Just moved to Washington, my first impressions. (Seattle, Tacoma: house, live)

[CityGirl72]

That's exactly what I was going to say - anytime of day on the 10 is worse then the worst traffic jam here!

PS - Wait til the first rains of Fall - it's funny, it's like people forget how to drive

[NCWmark]

Originally Posted by CityGirl72

PS - Wait til the first rains of Fall - it's funny, it's like people forget how to drive

Yes, that is funny... but...

God forbid it snows. You want to talk about people forgetting how to drive.

[malarkey]

Originally Posted by ShadowXOR

Now mind you I may be incorrect on some of these because as I said, they are my first impressions. I've only been here a week and I haven't been outside too much.

Tons of trees, very wet.

Traffic is HELL.

All of the jobs are in Bellevue.

Lynnwood is a dump ...

LOL well so far you got it right. Get thee to Seattle on the weekends and hang out, walk around, check things out. One thing we do have is a very vibrant downtown area. Lots going on.

I've been here 22 years and I'm still not tired of going down to the Pike Place Market and just walking around.

[tudorjason]

The worst decision you can make is to use the freeways for your commute.

Yes, try using surface streets.

[brightcopperkettles]

Shadow, the problem is you chose the wrong side of the sound. The west side is the side smart folks move to. ;-) Traffic is nothing over here, plenty of good jobs, nice houses, ....and the list goes on and on. Of course, I'm prejudiced; I could NEVER drive on the other side. I got in the car to take my kids shopping at the mall in Lynnwood and ended up in North Seattle. By the time I somehow got back home (nope, never did find the Lynnwood mall), I was in tears, and my firefighter husband had to come down and get me out of the car. I told him right then and there I was never driving on the other side again as long as I lived, and to this day, I haven't.

Thankfully, we moved to this side of the water some time later, so I was fine again. I drive safely and happily, and the beautiful part is, I never have to worry about freeways.

It is so beautiful over here. You should come take a look and see what you think....

[jghampton]

I'd love to keep hearing about your first impressions and adjustments - both good and bad surprises as you settle in. Very helpful in getting a true picture of what our lives may be like if we relocate next month.

Jenn

[malarkey]

Originally Posted by brightcopperkettles

Shadow, the problem is you chose the wrong side of the sound. The west side is the side smart folks move to. ;-) Traffic is nothing over here, plenty of good jobs, nice houses, ....and the list goes on and on. Of course, I'm prejudiced; I could NEVER drive on the other side. I got in the car to take my kids shopping at the mall in Lynnwood and ended up in North Seattle. By the time I somehow got back home (nope, never did find the Lynnwood mall), I was in tears, and my firefighter husband had to come down and get me out of the car. I told him right then and there I was never driving on the other side again as long as I lived, and to this day, I haven't.

Where do you live bck? Bainbridge? The peninsula?

[brightcopperkettles]

I live in Seabeck. It's about 20 minutes from Silverdale and about 35 minutes to East Bremerton. It's an hour to Bainbridge and about 30 minutes to Poulsbo. Very quiet, very rural, very nice.....

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by brightcopperkettles

I live in Seabeck. It's about 20 minutes from Silverdale and about 35 minutes to East Bremerton. It's an hour to Bainbridge and about 30 minutes to Poulsbo. Very quiet, very rural, very nice.....

It sounds like a very nice area. However, is there any way to get to Seattle without utilizing the ferry or driving all the way down the 5 around Tacoma and back up to the city on the east side? If not, then it would be far too isolated for my tastes. (Or Does Bremerton offer a lot of "city" amenities?)

[brightcopperkettles]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

It sounds like a very nice area. However, is there any way to get to Seattle without utilizing the ferry or driving all the way down the 5 around Tacoma and back up to the city on the east side? If not, then it would be far too isolated for my tastes. (Or Does Bremerton offer a lot of "city" amenities?)

Ferries or the Tacoma bridge are the only connections from the east side to the west side of the sound. Sorry....

Still, it works for me. Of course, I don't go to Seattle very often; we usually go to Bothell, which is where my husband's father lives. It's lovely over there but sooooo expensive. My husband said if he still owned the house he built over in Bothell back in the 1970s, it would be worth a half million dollars. At one time, my husband's great-grandfather owned acres and acres of land in Bothell, farmer of course.

My daddy (who is from SC) always said the best investment you can ever make is land, and he did. He owns over 100 acres in SC now, a 4000-sq ft home on 60 acres, a lake home, another lake property, and just plain land. My daddy was very "tight" as far as finances were concerned, but he sure has a lot to show for it. Gee, don't know how I got so far off topic. Sorry, folks...I seem to be rambling this evening... must be bedtime.. Good night, all!