I've lived in Minneapolis, Florida, California, KC, Madison, Chicago, Bellingham and grew up in Seattle. I currently live in Bellingham, Washington now. I'll be 48 this June. The irony is we are moving from northwest Washington to Minneapolis come this May. I just cannot handle the anxiety that the people here in Washington bring. It's been infected so much so with "West Coasters" and the wealthy that it is inhabitable for any sane, relaxed person who enjoys good conversation with an educated approach. I enjoy trail running almost year 'round so that will be the biggest thing I'll miss. After you've run a 1000 mountain trails for over 20 years you tend to enjoy the bumpy ride. Then again my days of running are coming to a close....At least in the iteration I've become accustomed. Running-lite is my future....Swimming is where it's at for people over 50...Gentler on the bones. But I digress. There is this odd vibe given off by a lot of people in Seattle. It's a "New York-ie/California-ey-Type" of approach that is misrepresented in the brochures...for sure. I'll be stretching out and strike up a conversation with someone and they'll react as if "how dare he speak to me." And it's not like I'm disheveled with glossy eyes and wearing cut-offs to run... I'm the guy on the front of Runner's World magazine whom you think "he seems like a fit and nice man." And that's about it. And we're not talking as if I suddenly blurted out "Hey, I saw a UFO whilst running on this trail just last week!" Even though one is bound to see Bigfoot considering their population in Washington. My wife gets the "Seattle-Freeze" just as much. She's from Madison Wisconsin and even though she doesn't want to leave she knows it's for the best. Because we're not going to raise a 6 year old around people like this. Besides, there is far more trashy people here than one could imagine. Sometimes I wonder if we're not deep in the Appalachia. Yes, I know, I'm harsh... but I'm a rebel, what can I say? I'm coming up on 50 and have had to travel a lot and even live in other places for short periods of time because of the business I owned...My building was in the Queen Anne neighborhood and I sold it and my business last March. We wanted to see if Bellingham was the right place before we sauntered off to the land of 14,651 lakes. It's not. It's full of what people from Bellingham have termed "Can-Asians." These are Asiatic persons from usually 3rd world countries that have moved to Vancouver BC and cross the border only needing to drive 20 minutes to the local Bellingham Mall...Bellis Fair. They're everywhere and they do not have any idea how to drive. Bellingham is quaint but ruined by the tourists...which is a shame because it has such a great little downtown vibe along with it being a college town. To each their own. Minneapolis is like coffee and Seattle is like hot chocolate. Yes, hot chocolate is good and yes, I can drink it almost every day in the kinds of winters Minneapolis has, but would I want to drink every morning? I've already proven the other. Minneapolis is like Nicole Curtis (from HGTV show "Rehab Addict") and Seattle is like a male gay designer who hires everything to be done...out. So even though the gay designer is going to awesome and the place will look fantastic around the corner you've got Nicole Curtis working a bulldozer. And her places always shine in the end. To each their own. I'd rather have the comfort of raging fireplaces, people with scarves and snow boots instead of umbrellas and people being cool to the touch whilst steeped in their "coolness."
Jack | Seattle, WA | Report Abuse

I recently moved from Seattle but spent 34 years there. So, unlike many of these posters, I know the city very, very well. Belltown is a great location just north of the "downtown" with great transportation. It's also blocks from the waterfront, perfect for a runner. There are coffee shops and restaurants everywhere though you need to drive to a large grocery store (or take the bus). If you're quite close to the main downtown, you can walk down to the Pike Place market to buy most of what you need. Plus, Pike Place is a wonderful atmosphere of artists and hawkers, alike. And, of course, fresh seafood is ALWAYS available. Two things to consider, however: A fair amount of low life comes alive at night, so this is NOT a safe place for walking after dark. , It also tends to be a pretty young area (20-30). My daughter is 35 and when she returned to Seattle she initially wanted to be in Belltown but decided it was a little too young for her. And, of course, living "in" the city, near the market, water and downtown, comes with a hefty price tag. Just know that you will be trading up, probably way up, moving from Mn. You might consider Greenlake, a few miles north of the city. It won't give you the walk downtown access but Greenlake itself is a fantastic place to walk or run. It's safer there but, of course, is not cheap. Wallingford (on 45th) has great bus access and, if you live nearer the water, offers a great area to run on the Burke Gilman Trail. Finally, do understand that the gray and rain cannot be overstated. In all my years in Seattle (and I love the city and area), I never fully acclimated to the steady dreariness. Many years, summers are shorter than two months. The rains and gray come back in mid-Sept. and last many times until July. A lot of people feel they're fine with rain but few true Seattlites would not admit that it is oppressive.
Denis | Carlsbad, CA | Report Abuse