Based on criteria...are there any options other than Seattle? (Bellevue: employment, neighborhoods)

[Inkpoe]

Why not Madison as well?

[suziq999]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

Why not Madison as well?

This was going to be my suggestion. Where are you in WI?

What about some city in Nor-Cal?

[Seacove]

Agree on Madison. You don't sound the least bit enthusiastic to move to Seattle, sounds like you'll be unhappy here.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by tsan9

I work in web marketing btw. (I had briefly considered CA but the taxes, COL are too darn high)

Have you considered that the higher pay you'd likely get in the Bay Area would balance out the higher COL? You may be ruling that option out unnecessarily.

[tsan9]

As far as Nor Cal goes, I really don't think the pay would make up for the higher COL. I'm sure if I was a software programmer it would balance out. Of course I'm sure I could make it work living there, but I'm just not sure if I have an interest in the area, just based off of gut feeling I guess.

@Seacove -- I think the title of my post, "Based on criteria...are there any options other than Seattle",may have come off as having a negative experience of Seattle. Maybe this is a more accurate tone: "Are there any other cities that fit my criteria as well as Seattle does?"

I think Seattle is a great town, there are surprisingly few areas of the country where I could live, and Seattle is definitely high on the list. I left because I needed to regroup with regard to finance, relationship, and family at that time. So now I'm just trying to figure out if I should return or try somewhere else.

Eventually I may want to return to WI area, but likely not until I've sort of peaked in career and then move back for the lower COL, family, and smaller town feel.

[Adrian71]

Originally Posted by tsan9

I will have to decide how important being along a large body of water is, since MPLS, Denver and Boise aren't near a large body of water like I am used to in WI and Seattle.

How about Boston? You get the full change of seasons there for sure, you get the seafood, and you're close to the water.

[tsan9]

I do like Boston a lot, one of my favorite cities to visit. I don't know what it would be like to live there though.

One thing I know is that it would take some getting used to the more "confrontational" culture/personalities/attitudes of the east coast. Seattle wasn't much of a transition on that front, as people there are typically just cold and introverted like me but still somewhat friendly lol.

[Adrian71]

That is very true. I've lived on both coasts, and the reserved/introverted vibe of the Pacific Northwest certainly suits my personality much better. Sounds like you understand the so-called Seattle Freeze perfectly. I continue to maintain that it's just a label that frustrated extroverts have placed on those of us who'll carry on a friendly conversation with them but don't necessarily want to be their best friend.

I don't know ... the more I hear you talk about it, the more I think Seattle might just be the place for you after all.

[sean98125]

Austin, TX

[suziq999]

Originally Posted by sean98125

Austin, TX

Careful, I got an ugly PM when I suggested Austin in another thread!!! LOL