Seattle negativity... (transplants, teaching jobs, school)

[gallacus]

I am currently living in Pittsburgh, PA and I love this city. We probably will have to leave in a few years when my girlfriend graduates with her teaching degree as there are no teaching jobs here We have both absolutely fallen in love with Seattle as a prospect for where to move, but I have some questions.

Pittsburgh has pretty much the exact same weather as Seattle, except with much more snow in the winter months. I love Pittsburgh's weather, but in all honesty, I couldn't care less what it is doing outside, I will go outside and run, bike, kayak, etc. no matter what the weather. I just love to be outside. Anyway, in Pittsburgh, EVERYONE ******* about the weather, and it seems to create this prevailing sense of negativity. One thing I can't stand is people bitching about weather. Its just something people do around here to break the ice or to fill in an awkward silence.

My question is this: Are the majority of people as upset about the weather in Seattle as it seems on this message board or is this just a forum to post on if you want to complain? Will I have to endure constant bitching and negativity about the weather in the winter months living in Seattle?

I've never understood how you can move to a place that is world-renowned for its rain and gray skies and then proceed to complain about the rain and gray skies. Its like moving to Phoenix and complaining that its too hot.

[CityGirl72]

Have you seen the Phoenix people - They DO complain it's too hot!

I think message boards just give people the confidence to complain where they need too. If I complained to my husband all the time about how I felt, he'd either really get sick of me or stop listening.

Sometimes people are just more open to strangers

[mlv311]

Originally Posted by gallacus

My question is this: Are the majority of people as upset about the weather in Seattle as it seems on this message board or is this just a forum to post on if you want to complain? Will I have to endure constant bitching and negativity about the weather in the winter months living in Seattle?

I've never understood how you can move to a place that is world-renowned for its rain and gray skies and then proceed to complain about the rain and gray skies. Its like moving to Phoenix and complaining that its too hot.

CityGirl is right...People are more comfortable complaining to strangers. In the 4 years I lived in Seattle, I didn't find anyone who complained about the weather. People who grew up there or purposely chose to live in Seattle love it for many reasons. The ones more likely to complain in a public forum like this would be those of us who didn't pick to live in Seattle and other circumstances brought us there (e.g., family relocation, new job, school, etc.).

[Pittgal]

Hi Gallacus!

I am a fellow Pittsburghers too who has now lived in Seattle for the past year. We are here for 5 years then back to the burgh we go. Anyhow, the people who live out here do not complain about the weather at all. It is a way of life for then, all the complaining I have ever heard is on message boards. It is not something I have ever chatted in person with other people about.

The weather to me is really different from Pittsburgh though, at least not so close as you seem to think it may be. The summers hee are cool, sunny, and do not have the humidity that the burgh has. It barely rains here in the summer, it is such a wonderful place to be in the summer. Snow is nothing like what you are used to either. The snow here is wet unlike to kind there wher you cna make a snowman, plus it only snowed twice here last year..the temps in the winter really don't get cold enough for it to snow. Yes it is rainy and over-cast all fall, winter, & spring long. But so what. We all have choices as to where we live so why complain. We chose to move here so I can't really complain about the weather...to me it actually is a refreshing change since we hate the hot weather.

Good luck and know there are tons of Pittsburghers out here...there are even 2 Steeler bars in my area out here!!

[ladyjuliek]

I have looked at a lot of the nice photos presented lately. Is it just me, or is no one really smiling on the rainy days, but the summer photos, people tanning, the sun bright, everybody's grinning ear to ear...

(Actually there were these belles, but I have a feeling this photo was staged. )
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...le068Small.jpg

[Botev1912]

actually the worst months are November, December, January and February. During this time there are only 2-3 sunny days per month. In March the weather gets better. The best months are July, August and September. That's the real summer. In May, June and October there are 11-12 sunny (or partly cloudy) and 19-20 cloudy or rainy days. Last year on Christmas (12/25) the weather was sunny and warm (60 degrees). In January 2007 I remember 1 week when it was sunny, but too cold (probably 20 degrees). In April it didn't rain at all during the first 10 days of the month. In May 2007 there was 1 week when the temperature was over 80

[wythors]

Generally, the only people that complain about the weather are transplants. Those of us that grew up here just assume that it is normal to not see the sun for weeks at a time in the winter.

[dogonabone]

Originally Posted by wythors

Generally, the only people that complain about the weather are transplants. Those of us that grew up here just assume that it is normal to not see the sun for weeks at a time in the winter.

Wythors, I can't say that that's completely true. I hear a LOT of WA natives complain about the rain and dark days. However, I LOVE the rain and cool weather, so perhaps I take more notice to it. (and I'm a transplant!)

[lprock22]

Yeah, I was just in Seattle a couple weeks back and I'm returning next week for a job interview hoping to move up ASAP. I did hear people talk about the weather, the complaints were mainly done in a sarcastic sort of way and I didn't get the sense of misery from them. A lot of them that brought it up would then say something like 'but that's why its so beautiful up here' and I agree. You can't have it all, we have warm sunny weather in LA most of the year but that's why the majority of SoCal is a barren desert.....in Seattle it rains but its gorgeous and that to me makes it worth it.

[argo69]

Originally Posted by lprock22

You can't have it all, we have warm sunny weather in LA most of the year but that's why the majority of SoCal is a barren desert.....in Seattle it rains but its gorgeous and that to me makes it worth it.

Only San Francisco has perfect weather. I love the crisp, cool days in the Northwest but concede that I wouldn't mind fewer days without actual rainfall.