Moving to the Seattle (actually Pierce County) area from Hawaii (Oahu) - questions about the area

[SunAndRain808]

Originally Posted by the topper

Why would you want to leave paradise and move to a gloomy, dismal place like Seattle?

I don't know if you live here in Seattle, but I moved here last week, and the temperature was warm, and the sunshine was gorgeous!

I was surprised that Seattle could get this sunny and warm during the spring time. The temperature during the day time last week was very similar to that of Hawaii, including the sunshine.

HOWEVER, for the past three days, it has been over-cast with clouds and drizzled a little yesterday.

It's also been a little "cooler" yesterday, so I had to wear long pants and a thin sweatshirt when I out doing my shopping.

People here tell me that May is overcast, and that the real summer for Seattle starts on "July 5th." I don't know why the locals here pick out the day of July 5th in particular when their summer season starts.

I'm not looking forward to the fall and winter season. My friend who has lived here in the Pudget Sound area for the last three years (and he's also from Hawaii) told me that the winter days are very short and it gets dark quickly in the afternoon.

[SunAndRain808]

My opinion of Puyallup area.

Seems very suburban city to me. Puyallup reminds me of places like the suburbs of Chicago or Indianapolis - the vegetation (trees), the roadway, the railway, the structures of the malls and stores and the parking lots, and even parts of up-state New York I have visited.

I like the customer service in this area. Seems like the employees at most stores greet me and ask me if I need help. Unlike unfriendly employees I have met while living in the midwest.

Lastly, hate to say this, but a tiny percentage of people out here seem to fit into the red-neck category. I saw this truck with a sticker that said "I'm proud to be a redneck" and notice a lot of Ford F-350 trucks and large Dodge trucks driven in this area.

[Edward234]

Originally Posted by SunAndRain808

My opinion of Puyallup area.

Seems very suburban city to me. Puyallup reminds me of places like the suburbs of Chicago or Indianapolis - the vegetation (trees), the roadway, the railway, the structures of the malls and stores and the parking lots, and even parts of up-state New York I have visited.

I like the customer service in this area. Seems like the employees at most stores greet me and ask me if I need help. Unlike unfriendly employees I have met while living in the midwest.

Lastly, hate to say this, but a tiny percentage of people out here seem to fit into the red-neck category. I saw this truck with a sticker that said "I'm proud to be a redneck" and notice a lot of Ford F-350 trucks and large Dodge trucks driven in this area.

Yup, Pierce County definitely has a redneck element. Check out Downtown Tacoma and the waterfront area of Tacoma. Really beautiful and Tacoma has some cool neighborhoods. Check out 6th Avenue too.

[ChloeC]

Originally Posted by SunAndRain808

I'm not looking forward to the fall and winter season. My friend who has lived here in the Pudget Sound area for the last three years (and he's also from Hawaii) told me that the winter days are very short and it gets dark quickly in the afternoon.

Days are shorter everywhere in the winter.

Just expect 28 cloudy days and 2 sunny days each month and you won't be disappointed.

I don't mind it a bit... if I needed 30 days of sun I'd have moved to California. Our sunny summers here make up for the cloudy winters.

[cmswazey]

Yah. I'm from the Northeast and if anyone thinks these winters are bad...

Much much colder, snowier an icier. At least here it's usually above freezing in the winter.