Wilbret

has written 4 SperlingViews. Currently, Wilbret is living in Midland, GA and has a little something to say:

re: moving concerns - 1/4/2008 Posted On: 1/9/2008 1:12:30 PM

Seattle has a very active G/L scene. How you fit in is up to you. I have gay friends that have had both experiences. Some love it, whereas others view Atlanta as a more open-minded place for them.

Drinks can be expensive, but it really depends on where you go. Trendy clubs will of course gouge you, but a beer in a pizza joint is reasonable, for instance. I would fully expect martinis in a martini bar to be high, since you are really paying for the 'experience.'

Rent is very high in Seattle. You might be able to find a small 1br/ba apartment in town for 1200-1500 bucks. Lofts and dumps are available for less. 2br units can be 1500-2000+.

Some apartments include parking. Some don't. That is a big deal, so check it out. A one BR will typically only give you one spot, so if you have 2 cars, you'll be searching for a spot or paying for one.

I preferred to live downtown near the water, but the gay scene is Capitol Hill and Fremont...and there are tons of good apartments, condos and co-ops to consider there.

If you are used to commuting, there are definitely nice apartments as low as $750 and under if you want to commute 13 miles to work (assuming you work downtown, of course). The difference is you will either end up paying $300/mo to park at work or take public transportation, which may mean taking a bus, transferring, then taking a shuttle to the nearest stop to your work.

re: glad to get out...let me tell you why Posted On: 12/3/2007 7:57:33 AM

I agree to a point, but I think it depends on YOU. I made a lot of good friends by doing things like participating in sports. Good friends is a relative term. We have all been fooled into thinking you can have a casual lifestyle by tv shows like Friends, but it just isn't so.

One thing I learned in Seattle is you get somewhat intolerant of all the people coming into the city, because your job situation can be like sitting on the razor's edge. How many of us have made friends only to see them laid off or fired, and move away? A person would develop a pretty strong defense mechanism after going through that enough times.

However, if you are single, you should learn to do things by yourself without feeling sorry for yourself. You will not be ALONE doing stuff alone.

As addictive as caffeine Posted On: 11/7/2007 6:01:31 PM

I moved to Seattle for work, and otherwise never would have ventured there. If I hadn't been forced to move for work again, I would still be there today.

It is my most favorite city in the country...if you have money to afford it. I lived in a condo facing Elliott Bay, which made it amazing. It is by no means cheap, so don't expect to live in a trendy area if you don't make close to or over six figures. In fact, I would say living in Seattle without making at least $50,000 would be miserable - which is sad, considering how liberal the area is.

Beach in the summer (Alki), mountains for hiking or skiing, boating, museums, the aquarium, shopping, dining on the water, etc... you just can't beat it.

The people are friendly, and I found it very easy to make good friends. There are so many parks and recreational sports leagues, it is easy to enjoy athletics. Seattle is the place to be if you enjoy an active lifestyle. Biking and rollerblading are SOOOO great in the many many place built just for it. Picnics at Green Island are a great way to unwind!

You can eat at a different restaurant every day and still find something great the next day.

Traffic can be horrible, like any big city. If you can wrangle it, live in town and just don't drive! Downtown is a ride free zone, and the trolley will take you from Myrtle Edwards Park to Pioneer Square. For me, that meant a one dollar ride to Mariners games!

Yes, it is gloomy from November to spring. But not intolerable. The spring and summer more than make up for it.

Yes, homeless people are a problem if you live in the city. You will no doubt trip over one in your doorway. It's a fact of life in a liberal town - but at least it's not as bad as San Fran or DC.

I just can't say enough about the city or the area. True, it is full of liberal tree hugging socialists, but if you can look past that, you will love it.

Seriously? Posted On: 11/4/2007 8:44:20 PM

99% of the reviews on this site are negative. I am guilty of ripping my own city, too.

However, I want to say the vocal minority that find this site are not representative of the whole. Please perform due diligence further than reading gripes on this site.

Who comes to a site to write about a GOOD experience? Not many people.
On the contrary, if you are ticked off... you probably vent wherever you can.