Is Seattle turning into California? (Issaquah, Highland: established neighborhood, college, living)

[ladyjuliek]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

I have to say, as a CA transplant, the people in WA are about 1000 times more rude than the people in CA. Every time I greet my neighbor, he grunts at me. You smile at a stranger they give you the death stare.... (clipped)

I continue to smile and say hello to everyone, though, because it seems to throw them way way off. If I can't get them to be friendly, I can take some small comfort in making them uncomfortable.

V. =)

Hard to believe when you hear stuff like this. But then I recently read an article in the PNW newspaper online, that was following an organization that gives out free pamphlets and information, and that when one man took one (which of course he didn't have to), he turned and smiled to the woman who gave it to him, and said "I'm going to kill you." RIGHT in front of the camera reporter...

What?! Somebody tell me... is this Seattleite for a joke? Was he serious? Was he just trying to throw her off? Exactly why would a person say that to someone volunteering for a good cause, when they didn't have to even take one?!?!

[41Willys]

LOL,,,,well,, this thread is interesting. OK, the housing question is becoming clearer.

But the unfriendliness has been covered in other thread's. But I think it depends on the person's geographic location of there up bringing. Take a person from Cali and another person from NYC and put them in the same area of Seattle. I think you will get 2 different answers on the "how friendly is Seattle" question.

[ness]

i agree willys. i also think that there are microclimates of friendliness....as well as weather. the people who live in Renton may be different than the people who live in Port Townsend, may be different from those that live in Seattle, may be different from those that live in Olympia...etc.etc.etc.

[41Willys]

Originally Posted by ness

i agree willys. i also think that there are microclimates of friendliness....as well as weather. the people who live in Renton may be different than the people who live in Port Townsend, may be different from those that live in Seattle, may be different from those that live in Olympia...etc.etc.etc.

LOL What? The friendliness vary's from town to town?

I believe Seattle and the surrounding area's are a lot different then they were 20+ years ago. Today it is a big melting pot and everyone , or most everyone is in the same/similar situation so it makes for a pleasant atmosphere.

If you go to a bar or public eating place you will find that natives are the minorities. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[chris]

20 years ago? It's changed dramatically in the 5+ years I've been here..

Seattle's becoming a transplant city. Almost all of my in-laws who lived in/near close to town their whole lives have moved further outside of the city just in the short time I've lived here. Not unusual though these days.

A friend who moved here from California said it best about the difference in mentality between here and there (addressing the unfriendliness issue). He said basically that in LA, you know where people stand, up here in Seattle, you really don't know where someone stands until they go psycho on you. I think what he was trying to say is that people tend to be a little more passive agressive up here. Who's to say though, I'm no psychologist.

I'd say in 5-10 years, Seattle (I5-corridor) will be a lot like LA.

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by chris

I'd say in 5-10 years, Seattle (I5-corridor) will be a lot like LA.

Probably. John Steinbeck rolled into 1961 Seattle ("Travels with Charley") and was horrified at the growth and destruction- he didn't recognize the Seattle of his youth. I don't see the growth here as reversing itself or stopping.

[wythors]

The houses being built here over the last several years mostly have a postage stamp-sized lots and 3000+ square feet. A friend was looking about 2 years ago and encountered houses where he literally couldn't push a lawnmower between the house and the fence.

What will it be like here 10 years from now? I don't care because I won't be here. The Puget Sound area is already one huge sprawl from Marysville in the north to Tacoma in the south and from Puget Sound to North Bend. Is it turning into California? Yes, in the worst way possible.

[41Willys]

Huh! Not what I expected from you.

[wythors]

Originally Posted by 41Willys

Huh! Not what I expected from you.

The Californication of Seattle is one of the biggest peeves in my life. I can't wait to cash in on the huge real estate appreciation and get the hell out of here. Give me someplace where the air is clean and it's not rush hour 24/7. Another 10 years and I'm gone north.

[41Willys]

OH,, now thats more of what I "did" expect. Im coming bro, Im waiting for my income tax money plus the money I was expecting. Income tax is another 5 grand to the moving fund. I have to wait till December anyway so another month will just make the pot sweeter. (income taxes are done between Jan. and April 15th. I do mine in January) Im gonna put my heart and sole into the next 20 years. Then, if I want, I can retire.