Want to move to WA but scared of SAD (Seattle: work, sick)

[mitchmountain]

Hi, I am in Flagstaff, up the hill from you, 7000 feet elevation. And we too are planning a move to Washington after too many years away from family there.
You do need to change your occupation. I had to change mine, too. It was my bread and butter while I also pursued my Fine Art. When I left the job, everything changed for me and I realized that work was making me sick and depressed. Now I am doing what I love full time as an internet business, and I am far more sane.
Since I too am subject to depression due to a traumatic brain injury making it more likely, I know that I could not live in a soggy grey-sky environment, especially with the horses I have. I do not want rainy-weather horse keeping. I want to go to a spot that has snow more than rain, like here, but not in a drought as we have all the time now! But I know Seattle is marvelous, so being a few hours from there will work for me.. I can go enjoy it when I want to. Phoenix to me is just a hell-hole, I would simply croak there from the heat, the crime, and the polution. I can't imagine why anyone would want to live there, no matter what their other possible issues are. So , I get it. To me it would be far more anxiety-causing then living in the frequent rain. Chin up! Just change something significant, don't leave things the same.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by mitchmountain

Hi, I am in Flagstaff, up the hill from you, 7000 feet elevation. And we too are planning a move to Washington after too many years away from family there.
You do need to change your occupation. I had to change mine, too. It was my bread and butter while I also pursued my Fine Art. When I left the job, everything changed for me and I realized that work was making me sick and depressed. Now I am doing what I love full time as an internet business, and I am far more sane.
Since I too am subject to depression due to a traumatic brain injury making it more likely, I know that I could not live in a soggy grey-sky environment, especially with the horses I have. I do not want rainy-weather horse keeping. I want to go to a spot that has snow more than rain, like here, but not in a drought as we have all the time now! But I know Seattle is marvelous, so being a few hours from there will work for me.. I can go enjoy it when I want to. Phoenix to me is just a hell-hole, I would simply croak there from the heat, the crime, and the polution. I can't imagine why anyone would want to live there, no matter what their other possible issues are. So , I get it. To me it would be far more anxiety-causing then living in the frequent rain. Chin up! Just change something significant, don't leave things the same.

Greetings neighbor! I have been through Flagstaff, very different from the pit Phoenix is.

Thanks for affirming what I now know I need to do in terms of a career. I volunteered at the homeless shelter downtown in Phoenix and really enjoyed it, but this DV stuff is just too much. A bit about my world: Getting sick for me is not an option. I am required to report to work no matter how I feel, if I cannot find someone to cover for me. There is no such thing as a break during the day. Serious. I bring food and water (because Phoenix tap water isn't fit to drink) to work as leaving for 10 minutes is out. While I am there I do nothing but jump and attend to everyone's needs, right then and there. Some of the women have "entitlement issues." I don't get it. To top if off, there is the lice thing going on. I'm free to pay for my own treatment. (and no, I don't have them...yet). But I digress...

I'm glad to hear you are moving back up to WA. It must be nice to have family up there. I'm still looking at the map and mulling things over. I am going to take my time, but the job thing might move things up. This forum is invaluable at getting the inside scoop on where to live. Meanwhile, I have plenty of time to get organized and go through things and get rid of what I don't need.

I think the turning point came for me when I met someone who'd moved from the Bay Area to here. He was gone in two months. He hadn't had a drink in 11 years and yet was starting to think of one. I started going through my things (as in finding stuff to give away) the weekend I learned he was leaving. I am afraid he woke me up out of my stupor, but it's a process.

[mitchmountain]

I am figuring out where the cheerier parts of Wa are, for a moody person (me)
so far everything is pointing towards the eastern side of the Cascades, against the tree line (for my riding) and the farther down you are towards the Cle Elum area, the less driving time to Seattle. I think that is all accurate! I do love the towns on the penninsula but no way would I keep horses in all that dampness all the time. Haave you checked into going into Home Health, even independently? In any state or city you are in? It' s better than working for an agency, even without the insurance. Getting long term clients at home, building a relationship with them and their loved ones. Not a hospice situation, just someone who needs help with the activities of daily living. I would consider that again, but not hospice again, did it too long. I do enjoy assisting people, and it sounds like you do as well. But not the agressive ones. ha ha

[Ladyhawke]

I have SAD and want out of Seattle. There is a place you can go to
called ION BEACH that is a room with a waterfall, sand and full spectrum
lights...and it's warm! Haven't been there yet. It' twenty five dollars for
one hour! I can't wait to try it!

[cobolt]

As a transplant to WA from the midwest, I would offer the following advice,

Stay away from Aberdeen. It is truly a depressing town.

If you are prone to SAD, think really carefully about moving here. I didn't have it before and it crept up on me slowly. I have to do alot to combat it including the gym, lights, and vit D.

Yes we had a record of sunny days this year. We also had virtually no summer last year, so you never know.

There are other places throughout the country that are green and see more sun. Even when you do see the sun here, it's intensity is very mild.

You would be amazed at your personality and behavior differences and you don't notice them until the sun DOES come out and you realize that most other days, you're simply coping.

I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm simply saying don't underestimate it. I'm coming at it from someone new to SAD. I can't imagine moving here knowing you're predisposed to it.

Good luck in your decision

[Sobefobik]

My mom is also prone to depression. She moved to Bend Oregon to escape the rain, and she loves it. The problem with that area too is the skyrocketing prices on housing! It is getting so expensive everywhere. I live in Gig Harbor, close to Tacoma and about an hour south of Seattle. I have really felt the effects of rain lately. If I could move to another area I would, because it gets so depressing for me here.

Have you considered the east side of the mountains? I think that would be a better transition for you. It sounds like you have never lived in the Pacific NW. If I were you, if you really thought that you would love it here, I would take two weeks off of work in the winter and spend some time in a town that you want to move to. You will then get a taste for what it is like here ALL winter.

You mentioned Abderdeen. Don't move there. It is not a nice town, and, quite ironically, we always say that it's a very depressing town. Port Angeles is a nice option. Have you ever been to Port Townsend? That is probably one of my favorite areas. And, it's been told that it's located on the "sunbelt" of Washington. Because there is so much rain dumped on the Olympic Mountains, there is not that much rain left for these particular areas in the sunbelt. Research that.

[cobolt]

I love Port Townsend. I"d second that but I'd seriously consider living on the east side of the cascades as your first option...sunnier, drier, warmer.

[brokerbabe]

Try thinking east of the Cascades. The town of Oroville is on the border with Canada and we have a fantastic sun shine amount. Seattle rains 300 days out of 365 and Oroville rains 65 out of 300. We are called the Sunny Okanogans and there is a reason for that. Yet we have the both of best worlds with the mountains and lakes all around us. We do have a lot of folks here from Colorado. They love it.

[Freebird2007]

people make excuses for everything sheesh

[jamesandveybe]

I have lived near Seattle for 10 years, and have never experienced SAD or related symptoms. I love rain. I love clouds. I love wind. I love tornados. Wait, we don't get those here. But I love extreme weather. We don't get that here, either. I moved from the desert and haven't missed it but maybe one day per year, and on that day I simply hit the gym steam room and I'm back to being thankful that I don't live someplace where I have to involuntarily sweat all the time.

If you enjoy the sun and are that kind of person, SAD may be an issue for you. Not for people like me.