To Washington from Virginia (Seattle: apartment, mobile home, buy)

[Anders15]

I was just wondering if anyone here has come to Washington or even been there from Virginia. I am trying to convince my family to move there. They always complain about how rude people are here. The weather is ALWAYS crazy, going from 50s to 90s in a week a few weeks ago. Plus they have allergies and all that great stuff. I have told them it is a good Idea to move here because the rain would wash all the mold away but as you can imagine Washington is a hard sell when your all the way in Virginia. I am not sure how the money and taxes compare but my mom is going to be a nurse aid in less than a year. I am about to go to college. I have two younger sisters. What part of washington is a good local? I do not mind the rain at all. Is the city more fast paced than richmond?

[CityGirl72]

Doesn't rain here much. It's mostly just cloudy 10 months of the year. SO if they don't mind it being 40 degrees (and under) most of the year and drizzle/mist then it should be fine

No State taxes here so you get more paycheck - which rocks

Housing is super expensive

And there are alot of allergies here - especially mold (since the air is so moist)

(PS - I never moved from Virgina - but my dad's whole family lives there - I've visited quite often)

[mayfair]

I agree with citygirl- allergies are big here- especially mold and tree pollen. The evergreens shed pollen in late winter/early spring. Check out your house or apartment carefully for mold if you move here.

[seahawksweetie]

how do you check for mold? Is there a special test?

[CityGirl72]

YOu can buy a mold test up at Home Depot

[Anders15]

ahh thats not good. They were impressed with the min wage being $7.93 over our $5.15.. Also are there earthquakes? I realize its on the west coast and with st helens listed as active. i understand homes here are considered Very cheap but i guess its not the case there lol

[jwb123]

Yes, there are earthquakes. The Seattle area is just waiting for "The Big One" to happen any time, or as much as 100 years from now...

I moved to WA from Virginia, born and raised in Northern VA, and my last two years in VA was spent in VA Beach... I never had bad allergies till I moved to WA!!

It could be from WA, it could just be that allergies develop overtime... I don't know... but WA isn't the place to get away from allergies. Is any place, though?

[brightcopperkettles]

I was born in Washington but grew up in the South. I married a retired Seattle firefighter several years ago. He's wonderful but living up here isn't, at least for a Southern girl like me. There are good points and bad with both places; for me, however, the biggest downside of living up here is that it is expensive, expensive, expensive. When you go to the grocery store, you'll know exactly what I mean. And the housing? Don't get me started. We live in a lovely 3 BR, 2 BA ranch style house on 4.4 acres in the country in Kitsap County; the value is between $360,000 and $370,000, and we bought the home for $175,000 in 2001. You can barely buy a mobile home here for a quarter of a million dollars.

It is beautiful here, completely beautiful. That being said, however, let me add that it is cloudy and overcast from November through June. July through October, however, it is the most beautiful place on earth, and that is the gospel truth.

I would move home to South Carolina tomorrow if my husband would move, but that's not happening--yet--so I continue to put my trust in the Good Master and wait.

Think long and hard before you undertake such a move. The people are lovely, but life is very, very different up here--I think because of the weather. Hope this has helped.

[tchick]

Originally Posted by brightcopperkettles

I was born in Washington but grew up in the South. I married a retired Seattle firefighter several years ago. He's wonderful but living up here isn't, at least for a Southern girl like me. There are good points and bad with both places; for me, however, the biggest downside of living up here is that it is expensive, expensive, expensive. When you go to the grocery store, you'll know exactly what I mean. And the housing? Don't get me started. We live in a lovely 3 BR, 2 BA ranch style house on 4.4 acres in the country in Kitsap County; the value is between $360,000 and $370,000, and we bought the home for $175,000 in 2001. You can barely buy a mobile home here for a quarter of a million dollars.

It is beautiful here, completely beautiful. That being said, however, let me add that it is cloudy and overcast from November through June. July through October, however, it is the most beautiful place on earth, and that is the gospel truth.

I would move home to South Carolina tomorrow if my husband would move, but that's not happening--yet--so I continue to put my trust in the Good Master and wait.

Think long and hard before you undertake such a move. The people are lovely, but life is very, very different up here--I think because of the weather. Hope this has helped.

Thank you. A thoughtful and insightful post.

[Anders15]

oh well i guess i was wrong, perhaps i should schedule a tour.