Possible move: North Carolina to Seattle (fit in, rent, chapel)

[sadrithmora]

Hi guys. I'm deciding whether or not to move to Seattle this summer. I am 22, and have lived all over North Carolina (Charlotte, Raleigh, now Wilmington). I've heard a LOT of contradictory stories about Seattle, but hopefully I can get a more personalized answer on here.

I have a few questions that stem from what I have heard about Seattle:

1.) Is the culture in Seattle really as homogenous as some people say?
I would call myself socially liberal but financially conservative. I have extreme discontent for politics of any kind and tend to avoid people who are extremely vocal in their support for one political ideology or the other. Most of my uneasiness comes from the people on Seattle's craigslist housing forum who describe themselves and their roommates as open-minded, vegetarian/vegan/pescetarian, and oh yeah... a "community of artists and musicians," and that if you want to live with their crew, you need to fit in like a key. I know it doesn't make sense that a functional city could possibly be totally comprised of self-described "artists and musicians," but it seems to me as if Seattle's youth is composed entirely of hipsters, who don't realize that they're not as open-minded as they think they are. Not that I don't like to have a deep talk about politics/global issues sometimes, but I'd like to live in a neighborhood where the majority of people just want to hang out and joke around on their weekends.

2.) Is the weather really a showstopper? I'm very much an outdoors person. I like to go diving, mountain biking, camping, etc. whenever I can. Does weather frequently lead to plan cancellations, or perhaps even to a lack of planning?

3.) If I move to Seattle I will be a poor graduate student! Is it possible to live in Seattle (renting a room in Wallingford perhaps?) on a $17,000 stipend?

Any help is much appreciated!

[Inkpoe]

1.) Yes, we do have a lot of those people, but it is also easy to find people here who are not like that. So don't let something like that deter you.

2.) Ha! Our weather is not a show-stopper. You'll definitely meet a lot of outdoorsy people and rain, for a lot outdoorsy people, is not something to cancel. All you will have to do is make sure you're appropriately attired.

3.) You can get a studio/ 1bdrm in that area for about 500 to 800 bucks a month. Maybe at most you would need to get a PT job.

[UnusualSuspect]

1) The attitude in Seattle might be annoying to you, because there are quite a few of the people you described, but yes, you'll be able to find other people as well, ones who actually are open-minded. I was similarly disillusioned by the "openness" of many Seattleites, but there really are a lot of wonderful people there, and I'm sure you'll be able to find them. On the other hand, you won't be able to avoid hipsters and the mindset that comes with them, so get used to them if you move to Seattle.

2) I don't know what weather is like in North Carolina, but odds are it's warmer in winter than in Seattle. Coming from the Midwest, I LOVED Seattle winters. Still my absolute favorite weather (I liked winter in Seattle better than summer, which is apparently weird). It's drizzly and cool but rarely bad enough to keep you inside. Every now and then it gets really windy and rains sideways, and that sucks, but it doesn't get TOO cold, and it's usually drizzle, not downpours. Summer is almost always warm and sunny.

3) Maybe. Someone else can help you out with this one better than I can, but there definitely are graduate students in Seattle.

[seattlenextyear]

1) Seattle is like Asheville, except you can find employment here. And yes, we have responsible adults, not just hippie artist communes. I think you're spending too much time on Craigslist. Try a graduate housing forum at UW and see what you come up with. Its easier for a grad student to live with other grad students: they'll be more likely to respect your need for more quiet time.

2) Your outdoor time might flipflop. In NC, I didn't mind being outside from October to April. The rest of the year was too hot for me (a Northener). Here, I enjoy being outside from late February to September when its temperate. October-January is the drizzle season. Best of all: no ticks!

3) Its going to be tough. I was a grad student in Chapel Hill making $18,000 a year, with a rent of $270 and I certainly didn't save any money. Seattle's more expensive in almost every way. You're going to have to get roommates, of course. And see if you can make a little somethin extra in the summer. I often worked on extra projects in the summer so I could have some spending money.

[seattlenextyear]

Its both warmer and colder in the winter in North Carolina. Like the Midwest, their temperature ranges are more extreme. In December, you might get a week where its 65 during the day. But you'll also have weeks where it only makes it up to 20. All in all, Seattle's temperatures are a lot more stable. Drizzly and 40 degrees for 2 months. Less variation throughout the day and the season.

Oh, right. Forgot: NC gets a lot more sun.

Originally Posted by UnusualSuspect

1) The attitude in Seattle might be annoying to you, because there are quite a few of the people you described, but yes, you'll be able to find other people as well, ones who actually are open-minded. I was similarly disillusioned by the "openness" of many Seattleites, but there really are a lot of wonderful people there, and I'm sure you'll be able to find them. On the other hand, you won't be able to avoid hipsters and the mindset that comes with them, so get used to them if you move to Seattle.

2) I don't know what weather is like in North Carolina, but odds are it's warmer in winter than in Seattle. Coming from the Midwest, I LOVED Seattle winters. Still my absolute favorite weather (I liked winter in Seattle better than summer, which is apparently weird). It's drizzly and cool but rarely bad enough to keep you inside. Every now and then it gets really windy and rains sideways, and that sucks, but it doesn't get TOO cold, and it's usually drizzle, not downpours. Summer is almost always warm and sunny.

3) Maybe. Someone else can help you out with this one better than I can, but there definitely are graduate students in Seattle.

[Beat02]

Also in the Wilmington area, 23 y/o and considering a move.

Do what I'm currently doing, take a quick trip to Seattle. I got here tonight. From the [dark] looks of things, I think I like this place already.

[Twitch2]

Some of the best adventures I have had climbing mountains, mtn biking, etc have been in the rain. DOn't let a little weather cancel your plans.