Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
Mar 18th 2010 | 10:40 am
#61
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From: St Pete, FL
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
Thanks AmerLisa. May I ask if what in particular you aren't so keen on? My wife used to live in So.Cal. and loved it there. Your feelings may mirror hers in the same situation.
Mar 18th 2010 | 1:41 pm
#62
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Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
For me its a mixture of different things. We have no family here and sometimes the winters are a bit gray. And I'm not extremely fond of where we live. We bought when houses were selling like hotcakes and in order to afford a decent house we moved quite a ways away from where my husband works. He has a killer commute and we're kind of stuck in this house for a bit.....I'm not a person who is patient.
Mar 18th 2010 | 1:45 pm
#63
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From: Maine
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
I didn't like Seattle as much as I thought I would. I lived there for about a year.
It was crowded and expensive. There isn't much green space in the centre. The traffic was terrible.
There were lots of things I liked about it, but I really felt hemmed in and that I didn't have enough money to enjoy it properly. I ended up really disliking Capitol Hill, where we lived.
The people were great at one place I worked (a dot.com), and weird at the other place I worked (a large charity).
I loved skiing at Steven's Pass, mountain biking at a place nearby (Tiger Mountain? Can't remember), there were some nice state parks nearby to hike in or float down the river.
The Olympic Peninsula is quite a drive away, but beautiful. We flew up to the San Juan Islands, and loved it there - but obviously that cost a fair bit. I really struggled to get a campsite there during the peak season.
You can also drive down to the Oregon coast and mountains in a few hours - I thought the coast was over-rated but liked the mountains. I only spent about an hour in Portland OR, and spent the entire time fighting off panhandlers.
I'd say visit Seattle for at least a week before you decide. You might well love it. I probably should have given it a bit longer. I love Maine much much more.
It was crowded and expensive. There isn't much green space in the centre. The traffic was terrible.
There were lots of things I liked about it, but I really felt hemmed in and that I didn't have enough money to enjoy it properly. I ended up really disliking Capitol Hill, where we lived.
The people were great at one place I worked (a dot.com), and weird at the other place I worked (a large charity).
I loved skiing at Steven's Pass, mountain biking at a place nearby (Tiger Mountain? Can't remember), there were some nice state parks nearby to hike in or float down the river.
The Olympic Peninsula is quite a drive away, but beautiful. We flew up to the San Juan Islands, and loved it there - but obviously that cost a fair bit. I really struggled to get a campsite there during the peak season.
You can also drive down to the Oregon coast and mountains in a few hours - I thought the coast was over-rated but liked the mountains. I only spent about an hour in Portland OR, and spent the entire time fighting off panhandlers.
I'd say visit Seattle for at least a week before you decide. You might well love it. I probably should have given it a bit longer. I love Maine much much more.
Mar 18th 2010 | 1:50 pm
#64
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Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
I have to agree with the expense. Although real estate is a lot better then it was 5 years ago, if you're buying.
Mar 18th 2010 | 5:49 pm
#65
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From: Nevada b4 California b4 Colorado b4 Valley of plastic and sand, b4 London
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
Talk about a long post. Have you tried going to craiglist.com for jobs? as for the west coast being liberal it depends what part of the west coast you are talking about, we have all three; conservative, liberal and independent. I am bit surprised you need a degree for you to find a job, in my view most of these IT companies want certification, experience etc. Try dice.com as well this may help you. I have only been to Seattle once, so I am not that experience in what it is like to living there but I would suggest that you cast your net a little wider than just one or three states. As you know the Economy is slowly getting back on track so you may want to do much more research on companies, what I mean by that is that you may get a job and find out after two weeks the company is shutting down or laying people off.
This is going to be a pretty long post so I'll start by saying it is really only relevant to those who have knowledge of Seattle and Washington State, although I welcome comments from anyone with something worth adding. This isn't meant to be a moan or to disparage anyone. I'm trying to convey how I feel to facilitate relevant responses about whether those with experience of the area, feel a move to Seattle, WA could improve my quality of life.
Basically, I have been in the US due to marriage for 21 months now and quite frankly am really not enjoying it here since misplacing my rose tinted glasses. I'm sure my situation and environment are playing a big part in the souring of my attitude. I'm now feeling, after some research, soul searching and reading of comments in other threads here, that a move to another State (Washington, Seattle Area) could help improve my attitude, an attitude which is currently crying out to get on a plane and go home.
I'm 32, male and used to live in Essex and commute for over an hour a day into London for work. My profession is in IT (Windows Server/Desktop Support). I don't have a degree, which was not a problem until now, but since trying to get a job in the US I feel it hurts my chances badly. In the future I may try to rectify this, but that doesn't help the immediate situation. I do have vendor certifications (Microsoft/Cisco) and have spent much of my time since arriving in the US updating them to help my employment chances. I have been eligible for employment for over a year now, had many interviews but no job offers. Jobs in my field are scarce and many are for government contractors who require DoD clearance which I cannot get. This situation obviously hasn't helped my adjustment to the US.
I currently live in St Petersburg, in Tampa Bay, Florida. St Pete itself is a nice place for the most part. It is on the water. I rent in a nice neighborhood with a balcony 20 feet from the water. Downtown is small and enjoyable and you see a lot of people in the waterfront parks, jogging, dog walking, playing sport etc which is nice. The problem (for me) however is move away form the water and it is nothing more than a concrete jungle. Pinellas county is essentially block after block of buildings and 4 lane roads. There is little feeling of nature or openness and to try to experience such a thing (on land) requires you to drive for at least an hour before you get out of the Bay Area sprawl. Once outside of Tampa Bay I find Florida environmentally uninteresting. I used to love areas in the UK like the Peak and the Lake District, The Yorkshire Dales and the South Coast (Dorset/Sussex). Florida appears for the most part to be flat and either forested/impassable, or developed providing little sensory exhilaration Of course there are wonderful beaches here, but I'm not much of a beach lover, nor do I like the Florida summer heat that makes me sweat like a paedo in a Wendy house.
I struggle with some of the attitude that seems prevalent here, which I'm lead to believe isn't representative of the whole of the US. It seems to be very much, all about me, drill the pristine coast for oil so I can keep my big engined car and don't trust Obama. Religion appears to be in your face everywhere, which is fine, I never really paid that much attention to religion in Britain, yet people rarely seem to practice what the preach and it is actually making me physically dislike religions, which is worrying. It seems that for every intelligent person there are 50 thick as sh*t others waiting to do something retarded right in front of you. It is regularly reported in the Press that the Bay area is just about the worst in the country for driving standards, which is wholly believable when you see the latest reports of self induced carnage on the roads. People here pull of incredibly stupid stuff when they get behind the wheel of their behemoths and you can guarantee on any one journey that at least one person will nearly kill you.
The homeless are rife here, which I find a shame but accept it is probably worse than most places due to the warm weather. You see people begging an almost any major junction or intersection which is a little soul destroying, but what gets me is that it isn't just the homeless there, the majority are people with newly laundered clothes, bright white Nikes, texting on their Google phones standing there with cardboard signs asking for cash… THE NERVE OF IT!!! Mental heath also seems to have a lot to be desired in these parts. Maybe it is too much sun, but it is not uncommon to stumble across people talking to themselves, having strange body/facial ticks and doing completely random stuff or coming up to you and starting conversations that are neither coherent nor desired.
I have ties to the area. I have family here (sister and family who actually introduced me to my wife), and they are stuck in the area due to work visas, however they have a green card app in progress and expect it to be complete within 2 to 3 years, at which point it is likely they will leave the area too, with the PNW as a consideration for them. My wife has 1 good friend here, most of her friends and family are in Tallahassee which is 5 hours drive north so we don't see them regularly. She is however in a Band that means an awful lot to her and I'd hate for her to leave.
I have few hobbies here, partly due to money, partly due to failed motivation. I used to Scuba Dive, ride a Motorbike, work on my car (not in a chav kind of way), enjoyed Photography of nature and landscapes, walking/hiking, visiting historical sites and boating. Some of those would be well suited to here, others are not for reasons of environment, weather and self preservation (motorbike).
My wife is similar to me. She enjoys nature and the countryside. She is liberally minded and mainly democratic in her thinking (The thought of McCain/Palin the White House was enough for her to want to move to England for 4 years). She is however happy here and whilst understanding of my feelings, has no desire to move. While the FL summer is too hot for her she also hates the cold. Anything below 50 is in her mind "Arctic like" and most undesirable. She does however enjoy the rain and loved the Lake District when we went there in the snow. She works from home as a web developer, and while we haven't directly approached her employer about a move further afield, it seems likely that keeping her job would be no problem apart from having to work to eastern time while living out west. She has lived in many places in the US and her favorite of the lot was Southern California. She liked the open-mindedness of many there and the perfect weather.
I said this wasn't a moan, but I'm sure it has come across as such. I really have let it all come out. Of course I don't expect anywhere to be a utopia, for anywhere to be just like England or for all of my gripes to be washed away. I would however like to see an improvement in quality of life.
So, why am I considering Seattle? Well from what I have read here and from other sources, Washington State, west of the Cascades anyway, is relatively Liberal in its thinking, making me feel I would identify more to the area and people. Seattle is a major populous from which to source jobs, with a good amount tech industry behind it. I know moving there won't get me a job, but a fresh market with different key industries may help. The weather offers seasons, which I have missed dearly, but not the kind of extreme cold that much of the US suffers in the winter. Sure it rains in the Winter, but neither my wife or I mind that. Snow can of course be found up in the mountains in the winter if wanted. Summers are I believe quite dry and pleasant, again without being extreme. What excites me the most is the geography of the area. The Cascades and Olympic national park appear to offer some wonderful opportunities or outdoor activities and are close enough to enjoy at weekends through camping/hiking. While Seattle isn't on the Pacific coast, it does have Puget Sound which offers the opportunity to be on or near a good sized body of water that has access to the ocean. Something that is important to both of us. I may even think about getting back on a bike considering the scenery that could be experienced on a long ride and the more agreeable summer climate (providing people drive a bit safer up there). Finally Seattle is actually very similar in flight times from London as Tampa is, meaning it makes little difference for trips home or for guests to come and see us. Getting to Tallahassee isn't quite as simple as a 5 hour drive though. If my wife can keep her job then the most we have to lose is the costs of moving up there.
So I have covered, best I can, how I feel about things and how I think a move might help. Now I'd like some opinions from those with more experience what you think about it all. Am I kidding myself? Do I have some valid points? What points are pure fiction generated by my new set of rose tinted glasses (made in Seattle)? What haven't I thought of? Over to you… if you are still with me after such an essay.
Thanks.
Basically, I have been in the US due to marriage for 21 months now and quite frankly am really not enjoying it here since misplacing my rose tinted glasses. I'm sure my situation and environment are playing a big part in the souring of my attitude. I'm now feeling, after some research, soul searching and reading of comments in other threads here, that a move to another State (Washington, Seattle Area) could help improve my attitude, an attitude which is currently crying out to get on a plane and go home.
I'm 32, male and used to live in Essex and commute for over an hour a day into London for work. My profession is in IT (Windows Server/Desktop Support). I don't have a degree, which was not a problem until now, but since trying to get a job in the US I feel it hurts my chances badly. In the future I may try to rectify this, but that doesn't help the immediate situation. I do have vendor certifications (Microsoft/Cisco) and have spent much of my time since arriving in the US updating them to help my employment chances. I have been eligible for employment for over a year now, had many interviews but no job offers. Jobs in my field are scarce and many are for government contractors who require DoD clearance which I cannot get. This situation obviously hasn't helped my adjustment to the US.
I currently live in St Petersburg, in Tampa Bay, Florida. St Pete itself is a nice place for the most part. It is on the water. I rent in a nice neighborhood with a balcony 20 feet from the water. Downtown is small and enjoyable and you see a lot of people in the waterfront parks, jogging, dog walking, playing sport etc which is nice. The problem (for me) however is move away form the water and it is nothing more than a concrete jungle. Pinellas county is essentially block after block of buildings and 4 lane roads. There is little feeling of nature or openness and to try to experience such a thing (on land) requires you to drive for at least an hour before you get out of the Bay Area sprawl. Once outside of Tampa Bay I find Florida environmentally uninteresting. I used to love areas in the UK like the Peak and the Lake District, The Yorkshire Dales and the South Coast (Dorset/Sussex). Florida appears for the most part to be flat and either forested/impassable, or developed providing little sensory exhilaration Of course there are wonderful beaches here, but I'm not much of a beach lover, nor do I like the Florida summer heat that makes me sweat like a paedo in a Wendy house.
I struggle with some of the attitude that seems prevalent here, which I'm lead to believe isn't representative of the whole of the US. It seems to be very much, all about me, drill the pristine coast for oil so I can keep my big engined car and don't trust Obama. Religion appears to be in your face everywhere, which is fine, I never really paid that much attention to religion in Britain, yet people rarely seem to practice what the preach and it is actually making me physically dislike religions, which is worrying. It seems that for every intelligent person there are 50 thick as sh*t others waiting to do something retarded right in front of you. It is regularly reported in the Press that the Bay area is just about the worst in the country for driving standards, which is wholly believable when you see the latest reports of self induced carnage on the roads. People here pull of incredibly stupid stuff when they get behind the wheel of their behemoths and you can guarantee on any one journey that at least one person will nearly kill you.
The homeless are rife here, which I find a shame but accept it is probably worse than most places due to the warm weather. You see people begging an almost any major junction or intersection which is a little soul destroying, but what gets me is that it isn't just the homeless there, the majority are people with newly laundered clothes, bright white Nikes, texting on their Google phones standing there with cardboard signs asking for cash… THE NERVE OF IT!!! Mental heath also seems to have a lot to be desired in these parts. Maybe it is too much sun, but it is not uncommon to stumble across people talking to themselves, having strange body/facial ticks and doing completely random stuff or coming up to you and starting conversations that are neither coherent nor desired.
I have ties to the area. I have family here (sister and family who actually introduced me to my wife), and they are stuck in the area due to work visas, however they have a green card app in progress and expect it to be complete within 2 to 3 years, at which point it is likely they will leave the area too, with the PNW as a consideration for them. My wife has 1 good friend here, most of her friends and family are in Tallahassee which is 5 hours drive north so we don't see them regularly. She is however in a Band that means an awful lot to her and I'd hate for her to leave.
I have few hobbies here, partly due to money, partly due to failed motivation. I used to Scuba Dive, ride a Motorbike, work on my car (not in a chav kind of way), enjoyed Photography of nature and landscapes, walking/hiking, visiting historical sites and boating. Some of those would be well suited to here, others are not for reasons of environment, weather and self preservation (motorbike).
My wife is similar to me. She enjoys nature and the countryside. She is liberally minded and mainly democratic in her thinking (The thought of McCain/Palin the White House was enough for her to want to move to England for 4 years). She is however happy here and whilst understanding of my feelings, has no desire to move. While the FL summer is too hot for her she also hates the cold. Anything below 50 is in her mind "Arctic like" and most undesirable. She does however enjoy the rain and loved the Lake District when we went there in the snow. She works from home as a web developer, and while we haven't directly approached her employer about a move further afield, it seems likely that keeping her job would be no problem apart from having to work to eastern time while living out west. She has lived in many places in the US and her favorite of the lot was Southern California. She liked the open-mindedness of many there and the perfect weather.
I said this wasn't a moan, but I'm sure it has come across as such. I really have let it all come out. Of course I don't expect anywhere to be a utopia, for anywhere to be just like England or for all of my gripes to be washed away. I would however like to see an improvement in quality of life.
So, why am I considering Seattle? Well from what I have read here and from other sources, Washington State, west of the Cascades anyway, is relatively Liberal in its thinking, making me feel I would identify more to the area and people. Seattle is a major populous from which to source jobs, with a good amount tech industry behind it. I know moving there won't get me a job, but a fresh market with different key industries may help. The weather offers seasons, which I have missed dearly, but not the kind of extreme cold that much of the US suffers in the winter. Sure it rains in the Winter, but neither my wife or I mind that. Snow can of course be found up in the mountains in the winter if wanted. Summers are I believe quite dry and pleasant, again without being extreme. What excites me the most is the geography of the area. The Cascades and Olympic national park appear to offer some wonderful opportunities or outdoor activities and are close enough to enjoy at weekends through camping/hiking. While Seattle isn't on the Pacific coast, it does have Puget Sound which offers the opportunity to be on or near a good sized body of water that has access to the ocean. Something that is important to both of us. I may even think about getting back on a bike considering the scenery that could be experienced on a long ride and the more agreeable summer climate (providing people drive a bit safer up there). Finally Seattle is actually very similar in flight times from London as Tampa is, meaning it makes little difference for trips home or for guests to come and see us. Getting to Tallahassee isn't quite as simple as a 5 hour drive though. If my wife can keep her job then the most we have to lose is the costs of moving up there.
So I have covered, best I can, how I feel about things and how I think a move might help. Now I'd like some opinions from those with more experience what you think about it all. Am I kidding myself? Do I have some valid points? What points are pure fiction generated by my new set of rose tinted glasses (made in Seattle)? What haven't I thought of? Over to you… if you are still with me after such an essay.
Thanks.
Mar 19th 2010 | 12:20 am
#66
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From: St Pete, FL
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
It is good to hear some views of those who didn't like the area so much. Feeling trapped in urban sprawl is one of my hates of the Tampa Bay area. It isn't lost on me that Seattle is also a large metro area, however I do feel that what it has to offer outside of the sprawl is significantly better (in my opinion) than here, and if I am to be near or in a good source of work I have to accept big city life to a degree.
As for job searching. I search the usual sources daily. Craigslist, Monster, Careerbuilder, Dice, Sologig, Jobserve etc etc, I also trawl the sites of major companies here like Raymond James and the various big banks. My favorites folder is pretty full with them all! Craigslist seems to have the most per day of relevant jobs but so many of them are complete jokes...or scams.
As for job searching. I search the usual sources daily. Craigslist, Monster, Careerbuilder, Dice, Sologig, Jobserve etc etc, I also trawl the sites of major companies here like Raymond James and the various big banks. My favorites folder is pretty full with them all! Craigslist seems to have the most per day of relevant jobs but so many of them are complete jokes...or scams.
Mar 19th 2010 | 1:55 am
#67
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 92,279
From: MA, USA
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
As well as the above job sites, you tried guru.com ? it's more for contracting, but you might find some short term gigs on there.
Also, o-desk.com is another good one for pocket money usually, setting up stuff for people or what have you.
Also, o-desk.com is another good one for pocket money usually, setting up stuff for people or what have you.
Mar 19th 2010 | 2:06 am
#68
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 346
From: St Pete, FL
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
Guru is in my favorites. Not heard of O-Desk though. I'll check it out. Thanks.
Mar 19th 2010 | 6:31 am
#69
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 92,279
From: MA, USA
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
Oh, if your really bored, can search out companies that have H1B's and see what they're paying people, then search them out on LinkedIn, depending on sector at least, it can be pretty obvious to see who is earning what
But the practical thing is just being able to gauge actual base salaries in large/small companies in other locations.
Mar 22nd 2010 | 9:13 am
#71
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: St Pete, FL
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
OK. I know this thread has died down now but I wanted to show you what I am up against here. My wife and I just died laughing when we read this and watched the video. Are people really THIS STUPID!!!! Make sure you watch the video.
Surveillance video captures man stealing palm tree
This type of thing is not at all uncommon around these parts.
Surveillance video captures man stealing palm tree
This type of thing is not at all uncommon around these parts.
Mar 22nd 2010 | 9:26 am
#72
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,109
From: North Charleston,SC. born in Stockport,UK.
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
OK. I know this thread has died down now but I wanted to show you what I am up against here. My wife and I just died laughing when we read this and watched the video. Are people really THIS STUPID!!!! Make sure you watch the video.
Surveillance video captures man stealing palm tree
This type of thing is not at all uncommon around these parts.
Surveillance video captures man stealing palm tree
This type of thing is not at all uncommon around these parts.
Apr 6th 2010 | 12:25 pm
#73
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
Dear WARPed,
My husband (he's English) just showed your post to me, so I hope I can help in some small way.
I'm originally from Seattle (West Seattle to be more specific) but I've moved over here to England (Gravesend, Kent to be exact) and have been here since 2002. It was difficult to leave family and friends, but Love will do that to you. Plus, I couldn't stand the Bush regime, so I was more than happy to leave that behind.
I'm remotely familiar with Essex. (birthplace of Depeche Mode etc.) Glad to hear that you're not a boy racer or chav scum ha-ha! I'm unable to compare Seattle to Florida as I've never bothered to go there, but I can compare it to London and other parts of England that I have been bothered (or is that bovered?) to go to.
Seattle is gorgeous whatever time of year you happen to be there. It's a lot like England's climate and we talk about the weather as much as you do over here. There are lots of green spaces both in the city and out, and if you want to go jogging/biking/etc. Alki Beach was one of my favorites. It beats the hell out of the view from Gravesend Prom. (Tilbury Power Station anyone?) Funny you should mention the Peak and the Lake District, The Yorkshire Dales and the South Coast (Dorset/Sussex). I have always felt like this was the closest I could get to that same feeling of being in Washington. You will be spoiled for choice with the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges.
The good thing about Washington is that you can be skiing one day, and decide to go to the coast another day. True, Seattle isn't exactly on the Pacific Ocean, but you can be there in about 3 hours. Mind you, it's very quiet there, but if you need a break from everything, it's a good place to go.
You can also be in Vancouver Canada in about 3 hours as well. I recommend taking the train up from Seattle. Alternatively, you could go the other way down to Portland. This is also a pretty cool little city, but it's almost like a "lite" version of Seattle.
You mentioned scuba diving. I do have a friend who dives in the Puget Sound. It's cold, but he says that it's good fun. Here's a link that might prove interesting.
http://www.tripcart.com/usa-regions/Northwest-Washington-The-Cascades,Scuba-Diving.aspx#Guide||||||Top||||||||
Over all, Seattle is a pretty laid back city, much smaller than London for sure, but there are always things to do and see. Lots of bands and DJ nights. Check out a local weekly newspaper called The Stranger if/when you get there. We make a pilgrimage back to Seattle once a year. This year we saw Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and went to a Mod night and also a Northern Soul night among other things.
I will say that the local news is full of hairsprayed numpties. Have you ever seen Anchorman? That's pretty much it. Seattle also has its fair share of crap drivers, idiots and homeless people and all the other social ills, but it's a good place with friendly people and enough quirkiness to make things interesting.
My husband and I are talking about leaving England and moving back to Seattle in the next few years. He loves it there (thank God). Hopefully the economy will have picked up even more by then. My husband is a designer for Penguin Publishing (on the Strand) and I was trained as a graphic designer/illustrator but fell back into retail when I moved here. I would think that both you and your wife should be able to find jobs relatively quickly in Seattle. There are quite a few big companies that are based in Seattle and the outlying areas. You'll have Microsoft, Adobe, Amazon etc. I spoke to one of my former design instructors the other day and he said that they're no longer telling students to go ahead and take the barista job at the local Starbucks. This gives me hope.
As for flying between London and Seattle, British Airways is the only carrier that goes direct. It will take you a grueling 9 hours and 40 minutes each way. Seatac Airport is joyless. Clean, but joyless with probably the most miserable customs officials I've ever seen. They were convinced that I had a meat pie in my bag last time. (I had one box of Cadbury Flake) I don't even eat the bloody things here so why would I stuff one in my bag?!
Anyway, hope this helps a little bit, let me know if you'd like me to prattle on any more about Seattle. I'm sure there are a million other little things I could tell you.
Cheers
M
My husband (he's English) just showed your post to me, so I hope I can help in some small way.
I'm originally from Seattle (West Seattle to be more specific) but I've moved over here to England (Gravesend, Kent to be exact) and have been here since 2002. It was difficult to leave family and friends, but Love will do that to you. Plus, I couldn't stand the Bush regime, so I was more than happy to leave that behind.
I'm remotely familiar with Essex. (birthplace of Depeche Mode etc.) Glad to hear that you're not a boy racer or chav scum ha-ha! I'm unable to compare Seattle to Florida as I've never bothered to go there, but I can compare it to London and other parts of England that I have been bothered (or is that bovered?) to go to.
Seattle is gorgeous whatever time of year you happen to be there. It's a lot like England's climate and we talk about the weather as much as you do over here. There are lots of green spaces both in the city and out, and if you want to go jogging/biking/etc. Alki Beach was one of my favorites. It beats the hell out of the view from Gravesend Prom. (Tilbury Power Station anyone?) Funny you should mention the Peak and the Lake District, The Yorkshire Dales and the South Coast (Dorset/Sussex). I have always felt like this was the closest I could get to that same feeling of being in Washington. You will be spoiled for choice with the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges.
The good thing about Washington is that you can be skiing one day, and decide to go to the coast another day. True, Seattle isn't exactly on the Pacific Ocean, but you can be there in about 3 hours. Mind you, it's very quiet there, but if you need a break from everything, it's a good place to go.
You can also be in Vancouver Canada in about 3 hours as well. I recommend taking the train up from Seattle. Alternatively, you could go the other way down to Portland. This is also a pretty cool little city, but it's almost like a "lite" version of Seattle.
You mentioned scuba diving. I do have a friend who dives in the Puget Sound. It's cold, but he says that it's good fun. Here's a link that might prove interesting.
http://www.tripcart.com/usa-regions/Northwest-Washington-The-Cascades,Scuba-Diving.aspx#Guide||||||Top||||||||
Over all, Seattle is a pretty laid back city, much smaller than London for sure, but there are always things to do and see. Lots of bands and DJ nights. Check out a local weekly newspaper called The Stranger if/when you get there. We make a pilgrimage back to Seattle once a year. This year we saw Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and went to a Mod night and also a Northern Soul night among other things.
I will say that the local news is full of hairsprayed numpties. Have you ever seen Anchorman? That's pretty much it. Seattle also has its fair share of crap drivers, idiots and homeless people and all the other social ills, but it's a good place with friendly people and enough quirkiness to make things interesting.
My husband and I are talking about leaving England and moving back to Seattle in the next few years. He loves it there (thank God). Hopefully the economy will have picked up even more by then. My husband is a designer for Penguin Publishing (on the Strand) and I was trained as a graphic designer/illustrator but fell back into retail when I moved here. I would think that both you and your wife should be able to find jobs relatively quickly in Seattle. There are quite a few big companies that are based in Seattle and the outlying areas. You'll have Microsoft, Adobe, Amazon etc. I spoke to one of my former design instructors the other day and he said that they're no longer telling students to go ahead and take the barista job at the local Starbucks. This gives me hope.
As for flying between London and Seattle, British Airways is the only carrier that goes direct. It will take you a grueling 9 hours and 40 minutes each way. Seatac Airport is joyless. Clean, but joyless with probably the most miserable customs officials I've ever seen. They were convinced that I had a meat pie in my bag last time. (I had one box of Cadbury Flake) I don't even eat the bloody things here so why would I stuff one in my bag?!
Anyway, hope this helps a little bit, let me know if you'd like me to prattle on any more about Seattle. I'm sure there are a million other little things I could tell you.
Cheers
M
Apr 6th 2010 | 12:57 pm
#74
Thread Starter
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 346
From: St Pete, FL
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
What a awesome first post to make! Thank you very much and welcome to BE.
You have my sympathies for being in Gravesend, probably like I have yours for being in FL.
You have given me much to think about, and I appreciate the depth of your post. I have some time to think it over. We had to renew our lease so are here for another year now, but that works OK as I wouldn't risk moving somewhere without spending some time there first, which just wouldn't have been possible in time for moving out of our current apt. My hopeful trip in May has been scuppered by an incredibly drawn out probation period on my wife's new job so it looks like it might be a summer visit now.
You have my sympathies for being in Gravesend, probably like I have yours for being in FL.
You have given me much to think about, and I appreciate the depth of your post. I have some time to think it over. We had to renew our lease so are here for another year now, but that works OK as I wouldn't risk moving somewhere without spending some time there first, which just wouldn't have been possible in time for moving out of our current apt. My hopeful trip in May has been scuppered by an incredibly drawn out probation period on my wife's new job so it looks like it might be a summer visit now.
Apr 6th 2010 | 10:44 pm
#75
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5
Re: Move to Seattle? Your thoughts?
Dear Mr. WARPed,
Thank you very much for the welcome and for your sympathy ha-ha. Of course you have mine as well, but I'm sure that anywhere is better than Gravesend (especially the town centre). Talk about catering to the lowest common denominator. It's beyond depressing. I keep thinking that the cast of Shameless is making a guest appearance.
Anyway, don't fret about not making it up to Seattle this May. Summertime is when Seattle is at it's best, and it can get really hot. Did I read that your wife prefers warmer temps? August and September are your best bets. Ooh! There's a big music festival called Bumbershoot that you two should check out. Loads of bands to see, and sometimes the lesser known bands are even better than the headliners. I'm not sure who's in the 2010 line up yet, but here's the website for last year. Our friend Chris is one of the Directors (he also puts on two mod nights "Studio 66" and "Moe Mod" if you're into that sort of thing) http://www.bumbershoot.org/ This festival usually takes place over Labor Day weekend.
Then of course there is Seafair http://www.seafair.com/ and you have to visit the Pike Place Market when everything is in full bloom. Trust me, it will be jam packed (I worked there for about 4 years) but as you like taking photos, this will be a great source of inspiration. Have a drink at The Pink Door in the market http://www.thepinkdoor.net/and enjoy the view from the outdoor deck. I recommend booking in advance. Or, if you want a nice Irish Bar, with great food, go across the alley to a place called Kells. There's another place in the market called The Alibi Room http://www.seattlealibi.com/welcome.htm Watch out for a drink called "Lucky in Kentuky" that really knocked me for a loop. I'm more of a vodka tonic girl.
Make sure to go across the water to West Seattle (my old stomping grounds) and visit Alki Beach and Beach Drive. You and your fair ladywife can even rent beach cruiser bikes there. Oh! And there is a GREAT place for fish and chips on Alki called Spud's. Or, way at the other end is a place called Luna Park which is all PROPER 50's/60s kitch. http://www.lunaparkcafe.com/
If you go exploring in West Seattle, go up to the "Alaska Junction". There is a great record store called Easy Street on the corner of California and Alaska. They do a "wicked" breakfast or lunch. Try the Rev. Horton Heat Hash or the Dolly Parton stack. Oh I'm getting really homesick now!
Also, Lincoln Park is beautiful. Lots of dense trees and trails, with a long strip of beach to the front. During the summer there is an open swimming pool along the water front. Also, you can take the ferry at the other end to Vashon Island. Great for biking, just watch out for the two hills at the beginning of the journey. One is long and steep, the other is long and slightly less so.
Hiking should be the best this time of year as well. More trails, less mud and better views. Mt. Rainier is a must! Again, I could rattle on and on... (which I've certainly done here)
As they say over here, "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" just think of it as being one day closer to where you both want to be. I like to think of it as one less day that I have to see the troglodytes in town.
By the way, what was your experience like moving to the U.S.? What sort of paperwork did you have to do?
Cheerios!
M
Thank you very much for the welcome and for your sympathy ha-ha.
Of course you have mine as well, but I'm sure that anywhere is better than Gravesend (especially the town centre). Talk about catering to the lowest common denominator. It's beyond depressing. I keep thinking that the cast of Shameless is making a guest appearance. Anyway, don't fret about not making it up to Seattle this May. Summertime is when Seattle is at it's best, and it can get really hot. Did I read that your wife prefers warmer temps? August and September are your best bets. Ooh! There's a big music festival called Bumbershoot that you two should check out. Loads of bands to see, and sometimes the lesser known bands are even better than the headliners. I'm not sure who's in the 2010 line up yet, but here's the website for last year. Our friend Chris is one of the Directors (he also puts on two mod nights "Studio 66" and "Moe Mod" if you're into that sort of thing) http://www.bumbershoot.org/ This festival usually takes place over Labor Day weekend.
Then of course there is Seafair http://www.seafair.com/ and you have to visit the Pike Place Market when everything is in full bloom. Trust me, it will be jam packed (I worked there for about 4 years) but as you like taking photos, this will be a great source of inspiration. Have a drink at The Pink Door in the market http://www.thepinkdoor.net/and enjoy the view from the outdoor deck. I recommend booking in advance. Or, if you want a nice Irish Bar, with great food, go across the alley to a place called Kells. There's another place in the market called The Alibi Room http://www.seattlealibi.com/welcome.htm Watch out for a drink called "Lucky in Kentuky" that really knocked me for a loop. I'm more of a vodka tonic girl.
Make sure to go across the water to West Seattle (my old stomping grounds) and visit Alki Beach and Beach Drive. You and your fair ladywife can even rent beach cruiser bikes there. Oh! And there is a GREAT place for fish and chips on Alki called Spud's. Or, way at the other end is a place called Luna Park which is all PROPER 50's/60s kitch. http://www.lunaparkcafe.com/
If you go exploring in West Seattle, go up to the "Alaska Junction". There is a great record store called Easy Street on the corner of California and Alaska. They do a "wicked" breakfast or lunch. Try the Rev. Horton Heat Hash or the Dolly Parton stack. Oh I'm getting really homesick now!
Also, Lincoln Park is beautiful. Lots of dense trees and trails, with a long strip of beach to the front. During the summer there is an open swimming pool along the water front. Also, you can take the ferry at the other end to Vashon Island. Great for biking, just watch out for the two hills at the beginning of the journey. One is long and steep, the other is long and slightly less so.Hiking should be the best this time of year as well. More trails, less mud and better views. Mt. Rainier is a must! Again, I could rattle on and on... (which I've certainly done here)
As they say over here, "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" just think of it as being one day closer to where you both want to be. I like to think of it as one less day that I have to see the troglodytes in town.
By the way, what was your experience like moving to the U.S.? What sort of paperwork did you have to do?
Cheerios!
M
