So I am getting ready to sell my big house in the Midwest, and move. Probably near the end of 2015 when my current contract with my client ends, and I have to look for something new anyway. I have been thinking about a lot of options, and am honing in on Seattle as a possibility. I have lived in my current city for 30 years, but am not from here. The cold weather and snow are just driving me crazy, and I doubt either kid will ever live here again. I am also kind of bored with the things there are to do even in the months when the weather is nice. I have been to every museum more times than I can count, hiked every trail within a few hours driving distance, and just want a change.
It probably isn’t my last move, I am guessing when I retire I may end up back on the East Coast where D1 will probably be living – expect there will be grandkids by then. But I have about 13 years before age 65, and I am ready for something new. I have always liked the PNW, and I don’t mind rain and cloudy days even when there are a lot of them. I love to hike and tidepool. I have started looking at apartment listings online – I would rent for a couple of years before making any decision to buy (but ultimately would probably want a condo). Have been looking at Walkability indexes, etc. I have been there a few times, but not recently – may make a trip this summer, though, specifically to explore the city a bit and help finalize my decision. I am an independent contract project manager, and while I also like Portland, I feel like there are more employers for my type of work in Seattle.
I have no spouse. D1 (on East Coast) is supportive. D2 (in college in CA, but likely to stay on the West Coast and loves the PNW, is thrilled). So I feel like they are on board.
Thoughts from anyone who lives in Seattle or has spent a lot of time there? What do you like best, and what makes you crazy? Would you advise moving there, or recommend staying away?
I grew up in Southern California. Have lived in the Seattle area for 20 years. It is the perfect place to live in the summer, through October actually. ( best part- summer) The grey does get to me. ( worst-grey overcast days) We don’t really get snow. I love the easy going community minded folks in my area. I love hiking, biking and easy access to venues, as contrasted to life in CA, everything is a drive. Theatre here is good, sporting events are good, outdoor activities are bountiful, ferry rides are fun. Lots of areas have distinct personalities so exploring is really enjoyable.
We do not have state income tax, that’s nice! Sales tax is 10%.
I have heard people say everyone in Seattle is really nice but it’s hard to make deep connections. So, I would say as an older adult without young kids, you may have to work a little harder to build your community.
I really enjoy life here. If you can take the grey skies, you’re golden. ( you can visit your D in CA for a sun break!)
I would move here Prices are going up right now - a lot of rentals are being bought out and upgraded. There’s lots to see and do. It’s a beautiful city. There are many walkable neighborhoods. Transit is pretty good compared to some cities - nothing like the truly great transit cities but pretty good. Other than the gray months the most oft heard knock is that it’s hard to make friends. I guess we are a closed bunch and don’t reach out in the same way that some people do. However, if you are from the midwest that might not be a shock. We are plenty friendly just not as hospitable and open as some cultures.
I live in MN right now, which is its own kind of closed community (IMHO). So I am used to it, I think. I already have a few things in mind for building a social network. I belong to a national organization that tends to be active everywhere, and they have a chapter that I will try out. And I will probably look for a UU church as well. And maybe look for some kind of adult hiking group or something to join.
Good thing I’m not moving either! Been a Seattle-area resident for 25 years and counting. Would only trade my precious home turf for a spot on Oahu.
People who come here fall into the 2 categories: the ones who can’t deal with the winter doom and gloom and the ones who figure out that that gloom is not forever. The ones who fall in the former category usually leave after 1-2 years. But that is how long it usually takes to get immune to the winter grays and rain!
intparent, we can probably start our own hiking group should you move here!
We lived in the Seattle area for almost 10 years. Loved how close you can be to nature, either where you live or just a short drive away. Lots of outdoor recreation activities. The downside was my wife’s seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Seattle is both further north than MSP, but more importantly there is often a solid cloud deck from October through June. Our first winter there we had something like 40 straight days of no direct sunlight. The weather folks will get excited about a “sun break” which means that sometime during the day there will be a hole in the cloud deck through which you can see some blue sky (for maybe 15 minutes). This was a major downer for my wife, who suffered through 9 winters of clinical depression, which was helped to some extent by using an artificial sunlamp.
Sounds great! I figure the most likely windows for a move are either fall, or January. My client keeps adding scope to the project I am helping them with, but they have a rule about not keeping consultants for more than 2 years, and that window is up near the end of the year. Sometimes they stretch, but the strength of the dollar is making them budget conscious (foreign based company).
I get the impression that with some driving, I could also cross country ski in the winter?
Not much driving unless we have a snow free winter like last winter. 45 minutes to good x country ski areas at Snoqualmie pass but Boston got all our snow.
Ha! I said “last winter” because we have cherry blossoms and daffodils already. We did a total winter bypass this year.
I couldn’t get at the avatar, some kind of access issue… but I promise to find a fitting one when the move gets close. I am inspired now… working on getting rid of more stuff so the move is easier! But I think I will move all of my skis.
In Washington, sun is closer than California. Just popping across the Cascades to the East side of WA will often get you sunshine when the West side is suffering from gray days.
If you are worried about the weather, you should also investigate microclimates in the Seattle area. Typically, the closer you go to the Cascades foothills, the more precipitation and overcast skies you get. One community in WA has 20 inches of precipitation a year while the next one ten miles away sees 30 inches and another 10 miles closer to the Cascades will get you 40 inches or more.
Winthrop, in the Cascades has the largest Nordic trail systems in North America.
Very true about the microclimates. Seattle proper is always more sunny than the east side of Lake Washington. There are rain shadows and convergence zones to consider.
Prices are going up right now - a lot of rentals are being bought out and upgraded. There’s lots to see and do. It’s a beautiful city. There are many walkable neighborhoods. Transit is pretty good compared to some cities - nothing like the truly great transit cities but pretty good. Other than the gray months the most oft heard knock is that it’s hard to make friends. I guess we are a closed bunch and don’t reach out in the same way that some people do. However, if you are from the midwest that might not be a shock. We are plenty friendly just not as hospitable and open as some cultures.
