Moving to Seattle from South Carolina (Bellevue, Kirkland: apartments, how much, employment)

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by bisjoe

Yes, in our 18 years here, this is only the second (after last year) where we didn't have sun and warm from July 5th through August. Normally we say that the rest of the year with all the rain is worth it since the summer is so nice, but this year it looks like no summer yet...

Naturally, since I am visiting my daughter and SIL this week! but will be returning to the 95+ heat /humidity that is NC next week. Last year, I was here about the same time and the weather was gorgeous with temps in the 80s. I love this city!!!!

[Woof]

Originally Posted by HappynessOfPursuit

......Also, I am coming out there with just my clothes- and I am not even sure if my clothes will work out there- is there anything you could tell me is an absolute must-have item for the Seattle climate?
.....
hOp

Generally speaking you would want to gradually wean yourself off cotton clothes for outdoors wear during the cold season. That's because cotton loses its insulating properties when it gets wet, and can cause hypothermia after a few hours if it's also cold out.

I don't know anything about clothing styles, but I think any of your cotton clothes will be fine worn indoors or even outside during the summer on nice days when it's not raining.

If you want the simplest solution to shopping for outdoors clothing, go to the main REI store. The clerks are very helpful and know their stuff. Generally speaking you would wear waterproof-breathable hooded jackets over light polyester or fleece. Merino wool socks or whatever they have out there now that keep you feet warm.

I'm a guy who likes to get all his shopping done in one fell swoop, of course I understand women like to go all sorts of places and dawdle. But from a purely practical perspective, REI is the place.

[HappynessOfPursuit]

Wow, thank you all for your varied perspectives! I am a little new to posting on forums in general, so thank you for bearing with me.

To answer an earlier poster who I believe said I was breaking their heart, I absolutely detest the so-called "paradise" weather here in SC. I am very fair skinned and the sun makes me miserable. We have lived here since 1987 and people kept telling me I would "Get used to it" but I never have! Summers are brutal, so humid it is like walking around in a dog's breath! I can't deny that the scenery is gorgeous, but I no longer wish to suffer through four to five months of this sauna from hell in order to have a mild winter. From what I understand, it gets colder in SC in the winter than it does in Seattle, anyway.

As to choosing Seattle over SC, aside from my abhorrence of the summers- it is VERY conservative here. I am talking 1950s. People are friendly, of course. I have never met a stranger here, and the food is awesome...BUT- it is not culturally diverse in the slightest, very "Good Ole Boy" and the ignorance is, at times, stunning. And the friendliness can be borderline invasive-downright prying. They will ask you where you live, where you work, how many kids, if you are married, etc- all while standing in line at the store! I am definitely not into that much disclosure..

[Jalhop]

That's good to know about SC!

For clothes here, layers is the key. My everyday all year wear is a t-shirt with jeans or REI pants (with zip-off pant legs) or shorts. If chilly I add a sweatshirt. People make fun of our fleece, but rest assured you'll love a fleece jacket here. A baseball cap is sufficient for most rain. If windy (rare) or extra rainy, add a lightweight breathable rain jacket. This attire makes me look like almost every other Seattleite.

[sekhmet1974]

HOS: I moved to Seattle from northern VA in 98 and lived there for 12 years. I'm in my 30s and an arty type, like to have fun but doing like the party in my backyard, so I can relate.
As far as clothes, bring what you have and you will figure it out. The no cotton comment was weird to me... I had plenty of cotton clothes. The truth is in general the weather stays pretty mild year round. Yes it will get colder in the winter and sometimes snow...the wind in the winter is the bigger issue. Summers are generally THE BEST (I live in NYC now and the one thing I really miss about Seattle is the summers...especially today!). I know they are having a colder/late start summer now, but usually they are gorgeous, but still mild enough that you can usually wear jeans almost year round!
What bugged me the most was how overcast it was most of the year (definitely in the winter), and like a lot of people there I developed a severe vitamin D defincieny (**severe**)....so be sure to take supplements. Geologically though it is a beautiful place.
Wait until you get there to find a house to share. You want to meet the people and remember you are interviewing them just as much as they are you. Craigslist IS a good place to look actually, just use common sense. Good neighborhoods based on your criteria (including no car) are Fremont, Wallingford, Phinney Ridge, and Ballard (although I personally think Ballard can sometimes be a little more challenging relying on public transportation and commute times, and the Ballard Bridge going up and down all the time can be a b*tch. Stylists jobs: if you are wanting to work for a really good place, prepare to have to go through *their* training for up to 2 years before being on the floor and taking clients yourself. Maybe you already know this. Some good places: Seven, Gary Manuel Salon, and Gene Juarez. Of course there are others and that's not the only option to go, but if you want to make real money and build a career doing it, that is generally going to be the track you will take(this is plus your cosmetology degree which I'm assuming you already have). Each of these places requires their own extensive training even if you have worked somewhere else before. Of course you can move quickly if you test well and pass the tests fast, but how quickly I'm not sure....I would guess at least still a year.
Anyway hope this helps.

[HappynessOfPursuit]

Thank you so much for the extremely helpful advice...I did not know about any of these Salons, Gene Juarez seems to keep popping up, so I will check them out first. I do have my Cosmetology license, and have already applied for a reciprocal one for WA.
Vitamin D supplements? Wow! Ok. Will definitely get some.
I have a lot of cotton dresses, I figured they would be ok if I wore tights and a waterproof jacket...?
Also, it appears that I will be driving my car out there after all- not sure if I am going to keep it once I get there though.
Also- does anyone have information about the skate rinks out there? I am an avid rollergirl...need to have a rink accessible! I no longer do roller derby, but I still skate ALL of the time for recreation.
Thanks again!
hOp

[Woof]

My advice about cotton wear was more for extended periods in the rain - if you don't go on long walks, do outdoors sports, or wait for the bus - in other words if you're basically an indoors person - it wouldn't be that important.

Yes, nylon is a good choice for next to skin wear. The jacket should be not just waterproof, but waterproof/breathable like goretex, otherwise you will sweat inside. http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/rainwear.html

[Hemlock140]

A co-worker does roller derby in Everett, showed me the bruises as proof or I wouldn't have expected it of her.

There is Skate King in Bellevue, Bowl & Skate in Lynnwood, and Southgate Roller Rink in Seattle, White Center area.

As it turns out we had a great summer weekend, hit 85 today but already back to 74 now as the sun is going down at 8:45. We're supposed to have clouds tomorrow and rain for a couple of days after that, temps in the 70s.

[HappynessOfPursuit]

I am so envious of you guys right now! It is 86 degrees out...at Midnight!

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by HappynessOfPursuit

I am so envious of you guys right now! It is 86 degrees out...at Midnight!

rarely do we get to gloat about the weather here. Currently at 5:20am 58.