Scared to move to seattle area!! (fit in, transplants, neighborhood)

[skinkara]

Hello all,

I have been wanting to move to Seattle area for a while now, but I see alot of negative postings on here. For example the so called "seattle Freeze". I am just nervous because my husband and I don't want to make a big move(we are coming from Phoenix)and then later regret it because we can't make friends. The weather will also be a big change. Other than those two things Seattle seems like a good fit for us. We love the outdoors, the culture the city has, and all the water around! I would love to hear thoughts from people that live in the area. Do you like it there?







interpose: Let's keep all the "freeze" discussions in the dedicated thread, please. Thanks.

[j_k_k]

The extent to which you'll feel the chill will probably be inversely proportional to the degree to which you adapt. Seattle has had many years now of people (not saying you, just in general) who either fouled their sunny Southwestern nests or got tired of them, and who moved Northwest while bringing with them attitudes and habits (littering, loud clothes and loud mouths, wastefulness, whining about the rain and darkness) inimical to the local culture. I lived there sixteen years and it got downright obnoxious watching airheaded behaviors (again, not saying you, but others). If you go there and embrace Seattle, in time it'll embrace you.

[texastrigirl]

We moved here two years ago from a very warm sunny place with people who are typically regarded as among the friendliest in the country (that being Austin TX). I was also intimidated by this board and the postings. I have done just fine here so don't let it scare you! I live on the Eastside and many people here are transplants and have been really welcoming and friendly. We live in a neighborhood where the kids run in a pack and we have BBQ's, Mom's Nights Out, Dad's Days Out, etc. We had our son's 6th birthday party on Sunday and my husband commented on how many great friends we have made in such a short time. The weather is what it is and there was an adjustment period for me...more coming to colder avg temps than the rain mind you. But I have adjusted to that too and it is not as bad you think - at least it wasn't this year! You will love being able to be outside all summer long in perfect weather. Seattle is also a gorgeous city with a lot to do. We love all things outdoors so it has been heavenly in that regard. Get the right gear and the rain won't stop you!! So welcome to Seattle - if you come with the right attitude, you will do just fine!!

[JesseJB]

Weatherwise, the last 4 years or so our temperatures have been WAY below normal for the most part. So many people have moved here over than time period that it might be construed as being normal when it's actually not.

The last four or five years have had summer going from July to the beginning of August, fall from August to October and winter from November to June. No spring!

Things are starting to feel a little more normal lately, though.

[allforcats]

Scared to do something? We create what we believe, don't we... If we choose to believe a course of action is "scary", then we will create lots of scary details and we will stay scared and the whole thing will turn out to be unpleasant. But if we believe we are here in life to enjoy, enhance ourselves, let our imaginations fly, be everything we can be, and turn every event into joy, then by golly we create a life that's interesting and fun and joy.

The difference is believing we live in a hostile universe, or in a friendly universe...

We control every feeling we feel -- becaise we choose every feeling we feel. Nothing "happens to" us. We create our feelings and thus our perspectives and thus our lives, so you get to be eager and excited and smiling, or not. It's all up to you, isn't it? I wish you joy!

[KGreene]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Scared to do something? We create what we believe, don't we... If we choose to believe a course of action is "scary", then we will create lots of scary details and we will stay scared and the whole thing will turn out to be unpleasant. But if we believe we are here in life to enjoy, enhance ourselves, let our imaginations fly, be everything we can be, and turn every event into joy, then by golly we create a life that's interesting and fun and joy.

The difference is believing we live in a hostile universe, or in a friendly universe...

We control every feeling we feel -- becaise we choose every feeling we feel. Nothing "happens to" us. We create our feelings and thus our perspectives and thus our lives, so you get to be eager and excited and smiling, or not. It's all up to you, isn't it? I wish you joy!

Someone has been studying the law of attraction! I love it!

[LongDawson]

Good point Jesse I agree the last four years have been so cold, I wonder if it will change--but hoping for a return to the old weather I remember.

[jenlion]

I moved here in Jan 2008 and I have more friends here than I ever have anywhere else in my life. I never fit in the south -- I fit here, and it shows. If you love the things in Seattle, odds are you'll meet lots more other people that love them too.

[franklin42]

Originally Posted by LongDawson

Good point Jesse I agree the last four years have been so cold, I wonder if it will change--but hoping for a return to the old weather I remember.

What was the old weather like?

[azoria]

Originally Posted by franklin42

What was the old weather like?

Observing the plants that grow here, I would say that the old weather was pretty much the same as the new weather: cold and wet.