Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
Nov 7th 2016, 3:03 am
#1
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Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
At present I am located in Central Washington, about 2 hours from Seattle. I am currently looking for jobs in the Engineering (Mechanical) sector and some friends here who are American are trying to convince me to consider Seattle and surrounding areas. Now before I start, I want to say I love Seattle, I have visited a few times and have really enjoyed it, but I have never had an interest in living there as it wouldn't give me what I want.
One thing they fail to comprehend having never been to the UK is the many similarities that I wanted to move away from and only a Brit would understand. One of the conditions my wife and I agreed upon when moving to the US was that we wanted things different to what we had in the UK. For me, these were a house with a bit of land to have some animals and a garage (this is a big point for me), a better climate and an area with reduced traffic, especially for the work commute.
Now, Seattle has similar wet/damp weather to the UK, traffic for commuting is just as bad if not worse, and house prices are extremely high (For example, a 3 bed house with 2-3 acres in the 'country' is about $500k). Now looking at average salaries for my profession in the area, they are only about $10k a year more than Boise ID for example, with home prices being half what they are in the Seattle area. (that is just an example).
As I say, I have pretty much discounted a move to Seattle, but some of my friends here are insistent that the issues above aren't as bad as they seem, but given my reasoning above, can fellow Brits who know what I'm talking about chime in to validate my points just so I can close it out once and for all? Thanks.
One thing they fail to comprehend having never been to the UK is the many similarities that I wanted to move away from and only a Brit would understand. One of the conditions my wife and I agreed upon when moving to the US was that we wanted things different to what we had in the UK. For me, these were a house with a bit of land to have some animals and a garage (this is a big point for me), a better climate and an area with reduced traffic, especially for the work commute.
Now, Seattle has similar wet/damp weather to the UK, traffic for commuting is just as bad if not worse, and house prices are extremely high (For example, a 3 bed house with 2-3 acres in the 'country' is about $500k). Now looking at average salaries for my profession in the area, they are only about $10k a year more than Boise ID for example, with home prices being half what they are in the Seattle area. (that is just an example).
As I say, I have pretty much discounted a move to Seattle, but some of my friends here are insistent that the issues above aren't as bad as they seem, but given my reasoning above, can fellow Brits who know what I'm talking about chime in to validate my points just so I can close it out once and for all? Thanks.
Nov 7th 2016, 3:14 am
#2
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,016
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
At present I am located in Central Washington, about 2 hours from Seattle. I am currently looking for jobs in the Engineering (Mechanical) sector and some friends here who are American are trying to convince me to consider Seattle and surrounding areas. Now before I start, I want to say I love Seattle, I have visited a few times and have really enjoyed it, but I have never had an interest in living there as it wouldn't give me what I want.
One thing they fail to comprehend having never been to the UK is the many similarities that I wanted to move away from and only a Brit would understand. One of the conditions my wife and I agreed upon when moving to the US was that we wanted things different to what we had in the UK. For me, these were a house with a bit of land to have some animals and a garage (this is a big point for me), a better climate and an area with reduced traffic, especially for the work commute.
Now, Seattle has similar wet/damp weather to the UK, traffic for commuting is just as bad if not worse, and house prices are extremely high (For example, a 3 bed house with 2-3 acres in the 'country' is about $500k). Now looking at average salaries for my profession in the area, they are only about $10k a year more than Boise ID for example, with home prices being half what they are in the Seattle area. (that is just an example).
As I say, I have pretty much discounted a move to Seattle, but some of my friends here are insistent that the issues above aren't as bad as they seem, but given my reasoning above, can fellow Brits who know what I'm talking about chime in to validate my points just so I can close it out once and for all? Thanks.
One thing they fail to comprehend having never been to the UK is the many similarities that I wanted to move away from and only a Brit would understand. One of the conditions my wife and I agreed upon when moving to the US was that we wanted things different to what we had in the UK. For me, these were a house with a bit of land to have some animals and a garage (this is a big point for me), a better climate and an area with reduced traffic, especially for the work commute.
Now, Seattle has similar wet/damp weather to the UK, traffic for commuting is just as bad if not worse, and house prices are extremely high (For example, a 3 bed house with 2-3 acres in the 'country' is about $500k). Now looking at average salaries for my profession in the area, they are only about $10k a year more than Boise ID for example, with home prices being half what they are in the Seattle area. (that is just an example).
As I say, I have pretty much discounted a move to Seattle, but some of my friends here are insistent that the issues above aren't as bad as they seem, but given my reasoning above, can fellow Brits who know what I'm talking about chime in to validate my points just so I can close it out once and for all? Thanks.
Nov 7th 2016, 3:17 am
#3
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,586
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
as I see you are looking at in another of your posts today.Please note, most of the nay-sayers don't live here.
BTW there's about 100 rural acres in NW SC about to become available soon, when the police have finished digging it over!
Last edited by Pulaski; Nov 7th 2016 at 3:24 am.
Nov 7th 2016, 3:20 am
#4
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,469
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
Go where you want to go. Your friends are not living your life. You are and if your spouse agrees to the area you want to move to and you can get employment, go for it.
I know you aren't going to be choosing an area just because real estate prices meet your criteria. A happy life is one that you want to live.
Last edited by Rete; Nov 7th 2016 at 3:23 am.
Nov 7th 2016, 3:26 am
#5
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Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
Nov 7th 2016, 3:29 am
#6
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Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
Hopefully, they refill all the graves before putting it up for sale.
Go where you want to go. Your friends are not living your life. You are and if your spouse agrees to the area you want to move to and you can get employment, go for it.
I know you aren't going to be choosing an area just because real estate prices meet your criteria. A happy life is one that you want to live.
Go where you want to go. Your friends are not living your life. You are and if your spouse agrees to the area you want to move to and you can get employment, go for it.
I know you aren't going to be choosing an area just because real estate prices meet your criteria. A happy life is one that you want to live.
Thanks for your post.
Nov 7th 2016, 3:41 am
#7
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,977
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
BTW there's about 100 rural acres in NW SC about to become available soon, when the police have finished digging it over!
Nov 7th 2016, 3:46 am
#8
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,586
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
.... or so I heard. 
Nov 7th 2016, 3:58 am
#9
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Location: Colorado Springs
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Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
GA / AL seem to be a lot of heavy-ish manufacturing on the interstate 85 corridor. Airbus in Mobile, etc. Good weather and cheap houses!
Nov 7th 2016, 4:08 am
#10
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Joined: Feb 2015
Location: Denver, CO.
Posts: 1,523
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
A lot of people are pushing me towards San Francisco and Seattle due to the sector I work in but for similar reasons to you, me and my soon-to-be wife want to stay in Colorado or look further south!
It's your life
It's your life
Nov 7th 2016, 4:13 am
#11
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
I hear North Carolina is very nice.
Nov 7th 2016, 4:16 am
#12
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,469
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
What about Eastman in Tennessee. It is one of the largest facilities in the state. Friend's nephew just started working there, although not in your field, and says so far they are great to work for.
Nov 7th 2016, 4:20 am
#13
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,586
Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
Nov 7th 2016, 4:23 am
#14
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Re: Fellow Brits, please talk me OUT of Seattle.
