Why did you move to Seattle? (Spokane, Pacific: house, job market, transfer)

[seattlerain]

It seems like most of the regular posters on here are non-natives to the area and I wondering what brought you to Seattle?

[CityGirl72]

My husband and I were high school best friends, he moved to Seattle and went to UW, I moved to Sacramento and went to Sac State - still best friends

It took him 12 years to ask me out on a date. We still lived in seperate cities. When we decided to marry California hosuing market was going nuts.

So my husband bought us a house in Seattle. I moved up, thinking "No one ever says WOW! you are moving to Sacramento!" - but everyone thought I was hip for moving to Seattle.

I moved up and instantenaously hated it. Cried the whole first summer. It's now four years later and with two kids it's hard to get out of here.

Had we just rented, (and no kids were involved in school) I would have asked to move back with in the first couple months.

My husband has said his biggest regret in life was having me move up to Seattle (because I'm unhappy not because of the marriage! HA! )

[jwb123]

Because of family in the area.

[Jennibc]

I moved here when I was 18 (my family moved to Spokane when I was 16) went to the UW for both undergrad and graduate school. Used to love it here back in the 80's when I could really afford to live here.

My main complaint is that the COL has become so unmanageable that we cannot afford to live here any longer. I've a six year old son and we cannot afford to put money away for his education. Plus, over time, people seem less and less friendly. Also, I've noticed that each year the summers seem just a little bit shorter. Don't know if that is accurate or not or if as I get older, the weather just has more of an impact on me. Plus, all the really wild and crazy friends of my youth have moved on to bigger and brighter places.

Honestly, if I didn't have a husband, kid, and house, I would have been out of here a couple of years ago. That's the thing about having a family. You have to make sacrifices for them and all. I am willing to bet that many of the people that whine on this board (me included!) are anchored here because of family.

[tada]

I moved here... because my mother's womb was located here, and it was convenient.

I'm stranded here because of UW. I considered transferring several times, believe me.

[PencilMeIn]

My husband works for a company that has relocated him all around the country.....it's the nature of the job. We met in FL where we were both living at the time.

I knew that someday, he would relocate again. I was a little hesitant to leave FL since I had worked for the same company for 14 years and my kids were all still living there, although, they were grown. Ah.....but what we won't do for love.

So I moved with him.....Seattle is our 2nd stop in the past 3 years....it won't be our last. In the meantime, my daughter moved here before us so I am happy to be near her again. I'm hoping that someday we are all back in FL again.

[Scorpio2]

I followed some friends out there. Fell in love with the Pacific NW outdoors. Fell out of love with the traffic, crowds and expense and clouds. Moved back to the Midwest to be near family.

[Jennibc]

Okay, so I just realized you weren't asking why we were living here and why were bitchen' about it. <LOL> so, my answers the same but you can disregard my middle paragraph where I am complaining. I guess somehow I caught the naysayer in your title and thought it was part of the question.

BTW, I believe the Seattle Freeze is real and I have lived in several parts of the country and while people here are polite, they are not necessarily very warm. We have many friends here, but the overall vibe on the street is pretty cold. Next time you go for a walk around your neighborhood try making eye contact and smiling at each person you pass by. Then count up how many people smiled back compared to how many people hurried by, pretending not to see you. I expect that in the NE but not here.

[tortoisegirl]

Moving this weekend to Seattle, so I guess I can answer this question. In my job search (just graduated college) I eliminated so many places based upon cold weather, natural disasters, and people/culture. Between my fiance and myself, California, the East Coast, South, and Midwest were all out. Didn't leave too many states!

Focused first on Colorado as we both want to move there. Nothing going on there in the job market in my industry so I started applying other places, including Seattle. Got a dream job here so we'll try it out for at least a few years.

Looking forward to some actual weather and clouds, living in a larger city/area, and getting away from the Arizona heat this summer. I would describe myself as very introverted and an indoorsy sort of person, so it may work out well from those points. Fiance will be gone on business more than he will be home. Being optimistic about the move! Seattle sounds like a good fit for us, besides the high prices. That will be tough just starting out as we're spending a lot more than I'd like to on rent.

[seattlerain]

I'm sorry I started this thread now, it appears to be turning into yet another bash Seattle thread.

Oh well...