Would recommend objective research
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5/22/2007
Some of these negative reviews (notice how close together they are) look like they were written by a gloomy teenager.
However, the rebuttal attempts reflect the NW myopia.
Lots of people from other regions are lured to Seattle and the Northwest because, unlike many other parts of the country, the natives promote their city, its culture, and its benefits rather than criticize it. To someone from another region, this good press + some nice pictures of the Sound and mountains make it look like a really attractive place to live.
That doesn't mean that this positive view will be shared by everyone. A lot of people move here and are disappointed. The local response is usually to the effect of "love it or leave it." Many natives love this place because it's comfortable and familiar to them. There's a lot of "from here vs. not from here" mentality. If you're from California, for example, some locals will complain about "you people" coming up here and ruining the place.
Try not to make assumptions on daily life here based on human interest statistics like "most dog friendly" or "most literate." You may get tired of these people and their dogs everywhere (like in the supermarket) -- you may also find "most literate" means a lot of people with their noses in a book or pointed at their laptop instead of talking to anyone.
Also, think about this saying a place has a laid back lifestyle sometimes is a nice way of describing laziness. Things get done in their own time, with a quality goal of "good enough" around here -- if you're used to a fast pace or efficiency (East Coast people take note), this might grate your nerves.
If your hobbies don't include a lot of boating, skiing, or other outdoor activities, then you may find the area boring. If you're in a situation where you'll depend a lot on meeting new people to build a social network, then you may find yourself very frustrated.
George | Carnation, WA