Do Seattleites realize how lucky they are to live in Seattle? (Tacoma: sale, rentals)

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by Don Penhold

I grew up in Seattle- or more accurately was forced to spend most of my childhood in America's most overrated city- and I can't get what the OP is getting at.

Live in a place with lousy weather- and yes, it does rain a lot and even when it doesn't rain it's cloudy ten months of the year. A place with unfriendly people? Google "Seattle freeze" and educate yourself. Awful public schools- schools where teachers don't care if you learn anything, teachers who look forward to the summer months as much as the students do? And absolutely horrible traffic- an friend of mine who still lives there told me it once took three hours to move nine miles.

And Seattle may have scenery- but SO WHAT?!?!? A lot of places have mountains. A lot of places have water. There's nothing special or unique about Seattle that can't be found elsewhere.

I lived in Seattle for 20 years- and the happiest day was the last. There isn't enough money in the world one could pay me to live in that awful place ever again. Or anywhere in the Pathetic North-waste.

Seattle being "overrated" would be a recent phenomenon. If you grew up in Seattle, then it should be easy to recognize just how good you had it then. There are people coming in to enjoy all what Seattle has to offer, even though now there'd be a bit more negatives to overlook (like traffic, overcrowding, high COL/RE, for exmple).

Social ambience, weather are highly subjective. Awful schools are everywhere, but good ones can definitely be found in the Seattle area (and of course, there's a good amount of other options to choose from, like going private or doing homeschooling).

I no longer live in Seattle, but I'll have to disagree, Seattle is special and quite distinctive-- there's really no other cities like Seattle. Even if another city offers both the water and mountains, it still wouldn't be like Seattle. It's a brand all on its own.

[Bluefox]

I'm probably still in the honeymoon phase but yes, I am grateful to be living here. The traffic does suck, no way to sugar coat it. And it can be expensive. But it's an amazing city overall and I absolutely love it here.

[StealthRabbit]

Certainly many benefits to be had in Seattle, and the 'It's Best' of anything is very subjective.

As a Mtn and Water person I am very glad there are many Worldwide options to most of the benefits of Seattle

+/-

As a pre age 65 retiree.... USA does not offer ANY options for affordable and accessible Healthcare.

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Certainly many benefits to be had in Seattle, and the 'It's Best' of anything is very subjective.

As a Mtn and Water person I am very glad there are many Worldwide options to most of the benefits of Seattle

+/-

As a pre age 65 retiree.... USA does not offer ANY options for affordable and accessible Healthcare.

Do you ever stop bragging or showing off your status? Like seriously, across various forums I can't think of a single freaking post where you haven't.

You must feel pretty proud of yourself. Cool. But man, is it annoying to the rest of us...

[Hacker1234]

People here complain about the traffic a lot, coming from Dallas I think the traffic here is amazing.

[thatguy950]

Originally Posted by Hacker1234

People here complain about the traffic a lot, coming from Dallas I think the traffic here is amazing.

Lolwut? The traffic in Dallas is nowhere near as bad.

Weren't you the one saying Seattle has a lower COL than Dallas too? Give it time, the Stockholm Syndrome will wear off soon.

[Hacker1234]

Not a lower COL, more like a wash. My hour at min commute in Dallas is now under 30 min in SEA, I love it.

[thatguy950]

Just because you have a shorter commute doesn't mean traffic as a whole is better in Seattle, same can be said for COL.

Most people could rent/buy a five bedroom house in Dallas for around the same price as a zero bedroom studio in Seattle.

Either way, sounds like it's working out for you, so keep up the good fight.

[blaserbrad]

Originally Posted by Don Penhold

I grew up in Seattle- or more accurately was forced to spend most of my childhood in America's most overrated city- and I can't get what the OP is getting at.

Live in a place with lousy weather- and yes, it does rain a lot and even when it doesn't rain it's cloudy ten months of the year. A place with unfriendly people? Google "Seattle freeze" and educate yourself. Awful public schools- schools where teachers don't care if you learn anything, teachers who look forward to the summer months as much as the students do? And absolutely horrible traffic- an friend of mine who still lives there told me it once took three hours to move nine miles.

And Seattle may have scenery- but SO WHAT?!?!? A lot of places have mountains. A lot of places have water. There's nothing special or unique about Seattle that can't be found elsewhere.

I lived in Seattle for 20 years- and the happiest day was the last. There isn't enough money in the world one could pay me to live in that awful place ever again. Or anywhere in the Pathetic North-waste.

I gripe on Seattle all the time, and you're entitled to your opinio, but I think it's one of the best cities around. Many locals, not just in the city, but the metro area are upset with the changes, gentrification, increased corporate culture, but it still has a lot going on for it and I think it will continue to. The location alone is hard to beat for nature lovers. A silver lining is that the metro area, aside from the cost of living increase, has benefited from Seattle's craziness. Some suburbs are now considered "hip" Burien/ White Center. Urban bones in the suburbs/ cities around Seattle have become more usable and much more densified. Tacoma has been on the rise for awhile, providing a very urban, low cost city with a heavy artist presence. Everett is next. Even place like Bellevue and Redmond have become much more interesting.
This is the silver lining though, as I said, and it comes with many drawbacks and social issues.

[Xanathos]

Originally Posted by DanielleH

I hope Seattleites don't take for granted just how lucky they are to be living in the best city of the country. Especially those with a loft and a nice view of the space needle at night.

It's (arguably) the prettiest, but it's far from the best. It's very provincial. It's psychologically taxing because of the constant grey. The cost of living doesn't justify occupation there in light of cultural and other areas the city falls short in. It's a very divided landscape on an interpersonal level.

The summers there can't be beat - and we will legitimately miss them - but this concept that Seattle is somehow the best city in the country is just downing way too much spiked Kool-Aid, because it's nowhere near that. It's a beta town that so desperately wants to be a world class hub but just won't get there.