Moving back to WA: Coping w/ overcast (Seattle, Yakima: real estate, rent)

[chelseagirl]

Originally Posted by KidBlue

I have to thank TommyG for making me laugh with the winter weather forecast of showers turning to rain to showers. I live in NorCal near Sacramento and we have a similar summer forecast (for the 6 months of summer we have here) that is hot turning to **** hot. So we never need to look at the weather forecast--it's just plain hot.

Thank you for making me laugh! I live in Las Vegas, and that is the forecast every day from March to October. I am planning to move to Seattle before next summer hits, and I welcome all the cloudy skies I can get!

[Winnie1123]

I was planning on moving back to Washington from Wisconsin. I guess I really hadn't given it much thought about the rain, as in Wisconsin it snows, freezing rain, and cold temperatures, and tornado's.

I think you all have made good points about the overcast skies and I appreciate them all.

What is the crime like in the Tacoma/Olympia area ?

[KidBlue]

For hot weather, anyway. Looking at the Phoenix and Las Vegas weather forecasts are the only things that make us feel better in Sacramento. Today it's only going to be 103 degrees, almost feezing compared to Las Vegas. March and April are much nicer in Sacramento too, we enjoy torential downpours that flood the valley floor and threaten the levees. Then when it hits 100 in May we are thankful it's no longer flooding.

It also gets very cloudy and overcast in Sacramento and the Central Valley due to tulley fog (fog that forms from the ground as opposed to coming in from the ocean). It's not uncommon to not see the sun for more than a couple of days a month. Most people cope here by vacationing in Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Hawaii, SoCal, or heading for the hills that are above the fogline depending on the amount of money you want to spend and your snow tolerance. And if you can get out of the airport that was brilliantly located in the fog belt.

Good luck on your move to Seattle. Wish I could move that soon too. We are looking at three years, but will be visiting WA each year before then. Have narrowed down our search to three areas. Each year we'll narrow it down further.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Winnie1123

What is the crime like in the Tacoma/Olympia area ?

Bad. In fact, for Tacoma I'd say really bad. Two nights ago saw the most recent gangland shooting that left one young man dead and a 17 year old girl severely injured in the hospital. The gangs are running rampant throughout Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia, and the police seem to be losing the battle. In the nearly ten years I've been here, things have gone from bad to worse to worst.

If you can afford to live in the more affluent neighborhoods, you can get away from the worst of it. But if you're looking in to the middle-class to lower income neighborhoods, stay out of Tacoma and Olympia.

[Randy@Tacoma]

Ive lived my whole life here in Tacoma (pretty much) and hate it when it gets too sunny or hot. I couldnt imagine Arizona. Its WAY WAY WAY overrated. Dont waste your time. If you dont like ALL the overcast we have, move to Eastern Washington. Spokane is GREAT!!! About 250 days of sunshine a year. Its ALOT like Northern Arizona... matter of fact almsot identical... Yet Northern Arizona's largest city is Flagstaff. Woopty do! 70,000 people. Spokane has 200,000 people with a metro area of 500,000. Give Washington a try again! Dont let your family persuade you like that!

[RodFarlee]

[quote=Randy@Tacoma]Spokane is GREAT!!! About 250 days of sunshine a year. Its ALOT like Northern Arizona... matter of fact almsot identical... Yet Northern Arizona's largest city is Flagstaff... [quote]

The Western Regional Climate Center reports the actual number of sunny, partly cloudy, cloudy and foggy days in both Spokane and Flagstaff. These differ a LOT. This is best summarized in the percent of the year-round possible sunshine: Flagstaff 78%, Spokane 54%, Seattle/Tacoma airport 47%.
http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/CLIMATEDATA.html
I'd rather live in Spokane than in either Tacoma or Flagstaff, because it's really not similar to either of them!

[rosystarr]

hey
my name is Starr and how ironic..my mother too is playing the devil's advocate and telling me how I will be depressed if we go there due to the overcast.. remember everyone has their own agenda...usually with mom's it is to keep you closer to them...

I am now a little scared about the weather..but I love rain..and know that there are sunny days there....just from research.

Don't get discouraged..remember everyone has their own agenda...and usually it is for their own wants or needs...not yours.

Starr
ps where are u planning to live? I am looking at Shelton..what have u heard about it?

[cmcewen]

Before we moved here I was told that the only reason I'd ever have to leave would be the weather. And that is true.

I grew up in Hawaii and in Micronesia. We had great weather but we faced a different problem. Newcomers to the islands call it "rock fever." You begin to feel claustrophobic. But there is a simple fix: spend a weekend on a different island.

Same principle works here. If the weather is getting to you, spend a weekend in Wenachee or Yakima. Use a light box. It all works.

On the up side, we consider 80 degrees a heat wave (last week's run of five days in the 90's nearly killed us). Put on a parka, go outside and enjoy God's beautiful creation.

[TheRusticCottage]

I moved to SW WA from IL 22 years ago. Every year the winters bother me more and more. The rain and overcast skies really start to drive you batty about January. And it can last until May. However, the summers are fabulous!!! No humidity, temps average around 80, and you can sleep with the windows open most nights. And we do get dry spells in the winter when the sun comes out -- makes you really appreciate it when it happens.

[nwraider]

Just moved up here to Washington two years ago and love the living hell out of it. Born and raised in SoCal (Riverside area); weather was one of the driving forces of needing to get out of there. Both my wife and I are SoCal natives (she's from Fullerton) and have not regretted for one minute moving up here. Overcast days don't bother me at all (actually got some nice cloud cover today, for a change), and to be honest, after spending 35 years in the sun 330 days or whatever a year, I'm **** sick of the sun. Actually look forward to clouds and rain. People may say that might change after a few more years up here, but I don't think so... Just don't understand how people can get depressed because of the weather?!?! Come on..