Why do I like Seattle more than San Diego?

[sberdrow]

you know I spent over 30 years in the Pacific North West, Moved to Colorado where we get cold/hot, but always sunny. Anyway, I thought I wanted to move back to Washington, because its freaken cold here, more than I can take. but upon my visit this overcast week, I have discovered that now that I have had a taste of sunshine, I DON"T EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THE PNW...I mean not ever. We are going to move to Hemet California as soon as I land a job. Its near San Diego if anybody is curious. Trees and ferns are nice, but in the end its the sun that I worship I guess more than anything.

[Woof]

Originally Posted by CityGirl72

You find San Diego bland???

Yes ... maybe it's just the lack of color? Maybe I'm not remembering accurately, but it seemed to me mostly variations of tan ..... scruffy tan hills outside of town .... shadeless tan beaches beneath brown bluffs. The houses were white with tan lawns. There were some palm trees scattered around town, a little bit of green atop them.

But then I guess you could say that Seattle is all shades of gray and green. Maybe it's more about the changing weather in Seattle? San Diego has basically one season. I grew up in Massachusetts, used to a bit of variety ... San Diego has that peculiarly relentless perfect, sunny weather, just the right humidity .... at least when the outskirts weren't smoldering .... a naturally melancholic person could hardly hide from all that without staying inside and closing the blinds, and playing a tape of a thunderstorm.

And the little shops in Seattle seemed more REAL somehow .... in San Diego they seem more commercialized and predatory.

I dunno, maybe it's just a vibe thing. My brother used to tell me that a dark little cloud follows me wherever I go.

[Fallingwaters]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

you know I spent over 30 years in the Pacific North West, Moved to Colorado where we get cold/hot, but always sunny. Anyway, I thought I wanted to move back to Washington, because its freaken cold here, more than I can take. but upon my visit this overcast week, I have discovered that now that I have had a taste of sunshine, I DON"T EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THE PNW...I mean not ever. We are going to move to Hemet California as soon as I land a job. Its near San Diego if anybody is curious. Trees and ferns are nice, but in the end its the sun that I worship I guess more than anything.

Never underestimate the power of sunshine. Speaking for myself, having lived in England -- yeah, I know -- and enjoying it there despite the climate, I thought Seattle would be no big deal.

Heck, I bought a SAD lamp just to see if it would make any difference. It kind of did; looked just like a flourescent lamp, so I felt ripped off, but it does brighten the room once it gets warmed up.

Still, doesn't change what's usually happening outside (saying this on what's actually been a nice day, though).

[BostonBorn]

I have to admit I've been to San Diego a few times and found it bland. Just didn't do it for me. Can't quite put my finger on it, but it seemed to lack the funky cultural vibe of cities like San Francisco and Seattle.

Just my own opinion, of course, and no offense is meant to those who love SD. That's the thing with cities: They'll hit different people in different ways. It's what makes the world go 'round, and there's no right or wrong in how you feel about a city. You feel how you feel, and only you know what that's like.

[Yurt]

Originally Posted by Woof

I don't really know, Yurt. I just liked walking around, stopping a moment in the little shops .... I liked the parks, especially Discovery Park, and the fresh cool air. Also the city actually looks good in the rain or with bit of mist drifting up the hills ... sometimes it looks uncomfortable or slightly worn in direct sunlight. Kind of like a middle-aged woman who looks really good in a dimly lit bar, but then she steps outside during the day, and you can see every line in her blinking, sallow face.

Oh, did I say "bar", if I remember correctly there are only taverns and cocktail lounges. And some pubs, microbreweries, and alehouses. And a few dives. But no bars, except for espresso bars.

I liked the new library a lot, but that's hardly a reason to fall in love with a city. I just don't know what draws me.

Oh, by the way, why are you bailing out of SLO? I've thought about living there, but it's way beyond my reach financially. Seems to me like it's one of the best places in the country to live if you can, aside from all the noisy, drunken university students.

I grew up in SLO and left for the PNW for a decade and fell in love with the area and my wife from Canada. Moved here for family, but I just feel a big "itch." Its like the hills that surround SLO are claustraphopic as compared to the great NW openess. Though there is rain, which I admit I have gotten used to the SLO weather, the change of weather is really nice. I love the green as opposed to the "golden" hills here, very bland and boring.

Kayaking? Oh yeah, lots up there. Hiking, even better. Also, it is close to Canada for my wife. My bind is this:

I am a CA attorney and would need to take the WA bar, so that requires time and planning. Also, I don't have a lot of legal contacts in Seattle. Honestly, if someone offered me a good job, I'd 99% take it and move to Seattle in a heart beat.

[gellio_sf]

Originally Posted by BostonBorn

I have to admit I've been to San Diego a few times and found it bland. Just didn't do it for me. Can't quite put my finger on it, but it seemed to lack the funky cultural vibe of cities like San Francisco and Seattle.

Just my own opinion, of course, and no offense is meant to those who love SD. That's the thing with cities: They'll hit different people in different ways. It's what makes the world go 'round, and there's no right or wrong in how you feel about a city. You feel how you feel, and only you know what that's like.

I couldn't have said it better. Having lived in Seattle and visted San Diego, I too found San Diego bland - sort of a feeling of being bored by the physical appearance of the place, beautiful as it is. Seattle is majestic and has an amazing vibe. But, I wish we had San Diego's weather (and beaches) up here in SF.

[The A-Team]

I live in the international district, and the crime is getting pretty bad here. I have people yelling and chasing me, trying to follow me into the parking garage at my apartment. Groups of people....looks like drug dealers. You must not hit the streets at night. Try around Niketown after the sun goes down....people doin drugs on the streets, very shady types everywhere.(this is in response to the crime in seattle topic)

[Woof]

I used to live in the International District, there was always a lot of crime there - probably under-represented in the official crime stats, since Asians are often reluctant to report crime. In the Alps Hotel .... I suppose they've torn down that ancient brick flophouse by now. If I could have eaten the mice and rats I caught in my room, I would never have had to go out for food. I remember shop owners would fearfully give the thugs free food just to get them to leave.

Still, I did enjoy walking around there and buying the exotic foods. You ought to look into getting a handgun and a Concealed Carry License, it's easy in Seattle and you have far fewer worries about going outside at night. At least I did.

[pwright1]

Originally Posted by Woof

I used to live in the International District, there was always a lot of crime there - probably under-represented in the official crime stats, since Asians are often reluctant to report crime. In the Alps Hotel .... I suppose they've torn down that ancient brick flophouse by now. If I could have eaten the mice and rats I caught in my room, I would never have had to go out for food. I remember shop owners would fearfully give the thugs free food just to get them to leave.

Still, I did enjoy walking around there and buying the exotic foods. You ought to look into getting a handgun and a Concealed Carry License, it's easy in Seattle and you have far fewer worries about going outside at night. At least I did.

Oh wow, I think carrying a hand gun is going a little too far. Good grief.

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by SaltyDawg

That is an awesome description.

I'm a little surprised to see the post that San Diego has less crime. Less of what type of crime? I've never felt safer in in-city neighborhoods than I do in Seattle. Yes, Pioneer Square and parts of the Valley are rough, but any 'name' neighborhood (e.g. Ballard, Greenlake, Madrona, Laurelhurst, Fremont et al) feels incredibly safe.

San Diego and Seattle's crime rates are about the same. San Diego actually has twice the number of murders, but the population is also twice of Seattle's thus making the per capita rate about the same. Seattle's overall crime rate is slightly higher than San Diego, but if you compare them both to somewhere like Detroit, than they both feel really safe in retrospect.

I too would rather live in Seattle, even if the prices are as high as San Diego or even more expensive. The scenery in the PNW is absolutely gorgeous, and I don't mind the rain. The city has an impressive skyline with character unlike San Diego's, and downtown SEA overall has a fun vibe with a lot of energy, a lot of culture, and plenty more attractions. San Diego has more of a cookie-cutter suburban atmosphere, and even downtown S.D. feels more like a suburban business and residential district (like Bellvue).