invaders, but since the invasion began we have expanded our sentiments to include people from every corner of the globe - literally.
Before you are tempted to yell "xenophobia!", let it be known that Seattle natives are not frightened of other cultures. Seattle is, and always has been, a culturally diverse city. It is a matter of too many people being crammed into a small area, and the precipitous drop in quality of life as a result, that is the problem.
In a nutshell, Seattle natives HATE invaders. We don't want you here - anymore than we would want the neighbors dog to use our lawn as a toilet. We will not make friends with you. We already have our native friends.
Stay away.
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