Want to Leave Puget Sound area...how did you do it? (Seattle: townhouse, neighborhood)

[brightcopperkettles]

Okay, as a lady who grew up in the South, though born in Washington State, I can help you.

For jobs, you want to look at this site, which IS the Research Triangle Park job opportunities page: http://www.rtp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&filename=job_opportuniti es.html (broken link)

If you want an older home, check out these sites:
http://historicproperties.com/

http://www.oldhouses.com/cf/listingl...rth%20Carolina

http://www.antiquerealestate.com/

http://www.preservationdirectory.com...eByRegion.aspx

To get additional "living" information, check out www.carolinaliving.com. I have posted there as well, under the same name.

Good luck!

[brightcopperkettles]

Originally Posted by janb

just for kicks, I'll add "relationships" (i.e. Finding friends in W WA thread) - in no particular order... as mentioned, these things add up!

I'll be looking for a friendly 'hometown' feel (it's not for everyone), but I think the comments about people 'cocooning' in W WA have some merit.

Maybe I'm dream'n, but... I really miss the 'Barn raisings', Pie Socials, School/ community fundraising Chili / Spagetti / Crab / Pancake feeds. And helping your neighbors cut wood or paint or roof their houses...and fixing a bike for the kid down the street. Pushing the elderly around the park in their wheel chairs...sitting on the bench in front of the store talking to some ole geezer.

I enjoyed times living Europe and Asia where Sunday afternoons find a whole different culture in the town square than the PNW image of jetting around the lake on your PWC. (people actually talk to each other and play games and LAUGH ) The honking horns and hustle and bustle begin soon enough on Monday morning, but Sundays are nice

I totally agree with you on this point; this is the absolute toughest thing for me to deal with--it's even more important than the gosh-awful never-ending rain!

[marksind]

Yeah, it's interesting when people from other parts of the country talk about how friendly people around Seattle are. I guess they confuse passively dismissive with friendly. They must be from one of those parts of the country where people "MF" each other for a greeting every day.
We've lived here for the better part of 30 years, and have made friends slowly over a considerable period of time. Last weekend we talked at length with our neighbors for the first time since they moved in almost three years ago (not an unusual scenario around here). My wife took them cookies when they moved in (the wife took them and just turned and closed the door), and I used my ladder to help get them into their house when they locked themselves out once (I think maybe they thanked me), but other than that they had ignored us. I've helped the neighbors on the other side of me with downed trees and moving their swingset, but about all we've seen of them otherwise is their dog doing its business in our yard. In Bellevue, you can stand at a traffic light at lunch for five minutes waiting for it to turn with ten other people crowded around you, and everyone will awkwardly avoid eye contact or speaking to one another.
The Sunday Times about a year ago actually did an extensive article in their magazine section about this phenomenon. Many people from elsewhere, particularly young adults eager to make friends, struggle mightily here trying to do so. People just don't reach out, and frequently aren't receptive when you do.

[Deep_Vee]

I have lived in a condo development of only 15 units for 9 years. I have spoken to 4 residents that live there...and can give you the names of only 1 couple. I think we said Hi to each other at the dumpster last week...but that is the extent of our relationship

My entire family lives in this area, and we are all like that. I talk online with a guy on a jet ski forum that lives 5 doors down from my parents lake cabin where I spend almost every weekend in the summer...I've never met him in person.

As a lifelong resident of this area...I just thought that was normal.

[ejmatl]

How did I do it? Well...

1. I opened up my job search outside of the Vancouver (BC - I can legally work there)/Seattle/Portland area;
2. Within two weeks snagged two job interviews in two other states;
3. Within a month landed a job with a fabulous company in a State I'm looking forward to living in (NC).

I know that seems simple - but it's the truth.

One bit of advice I can give you is if you're serious about moving, do your research - pick the areas you are interested in living in - apply for job - and state that you'll support your own relocation - and can be on site in 2 - 3 weeks.

Good luck!

eileen

[brightcopperkettles]

Originally Posted by Deep_Vee

I have lived in a condo development of only 15 units for 9 years. I have spoken to 4 residents that live there...and can give you the names of only 1 couple. I think we said Hi to each other at the dumpster last week...but that is the extent of our relationship

My entire family lives in this area, and we are all like that. I talk online with a guy on a jet ski forum that lives 5 doors down from my parents lake cabin where I spend almost every weekend in the summer...I've never met him in person.

As a lifelong resident of this area...I just thought that was normal.

Yeah, my husband thinks it's "normal" too, and I am going nuts. It's so NOT normal. People are meant to interact with other people, talk to them, laugh with them, cry with them, and BE with them. This aloneness up here will flat out do you in; no wonder the suicide rate is so high up here....

[41Willys]

Originally Posted by brightcopperkettles

Yeah, my husband thinks it's "normal" too, and I am going nuts. It's so NOT normal. People are meant to interact with other people, talk to them, laugh with them, cry with them, and BE with them. This aloneness up here will flat out do you in; no wonder the suicide rate is so high up here....

Sounds attractive to me.

[LEAVINMO]

Originally Posted by Deep_Vee

....We are both professionals with degrees in marketable industries (I'm in IT, she's an accountant), but unfortunately we both work for smaller companies that don't allow for the option of a transfer...
Any tips?

Dear Deep Vee with you being in IT and your wife being an accountant, Jack Henry and Associates is an ideal company for you both to check into! Jack Henry is a banking technology software/programming industry and they have locations all over the U.S. They are a super company to work for, I have several friends in the company. Their benefits packages are awesome, and they are super family oriented! I know I sound like an advertisement I know but they really are an awesome company, I just wish I could get my foot in their doors! Here's a link, hope it works! Good luck!

http://www.jackhenry.com/

[Shiraz]

Originally Posted by janb

just for kicks, I'll add "relationships" (i.e. Finding friends in W WA thread) - in no particular order... as mentioned, these things add up!

I'll be looking for a friendly 'hometown' feel (it's not for everyone), but I think the comments about people 'cocooning' in W WA have some merit.

This condition of "non-communicating/non-socializing" is felt by many. I've run into very few people who would admit that they prefere to be detached from their neighbors entirely. Downtown Bellevue was mentioned, in short, about the pedestrians who ignore one another. Another comment by marksind mentioned his neighbors he helped and all that followed. It's worked its way into our culture at different levels, it seems, but it appears that a lot of the problem is created by the fact that we're all busy, hurrying about to go here, go there, get to work (in traffic ) so we can afford that over-priced home, etc., etc.

It often, if not usually, takes two decent incomes to pay all the bills. That's very sad. One income many years ago did the same as two do today as evidenced by the fact that home prices, health insurance, education (three of the largest culprits, I believe) have outpaced most peoples income. Many are busy, and so much so that they find little time to interact with their neighbors. So lifestyles today are a lot to manage and we are far more distracted by a multitude of activities and responsibilities. An old saying: "Less is more."

So I think if it's important to any of us, we can try harder to extend a greeting to our neighbors out there despite being busy. They may not be as receptive as we'd like, but it can't hurt to try.

[brightcopperkettles]

That's exactly how I feel. I don't think folks up here know what they're missing. They would had they grown up in the South like I did. Even there, however, the two-income household is the norm, and people aren't interacting as much as they used to, which is very, very sad....