Lonely in Seattle (Pacific: apartment, school, university)

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by rzzz

Portland is actually very easy to make friends if you are in a certain age bracket or fit into certain demographics. Like, if you are a 30 something washed up skateboarder guy with a beard who works as a web designer and likes drinking beer, you'll have no trouble making friends.

That's good to know. I think the O.P. is none of those things except the age bracket. I hear 30 something's complain all the time in Portland about how difficult it is to make quality friendships. Maybe you are just super lucky.

[UrbanAdventurer]

You need an apartment complex with an outdoor pool and hot tub. Met more neighbors that way than I could count. Great easy way to socialize and occasionally hit it off with people.

[JRittle123]

If you don't work then volunteer somewhere. Or get a part time job or something anyway. I find the best way to meet friends here is through shared interests via something faciliated like work, school, etc. You won't just meet random friends off the street here. Doesn't work that way.

[Polymorphist]

I moved out here alone in my 20's and although I worked, I didn't have much of a social life for about two years. I ended up putting a band together and suddenly my social life blew up. The key is that you have to take the things that you like and apply them here to Seattle.

[joyinthejourney]

Originally Posted by eskercurve

I noticed when I moved here from the Midwest that the unwritten rule of not "dipping your pen into the company ink" SO DID NOT APPLY HERE.

I met more married couples with both people working at the same place, in the same department, or at least met that way, I was shocked. About a year after I moved here I realized that the only way to make friends is to really start with a group of out-of-towners who have similar interests. Literally, I have 1 person who is a Seattle native as a friend. Everyone else grew up elsewhere.

That's my experience too! The one person I feel most comfortable with also just moved recently. I guess we have things in common to talk about.

[RotseCherut]

Forget so much about impressing people.. Pray, do good deeds and then the right people will come.. I believe it is better to try to be a friend first and then the righteous people will see you as a friend and be a friend in exchange.. In such an impersonal, cultureless, materialistic, self-absorbed world, let us try to be the beacon that breaks the mold. People will sooner or later recognize you, even if they hate your religion, culture, political affiliation, hobbies, etc. If you are kind, respectful, hard-working , diligent, and yes, thick-skinned person, people will recognize your merits over time. You cannot force them on people, they simply will be respected in due time.

[Cinema Cat]

Originally Posted by Polymorphist

I ended up putting a band together and suddenly my social life blew up.

I was going to suggest something similar, though it depends on the OP's interests.

Make a short film. Place ads on Craigslist, Mandy.com, or Seattle's local film schools. Tell them you're seeking actors and crew for a short film. Actors (especially) and crew are always eager to be part of a film that's actually going to get made.

Forming a band, a film project, an actors/comedy improv troupe, these are all good ways to meet people, provided your interests lie in that direction.

You can also take adult education classes at the local universities. If so, look for two things:

1. A class that's interactive -- a discussion group, acting class, writer's workshop, or the equivalent -- so you'll have an excuse/opportunity to talk to the other students.

2. A class that meets over several weeks, instead of only one session. That'll give you the opportunity to get to know the other students.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by dicecobb

Vanessa Ho (seattle pi) gives some reasons why Seattle is one of the most lonely places on Earth here:

1 - seattlepi.com

Sorry Seattle Sucks. Good luck.

I thought there's a lot of truth in that article. It's funny, I love the city even though I have better friends elsewhere. Seattle is known for intelligent hard working introverts...the kind that make a great living and don't go partying all night like in my native New Orleans (which was #1 for social interaction and it feels it too).

Go Hawks!

[tickyul]

If you haven't yet, try piercing your face and mutilating your earlobes into hoops.....the Seattle Hipsters will be drawn to you like a fly to ****.

[folkguitarist555]

Seattle is a great, but now way too overcrowded and congested city. Lovely city though, possibly the best largest city in the USA, imo, and great state. Socially, good luck, the social ethos is one of the toughest I ever encountered, especially for non-hipster, non-ultra liberal single men, and/or being a single guy, period, in my opinion and experience. But getting involved would be the wisest thing to do in Seattle, groups, church, spiritual center, and etc.