Moving back to WA: Coping w/ overcast (Seattle, Spokane: high school, living in)

[Rastaman74]

Hello.
I am originally from Tacoma but have lived in Phoenix since 1989 when we moved to the desert as I was starting high school. My wife and I want to get out the Phoenix area and would like to move to Washington. My parents are trying to play the devil's advocate by telling me that the overcast will totally depress me after being used to 300 days per year of sunshine in Arizona. I am wondering how many of you may have moved to Washington from much sunnier places such as southern California.

How have you coped with the overcast skies? Did you go through a depression? Was it just hard the first year? Did you try light therapy or other techniques to make it manageable?

Although I spent almost half my life in Tacoma, I have truly forgotten what it's like to be up there during the long stretches of overcast. Rain doesn't bother me one bit, so I am just concerned about the grey skies. We should be poised to move up there at the start of next summer and there's a chance that the move might take place this summer.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[danielellen]

Dear Rastaman,
My hubby and I moved here a year ago, almost to the date from Germany. (We are military.) Though Germany can also be overcast a good part of the year, Westen WA takes FIRST place in that department. The past winter season was very difficult for us, though we did not try light therapy. BUT, on the upside, we have already had one beautiful summer here and anticipate another. Could it be that the summers make the winters worth it? It is truly a well-rounded place in that you have the mountains, the ocean, and Canada close to Olympia/Tacoma/Seattle...somthing for everyone and something fun always going on. Is your family here in WA? If my family or my husband's family lived close by, I would not hesitate to make WA a permanent home, rain and all, but without our families here, and no close friends, I'd take sunny 300 days a year over overcast.
Kitchens

[compltlyme]

Originally Posted by Rastaman74

Hello.
I am originally from Tacoma but have lived in Phoenix since 1989 when we moved to the desert as I was starting high school. My wife and I want to get out the Phoenix area and would like to move to Washington. My parents are trying to play the devil's advocate by telling me that the overcast will totally depress me after being used to 300 days per year of sunshine in Arizona. I am wondering how many of you may have moved to Washington from much sunnier places such as southern California.

How have you coped with the overcast skies? Did you go through a depression? Was it just hard the first year? Did you try light therapy or other techniques to make it manageable?

Although I spent almost half my life in Tacoma, I have truly forgotten what it's like to be up there during the long stretches of overcast. Rain doesn't bother me one bit, so I am just concerned about the grey skies. We should be poised to move up there at the start of next summer and there's a chance that the move might take place this summer.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

I have not had a challenge with the overcast skies. I am from the Palm Springs area of So Ca... very much like Phoenix in temps. I love it up here and have been here about 11 months now. Lived most of my life in the sun and even that gets old. We had everyone saying pretty much the same as your parents. In our case they were all wrong. The kids love to be outdoors much more than ever before. Especially this time of year when the temps down there are already in the low 100's. I can also tell you I had never appreciated the sun the way I do now. But recently went with a week of no rain and I was missing it!!! I would look up and wonder when we would get the clouds and rain back!!!

I figure if I get tired of the grey skies then I can just take a drive over the mountain heading east to get some decent Mexican food and sunshine!!! Only a few hours away. A weekend on one of the 3 rivers and I am good to go!

[Rastaman74]

I appreciate your responses. Honestly, the overcast is my biggest apprehension about moving back to WA state. I do have family up there. My little brother and folks reside in AZ; however, my older bro, sis, uncle, aunt and cousins live up there. I think as long as we stayed busy, we might not get too down in the dumps about the grey skies, just liike your suggestions.
THX

[silentmoon]

I am originally from Chicago where we had four distinct seasons, but have been living in Western Washington for over 15 years now, and I have to admit that the overcast skies and rain are serious problems for me. It took several years for this to happen, but it seems to have built up and now I can't bear to see the clouds every day. It has a deadening effect on my psyche. Yes, when it's sunny it's glorious out here, and the summers can be fantastic, but unfortunately they don't last very long, and in my personal opinion nothing can take the place of more consistent sunshine. I have found that weather is very important to me over the years.

This area is very beautiful and has a lot to offer, so I guess you'll just have to decide if you can handle it.

[Mark S.]

I grew up in eastern New Mexico, where they easily have over 300 days of sunshine a year.

I moved to the Puget Sound area nine years ago. Honestly, the overcast came as a welcome relief. In western Washington, the summers are actually quite dry. It isn't uncommon for there to be no rain at all from mid-July to early September. And honestly, it's awful when that happens, because the pollution gets REALLY bad. You almost feel like you can take a bite out of the air. It's really gross.

Honestly, I'm not much of a sun worshipper. I like the rain and the clouds.

If you honestly think you don't like the overcast, you might look into Spokane, Wenatchee, the tri-cities, or any place east of the mountains. Eastern Washington is much drier.

[Screenial]

I grew up in California, moved to Western Washington in 1983, lived there 20 years, then moved back to California three years ago. The first few years of Washington didn't bother me. About three years into it, I started taking all my vacations in the winter to some place warm. I also occasionally would use the sun tanning bed to feel better. I lived pretty far north in Bellingham. Not only is there frequent cloud cover, but the days are much shorter in the winter because of how far north it is. Not only did I eventually become depressed about facing another winter, but a lot of my friends were too.I am one of those people that gets cold easily and also is allergic to grasses. I was always sneezing and freezing. I think Washington is wonderful in the summer, but after 20 years, I just could not face another winter there.
I guess you can always try it, it's not like you can't ever move away.

[Rastaman74]

I just made a commitment to postpone moving back to WA in favor of Northern Arizona. I guess I am just not ready to deal with the overcast and rain at this point in my life. Desert deweller: I really appreciated your insight.

Thanks,
Bob

[bookielady]

Not all of washington is wet. Yakima is very dry and we have 300 days of sunshine.

[TommyG]

Bob, I fully understand your decision. I grew up there, and lived in So. Seattle for 30 years.

Personally, the NW weather drove me batty. It'll cloud over in mid-October, and you wouldn't see the sun again until one day in March - then it'd be cloudy again until June. "Showers turning to rain with a chance of more showers" is the standard weather forecast most of the time.

So when I moved to the Midwest a few years back, I kissed the dreary weather goodbye for good. I miss certain aspects of the Pacific NW - fresh seafood, the views of Mt. Rainier, the accessibility to the ocean - but not the weather. It may be cold here in January, but at least the sun comes out every now and then.

Caveat #1 - Let it be known, though: when it is nice there, there is no place nicer. Temps rarely cross 90, and are never below zero. And when it's sunny and 75 degrees, the Seattle area is Heaven on Earth.

Caveat #2 - Most of my family still lives in the area, and they absolutely love the weather. Go figure.