Questions about Seattle (2009, universities, live in)

[greencardwinner]

Hi, I'm trying to work out the best place in US to move to. From this forum Seattle sounds a pretty good fit but I'd like to get an idea of how it feels. Is it really big and sprawly? Does everyone rely on cars or do people walk a lot? Also, what are the universities like? And would a writer/editor/web content person get work for a reasonable wage?

A lot of questions I know but if you can help, thanks!

[Woof]

I think there's a lot of competition for writing work there, its a very literate city where even the free newspaper/magazines are quite good (I'm thinking of The Stranger which is online, there are others like it). But send out the resumes and try it.

The Seattle metro area is quite large and crowded, but the city proper can be fun if you like lots of action and variety.

The bus system is extensive, you can get by without a car there - in fact having a car and parking it is expensive. A limited area of downtown is entirely free for bus rides and the little subway line. There are various bus pass options, including a three day pass that would be good for checking the town out. If you live in the suburbs and have a car, you can park for free at a Park and Ride parking lot, and take a bus into town - many people find that to be more convenient than struggling with the horrible traffic.

The area around Seattle is scenic, beautiful. It's easy to get out into the wilderness. Of course there's lots of fresh and salt water.

The weather tends to be rather dark and damply chilly most of the year, but summers are the best in the US. It doesn't rain as much as people think most years, although some years it does just come down - most years it's just drizzly and gloomy throughout the winter and spring.

[greencardwinner]

Thanks for your considered reply Woof. The jobs situation sounds a bit difficult maybe - although I'd probably be looking for work as an editor rather writer first up. Being able to get by without a car is a plus.

There's a big debate about the Seattle weather all through this forum - but damp and chilly doesn't sound GREAT I have to admit. Chilly is not the same as freezing though. Just how cold is chilly - at its worst? There are some states that get to well below minus in winter and I couldn't really handle that.

[scirocco22]

Hi Woof. ...but "the little subway line" (a.k.a. "the tunnel" ?) isn't scheduled to re-open until later this year with buses only and not until 2009 with both buses and trains.

Hi greencardwinner. No, don't worry about temps getting below zero ...it just doesn't happen. You'll occasionally see temperatures dip into the teens on a clear night in the winter but that's the extent of below freezing it gets. Only once or twice can I ever remember it getting into the single digits and that was years ago when I was a kid (...global warming, ya know *lol*). Eastern Washington will sometimes see temperatures get below zero but even there, it's not often.

I know I've said this before but I'd much rather have it 20 degrees and snowing than Seattle's 35 (35-45) degrees and rain ...that dampness goes right to my bones. When I'm wet and it's 40 degrees out, it's miserable to me.

--'rocco

[Woof]

Oh, that's right, they're building that (Springfield - The Simpsons) monorail, aren't they?

Well, I'll probably see what they're up to in a week or so when I move back there. It's been about 2 years since I lived there.

Are you from the UK, greencardwinner? The weather is probably something like there. This winter there were a couple of snowstorms with high winds and below freezing temps, but that's unusual. Weather patterns everywhere seem to be unusual. Bring your bumbershoot (that's an inside Seattle joke).

Even though the weather isn't perfect, I chose Seattle over San Diego with its paradisical weather - Seattle is more interesting once you get to know her, has more character.

I'll bet technical editing is more in demand than others. Check out the online Seattle Times, click on classifieds.

[scirocco22]

*lol* ...yeah, I remember that episode of the Simpsons!

But no, the Seattle monorail has been bagged.

I was referring to the light rail train that is scheduled to start running through the downtown tunnel in 2009 along with the hybrid buses that were purchased a few years ago. The two modes will share the tunnel ...it will be an interesting experiment. I'm looking forward to see how that's going to work.

--'rocco

[greencardwinner]

Are you from the UK, greencardwinner? The weather is probably something like there. This winter there were a couple of snowstorms with high winds and below freezing temps, but that's unusual. Weather patterns everywhere seem to be unusual. Bring your bumbershoot (that's an inside Seattle joke).

Even though the weather isn't perfect, I chose Seattle over San Diego with its paradisical weather - Seattle is more interesting once you get to know her, has more character.

I'll bet technical editing is more in demand than others. Check out the online Seattle Times, click on classifieds.

No I'm from Australia, and this is sounding chilly indeed so when I find out what it is I'll bring my bumbershoot.

Hi scirocco22 - thanks too. I agree with you about colder with snow is better than cold with damp and rain. We visited New York last January and I didn't find it that cold (it wasn't snowing but not rainy). That's about the sum total of my experience with USA weather.

Still I think I'd rather be in -20 in Seattle without a bumbershoot than have to ever do any more technical editing again Woof...indeed I have a suicide pact with a friend on that particular issue. Still... a job's a job.

[ontheroad]

Glad to see you back on board, Green

Can't help much with Seattle, but you'll find good answers, I'm sure.

Take care, lassie!

Originally Posted by greencardwinner

No I'm from Australia, and this is sounding chilly indeed so when I find out what it is I'll bring my bumbershoot.

Hi scirocco22 - thanks too. I agree with you about colder with snow is better than cold with damp and rain. We visited New York last January and I didn't find it that cold (it wasn't snowing but not rainy). That's about the sum total of my experience with USA weather.

Still I think I'd rather be in -20 in Seattle without a bumbershoot than have to ever do any more technical editing again Woof...indeed I have a suicide pact with a friend on that particular issue. Still... a job's a job.

[greencardwinner]

Thanks ontheroad (you really are aren't you?)
I'm narrowing it down. So far I've narrowed it to somewhere between Savannah Georgia, Boston, Seattle and San Diego.
Enjoy your journey...

[scirocco22]

Ya know what, greencardwinner? ...I goofed.

When you mentioned "minus" temperatures, I forgot that you're used to celsius readings. In the U.S., we still use the Fahrenheit scale to measure temperature.

So, when you asked about "minus" temperatures, yes, Seattle does get below freezing --below freezing, meaning minus zero celsius-- during the winter months.

Sorry about that.

--'rocco




p.s. San Diego probably has what a lot of folks consider to be the closest to the "perfect" climate (year around) you'll find in the U.S. But if you are looking for definite 4-seasons, then Boston may be a better choice. Although you can see and feel the seasons change in Seattle, it will have that underlying "dampness" all year long ...aside from what I call the 3 weeks of summer at the end of July and the beginning of August.