Relocating to Washington...need advice about Seattle (allergy, price)

[yukiko11]

Seattle weather is not as bad as most people say. When it rains, mostly it is only like a heavy mist. Snow happens in the winter time, but in 18 years, we have only had one winter that was really bad and that was in 2008. We had more snow than the people and infrastructure could deal with. It was a bad Dec. There are two big things people deal with here. The darkness in the winter due to the fact that we are so far north. Daylight is approx from 8AM to 4PM. This causes a seasonal depression due to lack of sunlight. The other problem is allergies. I don't know anyone who doesn't suffer from some kind of allergy, however, people who are sensitive can be disabled by them.
I don't know why you would want to work in Seattle. Your career in HR will take you anywhere. Try looking into the city of Everett for employment and for living look at Camano Island. There is no ferry, but the commute is not bad and there has been a lot of talk about running a ferry from Camano to Everett. This is a beautiful island, but is connected by a highway to the city of Stanwood. true rural living, not far from civilization.
I also like the areas others have been talking about, but when a friend and I took our car on the bainbridge ferry to say with friends in poulsbo it cost us about $15.00. Also, when you have to rely on a ferry for transportation you can't go to work when bad weather or mechanical breakdowns halt the ferry system. This doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

[ElektroDragon]

Originally Posted by kitkat70

texastrigirl

For the most part, everyone keeps telling me how beautiful Seattle is so maybe I will adjust to the area like you did.

Well, unlike in Iowa, you don't get severe thunderstorms here. Or even mild thunderstorms. In fact, in my entire year here I've only heard thunder ONCE. I've only seen a downpour ONCE. (not at the same time either) The rest just sprinkles. Also there is really no fear of tornadoes like I'm sure there is in Iowa. I mean I don't think Iowa is in tornado alley, but its a flat state in the midwest, so I can't imagine they don't happen. I love the dry summers. I remember driving through Ohio once and being absolutely terrified by the ferocity of the thunderstorms. Iowa must be worse.

[kitkat70]

Yukiko 11

The more research I do on Seattle area the more I am finding that alot of people are saying the same thing about the weather. My father in law told me also that it doesnt snow much in Seattle or get the type of rain I am thinking, but sometimes family will tell something different then someone else. I have to say that I am use to the darkness in the winter with time change here in Iowa. I have always hated getting off work and it is dark, but what can you do. I am one of those people who dont have allergies but my husband does, so he will just to adjust since he wants to be near his family. I dont specificaly want to just work in Seattle, I would like to be able to find work in pretty much any area. Everyone is always talking about how good the jobs are in Seattle, so that is why I specified Seattle. I dont necessarily have to take the ferry each day to work I was just hoping this was an alternative to driving. I will look into Camano island area and the job market in Everett. Thanks for your help

Kitkat

[jenlion]

Hey, one thing to know is that Everett is in the dreaded "Convergence Zone"... way more rain than Seattle. Might check that out.

[ElektroDragon]

Originally Posted by jenlion

Hey, one thing to know is that Everett is in the dreaded "Convergence Zone"... way more rain than Seattle. Might check that out.

WOW!!! I had no idea about this Convergence Zone!! I think I bought my house right in the middle of the worst of it?! No wonder my crawlspace had signs of water.

[stuckinseattle]

The Bainbridge Island ferry is AWESOME. Bainbridge Island itself is cute. I hate it here so if I say something is nice, it's really nice.

[ssmith2526]

One thing that surprises me about people who post about PacNW weather, specifically Western WA and Portland, OR, is how it rains 8-9 mo out of the year. This is ABSOLUTELY untrue. I grew up in Bellingham, WA, lived in Seattle for several years, spent 4 years at university in Tucson, AZ and now live in Portland. It does not rain/drizzle, it is not cloudy, dreary for 9 months out of the year. Of course you will experience some rainy days most months of the year, it doesn't become the Evergreen state without some moisture. BUT there are many sunny, nice months. Typically there are consistently more sunny days than rainy days starting in May and extending into Oct, which is 6 months out of the year. Does that mean that it isn't cold in the mornings or possibly rainy weather sometime during those 6 months, of course not but it's generally mild, decent and more often than not, sunny for those 6 months. Of the remaining 6 months you will experience a mixed bag of weather. I have pics of my kids at the pumpkin patch last Oct and it was sunny and very pleasant. Is it Az hot, no but we did not need coats either and it was sunny. And when comparing our beautiful PacNW to other climates, like the desert, you have to also compare the undesirable weather that they experience. I love the fact that I can exercise outdoors in the summer. In Az you have to get your walk or run in before 8am in the middle of summer. So, no place is perfect (except HI, imo , that's why we have so many snowbirds who take advantage of the wonderful late spring, summer and early fall here in the PacNW and the late fall/winter in the south.

[70Ford]

Originally Posted by yukiko11

....in 18 years, we have only had one winter that was really bad and that was in 2008. .

The storm we had in 2006 was so mild, it has its own Wikipedia entry.

Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm of 2006 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by 70Ford

The storm we had in 2006 was so mild, it has its own Wikipedia entry.

Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm of 2006 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I tried to give you some rep. But it won't let me!!!!

[DVJ]

Originally Posted by yukiko11

Seattle weather is not as bad as most people say. When it rains, mostly it is only like a heavy mist. Snow happens in the winter time, but in 18 years, we have only had one winter that was really bad and that was in 2008. We had more snow than the people and infrastructure could deal with. It was a bad Dec. There are two big things people deal with here. The darkness in the winter due to the fact that we are so far north. Daylight is approx from 8AM to 4PM. This causes a seasonal depression due to lack of sunlight. The other problem is allergies. I don't know anyone who doesn't suffer from some kind of allergy, however, people who are sensitive can be disabled by them.
I don't know why you would want to work in Seattle. Your career in HR will take you anywhere. Try looking into the city of Everett for employment and for living look at Camano Island. There is no ferry, but the commute is not bad and there has been a lot of talk about running a ferry from Camano to Everett. This is a beautiful island, but is connected by a highway to the city of Stanwood. true rural living, not far from civilization.
I also like the areas others have been talking about, but when a friend and I took our car on the bainbridge ferry to say with friends in poulsbo it cost us about $15.00. Also, when you have to rely on a ferry for transportation you can't go to work when bad weather or mechanical breakdowns halt the ferry system. This doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

Hi,
I was wondering if you could expand on your mention of allergies. I live in central Texas and I think that it is plenty humid here but a coworker from Louisiana thinks that the climate here is dry. What types of allergies do you mean and do people with asthma do poorly in the Washington climate?
Thanks, DVJ