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Old 06-30-2016, 12:51 PM
 
Location: Independent Republic of Ballard
8,071 posts, read 8,367,466 times
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Seattle weather is as unpredictable as a stray cat. If you're someone who likes to schedule, rather than live in an impromptu manner, expect plans to be upset regularly. How do people cope with our winters? Good books, fireplaces, Netflix, skiing/snowboarding, winter vacations, cats, plants, full-spectrum lights, rain hats.
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Old 06-30-2016, 12:54 PM
 
2,117 posts, read 1,739,523 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BabyCatsMom View Post
I'm concerned about finding a job. I've been applying from DC but not sure if it will work since I'm not local. I considered moving without a job because I don't have a job here either anymore.
Couple things as someone who recently moved here to the area (Olympia) from NJ.

1) Apartments: I'd recommend you try to find a place before you move here. Prior to moving here I lived in NYC for 12 years and NJ for 2. Apartments were super easy to get in terms of availability in those places. I figured it would be the same here as well...wrong! We visited many apartment complexes that said they had units available on the website...they were not. Finally managed to find one after visiting several places after a couple days of looking. Luckily it's a nice place in a convenient area and only had to wait a couple days til we could move in so it worked out in the end. If you are coming without a job you will probably have to put down a bigger deposit and have some reserves in savings but this will vary depending on the place but keep it in mind.

2) Weather: Haven't been here long enough to really comment. I will say I love the temps here way more than back in NYC/NJ. I hate the heat and it's basically been 50s/60s/70s and I think one day it was low 80's so far. One thing you will notice is not very many places have AC here. Our apartment doesn't have central AC and the windows we have doesn't allow for any kind window unit or even one of those room AC's that has the tube going out. None of the apartment complexes we visited had AC either. Haven't had a need for one anyway so so far so good! The temperature also drops significantly at night so even if it is a bit warm out during the day it will be cool at night. Also as the previous poster said, the weather is very unpredictable out here. That is something I've noticed in my stay here so far as well. I feel like opening the weather app on my phone is completely useless here as it changes so frequently lol.

Last edited by fluffydelusions; 06-30-2016 at 01:04 PM..
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:04 PM
 
Location: Washington, DC
23 posts, read 17,177 times
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Gardyloo, you are so right about it being mobile. I applied to places yesterday and today I got emails about a phone interview with Amazon and another phone interview with a small tech startup. I'm shocked by this. I thought I would have a hard time competing with local applicants. Getting a job before moving would be amazing and now I'm a little hopeful it's possible. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation would be a dream, unfortunately they had no openings. But I'm keeping an eye on these places. I've reached out to recruiters at many companies even if they weren't hiring to try and build a connection. That's how I got the Amazon interview. I'm glad your winter's are warmer, I don't like when it's freezing cold.

RustingInSeattle.... I actually have major depression. Like, clinically, diagnosed life threatening depression and anxiety. So this is a big concern for me. I don't want my health to deteriorate. It's easy for me to minimize the weather concern now when I'm feeling well, but I know how it is when I don't feel well and I don't want the weather to put me in that frame of mind. With that being said, I'm super pale and I hate sunburns, so when the sun is out, I stay out of it entirely. I also get headaches from the heat so can't go outside too much when it's hot. With that being said, I'm from Florida so something about the sunshine makes me happy. I was hoping friends, a relationship, a good job, outdoor activities, and a city I felt attached to might counter balance the weather factor. Assuming of course I can obtain those positive things I mentioned, which is not a given as I learned from my time in DC. My best friend from Florida is planning on moving to Seattle in the next 2 years so if that happens, it would be great.
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:05 PM
 
Location: Washington, DC
23 posts, read 17,177 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey View Post
Seattle weather is as unpredictable as a stray cat. If you're someone who likes to schedule, rather than live in an impromptu manner, expect plans to be upset regularly. How do people cope with our winters? Good books, fireplaces, Netflix, skiing/snowboarding, winter vacations, cats, plants, full-spectrum lights, rain hats.
This doesn't sound so terrible I guess. I've already got the cat (that's how I got to be Baby Cat's mom....)
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:10 PM
 
Location: Washington, DC
23 posts, read 17,177 times
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Fluffydelusions, you bring up an interesting point. For apartment prices I've been looking online but was wondering how accurate they are. Right now I live in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in DC and pay $1650 for a small studio apartment and $190 for parking.

How much would a studio or one bedroom cost in a great neighborhood in Seattle? I don't have kids so schools aren't a concern. I'd like something where I can walk to stores, the grocery, etc like I do here, if that's possible.
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:15 PM
 
2,117 posts, read 1,739,523 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BabyCatsMom View Post
Fluffydelusions, you bring up an interesting point. For apartment prices I've been looking online but was wondering how accurate they are.
For me, the prices were (mostly) accurate it was the availability that wasn't. Even when we went into the places to inquire about a rental they said they never really kept availability up to date. I'd just call around to places you are interested in tbh.
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:31 PM
 
2,117 posts, read 1,739,523 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RustinginSeattle View Post
Please, oh please consider the weather! Lot's of people who live here love it and don't have a problem with it and they will express it on this board like it's no big deal (to them it really isn't). It's not necessarily something that you get used to. It may not bother you initially because everything is new and exciting, but IF you are affected by it (and lots and lots of people here on antidepressants will tell you it can), it wears on you badly. I've lived here my entire life and I find it harder to deal with with each passing year. If you move here and find a mate, this just may be your home for life.

You mentioned your love of sun. This is not the place to move to looking for sun. This is where vampire novels are set. How many cities have a sticky thread dedicated to the topic of weather? Just a thought....
Also this. You can always just pull up a live cam to see what it looks like outside such as:
Space Needle PanoCam - Space Needle
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:37 PM
 
Location: Washington, DC
23 posts, read 17,177 times
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Oooo thanks for the live cam link, hadn't thought of that. The city looks nice. I'm just torn whether I will miss DC and regret the move, or whether it will turn out to be a great change that I'm glad I did.
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:53 PM
 
Location: Independent Republic of Ballard
8,071 posts, read 8,367,466 times
Reputation: 6233
Don't under-estimate how dark-and-dreary it can be from November through March. People making a move U-turn, after a few winters, used to keep the population from growing too fast, but a red-hot job market...

On the other hand, if you're used to paying $1,600 for a studio, you should be in bliss-heaven here.
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Old 06-30-2016, 03:07 PM
 
Location: Seattle
1,883 posts, read 2,080,651 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BabyCatsMom View Post
Oooo thanks for the live cam link, hadn't thought of that. The city looks nice. I'm just torn whether I will miss DC and regret the move, or whether it will turn out to be a great change that I'm glad I did.
The planes fly every day.

Meant to add, I haven't lived in DC but have traveled there enough to get a feel for the place. Cross-continent comparisons are very tricky, but I think there's a real difference between the vibe of west coast cities compared to east coast cities.

The west coast has never been as laid-back, nor the east coast as buttoned-up, as the movies and popular culture would make them out to be. People come in all sorts of flavors and with all sorts of behaviors, whether it's Seattle, Savannah, DC or LA. But - generally speaking - I think you'll find west coast culture to be more tolerant, less impatient, and more accepting than in other parts of the country.

Clinical depression is a condition that requires treatment and monitoring regardless of where you are. Yes, we're farther north than DC so daylight in winter is shorter, but it's longer in summer. If you get tired of the wet or gloom in Seattle, $90 and two hours later you can be in San Francisco, or $120 and another hour and you're in Vegas or LA.

We have no state income tax, and while some prices are higher than in the east, you won't have to pay for air conditioning. Cost of living can actually be cheaper than in most eastern cities. If you don't want a car we have hot and cold running Ubers and Zipcars, and a decent transit system.

You're contemplating a brave move. I imagine you've got it in you.

Last edited by Gardyloo; 06-30-2016 at 03:21 PM..
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