Official "Seattle Freeze" Discussion Thread (Highland: schools, eat)

[ElektroDragon]

We have been wanting to move to Seattle from upstate NY since our vacation there in 2005, which we loved every single second of (we got to see basically everything and put over 1000 miles on the rental car). Finally, this year, it looks like we'll be able to do move there! The only thing holding us back at all are the high rent/house prices in Kirkland/Bellevue/Redmond, but Seattle is definitely in our future. I'll save requests for recommendations for another thread.

My experience while there was that people were very friendly. The friendliness seemed much more genuine than what we get in NY, to the point of being jaw dropping. The salesperson at the bookstore at SeaTac was GENUINELY trying to be helpful/friendly. You don't see that here. We were so taken aback that we responded in the typical curt NY "just looking" fashion, and it just seemed so wrong that we felt bad about it! It actually felt like we had hurt her feelings! And the staff at Nintendo headquarters was just angelic!

As for the "Seattle Freeze", well, I can say that while I am a very nice, polite person, I can only make friends when exposed to them for long periods of time in 1 on 1 situations, like an officemate, for example. The descriptions here sound basically ideal to me, because I am an introvert for sure, and can't handle certain "friendly" people well. What I'm talking about is the people who publically proclaim "what's a matter, don't you like us?" when you don't pop into their office every morning to say hello! I can't stand people like that! I am definitely the type to return a greeting though, and the idea that someone will respect me and not think that I must hate their guts if I don't make eye contact and smile in the hallway is very refreshing. Yes, I'm a techie, as well, and love gloomy weather as well as the sunny cool summers, so it sounds like Seattle will be perfect for me. I was shivering in a T-shirt on the night of the 4th of July and I thought it was awesome compared to the oppresive heat at that time back east! And don't get me started on the scenery.... the most beautiful place I've ever seen on the planet so far.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by ElektroDragon

We have been wanting to move to Seattle from upstate NY since our vacation there in 2005, which we loved every single second of (we got to see basically everything and put over 1000 miles on the rental car). Finally, this year, it looks like we'll be able to do move there! The only thing holding us back at all are the high rent/house prices in Kirkland/Bellevue/Redmond, but Seattle is definitely in our future. I'll save requests for recommendations for another thread.

My experience while there was that people were very friendly. The friendliness seemed much more genuine than what we get in NY, to the point of being jaw dropping. The salesperson at the bookstore at SeaTac was GENUINELY trying to be helpful/friendly. You don't see that here. We were so taken aback that we responded in the typical curt NY "just looking" fashion, and it just seemed so wrong that we felt bad about it! It actually felt like we had hurt her feelings! And the staff at Nintendo headquarters was just angelic!

As for the "Seattle Freeze", well, I can say that while I am a very nice, polite person, I can only make friends when exposed to them for long periods of time in 1 on 1 situations, like an officemate, for example. The descriptions here sound basically ideal to me, because I am an introvert for sure, and can't handle certain "friendly" people well. What I'm talking about is the people who publically proclaim "what's a matter, don't you like us?" when you don't pop into their office every morning to say hello! I can't stand people like that! I am definitely the type to return a greeting though, and the idea that someone will respect me and not think that I must hate their guts if I don't make eye contact and smile in the hallway is very refreshing. Yes, I'm a techie, as well, and love gloomy weather as well as the sunny cool summers, so it sounds like Seattle will be perfect for me. I was shivering in a T-shirt on the night of the 4th of July and I thought it was awesome compared to the oppresive heat at that time back east! And don't get me started on the scenery.... the most beautiful place I've ever seen on the planet so far.

Oppressive heat in upstate NY? I don't remember any of that. Curse you, global warming!

[ElektroDragon]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

Oppressive heat in upstate NY? I don't remember any of that. Curse you, global warming!

Well, I live in the Hudson Valley, it's not exactly Buffalo. It gets in the 90s and sticky in the summer. There was literally a 20 degree temperature difference and 30 point humidity difference between here and Seattle during my entire 2005 July 4th vacation. If that is not opressive heat by comparison, what is? The East Coast, even New England, is a SWAMP compared to the PNW, and the winters are bitter. Extremes are driving me nuts and I've lived here all my life. Anyway, probably best saved for the weather thread.

[gidgetb]

I've been here in the Seattle area 14 years.. i work on the east side.. nuff said there.. Brier is great.. the politics suck but the town is friendly.. but there is definitely a change here..and not a good one.
I cant stand driving to work for fear of road rage.. on a weekend even.. come on its the weekend.. drive more relaxed please..never fails at least 4 almost accidents every weekend going to wrok... some of the customers at work tend to be aggressive and non friendly on the east side.. but not limited to the eastside. i am sick of cellphones at checkouts. what makes a person think we need to hear their personal calls while you wait behind them.. and the same in drive throughs.
I really think the high cost of living and weather that i actually love make people have a a stick up their arses.
we are moving in five weeks to Indiana.. wish it was sooner..i do however love the weather here and the people in Seattle itself.
so if i offended anyone i seriously doubt anyone taking the time to read these threads are out there bitching and complaining to people just trying to do their jobs..so i am sorry about that part.. but really just sit back and watch sometime.. count the number of people complaining when you are out.. compare it to the old timers who hold the door open for you and say please and thank you.. those days are definetly gone

[Meerteekah]

I notice references here and there to "the politics." As someone who has never been there or yet read up on that side of things, can someone refer me (link me?) to where in the forum there is (if there is) a thread that discusses this. I've come across the term, but really don't know what folks are referring to. Since we're in the weighing options stage here, hubby and I, I suppose we should learn about this, too, along with housing and crime stats and cultural stuff.

Thanks, and this is NOT an attempt AT ALL to start a political discussion (eek), but just to understand what is meant when people say the politics suck and what-not.

Mirtika

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by gidgetb

I've been here in the Seattle area 14 years.. i work on the east side.. nuff said there.. Brier is great.. the politics suck but the town is friendly.. but there is definitely a change here..and not a good one.
I cant stand driving to work for fear of road rage.. on a weekend even.. come on its the weekend.. drive more relaxed please..never fails at least 4 almost accidents every weekend going to wrok... some of the customers at work tend to be aggressive and non friendly on the east side.. but not limited to the eastside. i am sick of cellphones at checkouts. what makes a person think we need to hear their personal calls while you wait behind them.. and the same in drive throughs.
I really think the high cost of living and weather that i actually love make people have a a stick up their arses.
we are moving in five weeks to Indiana.. wish it was sooner..i do however love the weather here and the people in Seattle itself.
so if i offended anyone i seriously doubt anyone taking the time to read these threads are out there bitching and complaining to people just trying to do their jobs..so i am sorry about that part.. but really just sit back and watch sometime.. count the number of people complaining when you are out.. compare it to the old timers who hold the door open for you and say please and thank you.. those days are definetly gone

I'm not sure your problem is confined to Seattle. You should hear the old timers in Raleigh: All these rude transplants coming in, bad drivers, no manners, etc etc. ..
People use cell phones in Indiana too. I think you're going to have a hard time finding a place without them.

[HistoryAficionado]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

I'm not sure your problem is confined to Seattle. You should hear the old timers in Raleigh: All these rude transplants coming in, bad drivers, no manners, etc etc. ..
People use cell phones in Indiana too. I think you're going to have a hard time finding a place without them.

Well, I think what that person was trying to say is that the Seattle area wasn't like that until recently -- actually, it held out longer against gentrification and the SUV/road rage/cellphone always on environments than many other cities did.

Now, despite clinging tenaciously to its history and local culture, it's become just another American city that looks much like all of the others.

[theRain]

Wow, I just saw this thread, and the link to the article, this morning. Home, sweet, home! I loved it, I mean, I grew up there, moved out of state at age 39, and that article describes me perfectly. And, I don't see a thing wrong with it! I have lots of things I like to do: bike, swim, hike with my dogs, ride my horses, read, watch movies, and lots more. But none of them depend on including other people, and that is totally my comfort zone. My time is MY time(my kids are included in MY time!), and when I have done all I can of what I want to do on any given day, there is no time left for hanging out with people doing nothing! Life isn't a sitcom.
If I watch a movie, it is because I am interested in the movie, not because I want to discuss it with someone else, duh. If I need to eat a meal, I do it because I want to eat, not because I want to make it an hours long event, talking more than eating. Eat, then go do other things. I tried biking with a club. They stop and chat too much, stop at the bakery.....blah. I enjoy the company of my kids and my dogs, and spend much time taking them places they can run and have fun. Their joy is my reward. They don't chatter away about things that don't matter. They don't weigh me down with their soap opera lives. They just DO, they have fun. Simple, here and now. Ahhhhh..how nice.
I spend enough time worrying and thinking about my business, my future, my kids, their futures. I don't need to deal with other peoples' problems, or their opinions! That is why I celebrate the Seattle Freeze! I guess it really did shape me, and I don't mind a bit! No wonder I miss it!! I'll be back....

[theRain]

One addition to my post, above: What is so wrong with enjoying people on a superficial level? I mean, I do like other folks, I enjoy interacting at that level! At a public event, or out shopping, people are great. Why should we need to go beyond that with more than the occasional, special person?

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by theRain

One addition to my post, above: What is so wrong with enjoying people on a superficial level? I mean, I do like other folks, I enjoy interacting at that level! At a public event, or out shopping, people are great. Why should we need to go beyond that with more than the occasional, special person?

And thus, you have just illustrated the very point of which we speak. If this is "normal" to you, then you can have your normal. There are better ways to live.