Follow up poll -- what deters you from Seattle or why would you leave? (Republic: environment)

[lijohy]

Originally Posted by JDTD

You must be assuming that people can afford to live close to those areas(now) and enjoy all those activities. For most people, those require a $30.00 commute, $10.00 parking and the Seattle traffic fight for your life (plus whatever entry fee there is, food, etc.). Most people can't just run down the road and be at the zoo, aquarium, museum, etc. Many kids don't have these options. My kids would be happy as can be if they could just go out and jump on their trampoline or ride their bikes. The point is that they can't most of the time. It's just no fun jumping in a rain-suit...just no fun.

Well if you actually get up and do something on a rainy day, there is a lot to do if you live in Seattle. Unless you have some weird phobia of the rain. If you do then move to a sunny place. Lie the desert. Far, far away. I live on Greenwood and can pay (like many others) the 3.00 fare to go to any of the local parks, rain or shine. I can go to any of the libraries (many,many people live near a library as there are usually several in each part of town- North, South, East or West!) or to a museum. These places are NOT that expensive. If you are that broke, there is the free artwalk on the first Thursday of every month. EMP, SAM are free too. If money is such a problem, what would you do if you lived somewhere else? Seattle is not THAT expensive, the pay rate is higher than other more unsightly and cheaper areas like parts of the Midwest and Southern Arizona. I used to ride my bike in the rain, it is not that bad. Thousands of people around the country do it every day, possibly millions of people. Lemonade out of lemons, eh?

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by lijohy

Well if you actually get up and do something on a rainy day, there is a lot to do if you live in Seattle. Unless you have some weird phobia of the rain. If you do then move to a sunny place. Lie the desert. Far, far away. I live on Greenwood and can pay (like many others) the 3.00 fare to go to any of the local parks, rain or shine. I can go to any of the libraries (many,many people live near a library as there are usually several in each part of town- North, South, East or West!) or to a museum. These places are NOT that expensive. If you are that broke, there is the free artwalk on the first Thursday of every month. EMP, SAM are free too. If money is such a problem, what would you do if you lived somewhere else? Seattle is not THAT expensive, the pay rate is higher than other more unsightly and cheaper areas like parts of the Midwest and Southern Arizona. I used to ride my bike in the rain, it is not that bad. Thousands of people around the country do it every day, possibly millions of people. Lemonade out of lemons, eh?

Many people were talking about what to do with little kids. Anyone who has raised kids knows how much effort goes into packing up the kids to take them into the city for some outing. Then everyone gets tired, someone has a tantrum, etc. It's really nice to be able to open the back door and let them go play in the yard. Museums and Art Walks don't work well for kids under 10 or 12, with the exception of some very specializead museums. One person even said the other moms told her "go to the mall". Yes, it's boring, but it's a lot easier than trekking into the city and paying a bunch of admission fees, etc. Plus, if you can let them out into the yard, the mom can get some of her housework done at the same time. Or just sit out in the yard with a good book, which is infinitely more relaxing than hauling a bunch of kids off somewhere. Such outings work best no more often than once every couple weeks or so.

[JDTD]

Originally Posted by lijohy

Well if you actually get up and do something on a rainy day, there is a lot to do if you live in Seattle. Unless you have some weird phobia of the rain. If you do then move to a sunny place. Lie the desert. Far, far away. I live on Greenwood and can pay (like many others) the 3.00 fare to go to any of the local parks, rain or shine. I can go to any of the libraries (many,many people live near a library as there are usually several in each part of town- North, South, East or West!) or to a museum. These places are NOT that expensive. If you are that broke, there is the free artwalk on the first Thursday of every month. EMP, SAM are free too. If money is such a problem, what would you do if you lived somewhere else? Seattle is not THAT expensive, the pay rate is higher than other more unsightly and cheaper areas like parts of the Midwest and Southern Arizona. I used to ride my bike in the rain, it is not that bad. Thousands of people around the country do it every day, possibly millions of people. Lemonade out of lemons, eh?

Okay...before I respond to this, I'll give you a chance to go back and read all the posts on this particular conversation.

[JDTD]

Originally Posted by JDTD

Okay...before I respond to this, I'll give you a chance to go back and read all the posts on this particular conversation.

Nevermind...just read Katiana's. What she said.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by lijohy

Well if you actually get up and do something on a rainy day, there is a lot to do if you live in Seattle. Unless you have some weird phobia of the rain. If you do then move to a sunny place. Lie the desert. Far, far away. I live on Greenwood and can pay (like many others) the 3.00 fare to go to any of the local parks, rain or shine. I can go to any of the libraries (many,many people live near a library as there are usually several in each part of town- North, South, East or West!) or to a museum. These places are NOT that expensive. If you are that broke, there is the free artwalk on the first Thursday of every month. EMP, SAM are free too.

A free artwalk. I bet that's a great way to keep little kids occupied. Well, I guess we've got one day a month covered. Whew! Who knew child-rearing could be so easy?

Glad to hear you can afford the $3 fare. Now multiply that by 2 or 3 or 4 depending on how many kids you have in tow and how old they are. Then multiply the entrance fees to these "not that expensive" places by 2 or 3 or 4. Then multiply lunch by 2 or 3 or 4. The fact is, while it may not be that expensive to you, for a family on a budget a simple day out can add up right quick. It's certainly not something most families can do practically on a daily basis.

Originally Posted by lijohy

If money is such a problem, what would you do if you lived somewhere else?

Tell them to go outside and play, which is a lot easier when your back yard or the local park isn't a muddy sinkhole 8 months out of the year.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by Drover

Tell them to go outside and play, which is a lot easier when your back yard or the local park isn't a muddy sinkhole 8 months out of the year.

There's not a lot of places in the country that are suitable for outdoor play more than 4 months out of the year.
North: Snow on the ground/too cold
South: Too hot, high chance of getting burned

Pretty much the only place that you can get away with that for 5 months or more is California.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

There's not a lot of places in the country that are suitable for outdoor play more than 4 months out of the year.
North: Snow on the ground/too cold
South: Too hot, high chance of getting burned

Pretty much the only place that you can get away with that for 5 months or more is California.

Actually, here in Colorado, kids can play outside most of the year. There aren't many days even in deepest, dark December when they can't go out, at least for a little bit. Growing up in Pennsylvania, I remember the same. My cousin in Phoenix tells me kids don't play outside in the summer there; however when I was there a few weeks ago, the weather was perfect for outdoor play, and probably is for a good 6 months per year. Plus, to get back to Seattle, I recall my cuz telling me there places to play indoors around there. And there are the pools for swimming and cooling off that way. The original complaint was no place for kids to play indoors in Seattle.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

There's not a lot of places in the country that are suitable for outdoor play more than 4 months out of the year.
North: Snow on the ground/too cold

Have you actually spent any substantial time up north during the winter? Cuz here's the thing: adults consider snow a pain in the ass, unless they're skiing on it. Kids, on the other hand, think it's the greatest thing since Kool-Aid. They'll go outside and play in it for hours. They'll have snowball fights. they'll build snow forts. They'll go sledding. They'll play football in it. They'll make snow angels in it. Meanwhile, the adults watch out the window drinking a cup of cocoa. Kids LOVE snow.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by Drover

Have you actually spent any substantial time up north during the winter? Cuz here's the thing: adults consider snow a pain in the ass, unless they're skiing on it. Kids, on the other hand, think it's the greatest thing since Kool-Aid. They'll go outside and play in it for hours. They'll have snowball fights. they'll build snow forts. They'll go sledding. They'll play football in it. They'll make snow angels in it. Meanwhile, the adults watch out the window drinking a cup of cocoa. Kids LOVE snow.

That's all very nice and L.L Bean catalogish. I've spent 21 years in the North. Those things are all well and good right after a snowfall, but, in about 20 minutes, you get cold and have to go inside. And pretty soon the snow turns into dirty slush.

[Drover]

Well then maybe you had a low tolerance for snow and cold. It didn't stop me or my siblings or friends from romping in it for hours, or even outdoor camping in the dead of January.