Suggestions before moving to Seattle from Florida?

[MrGrocer]

Grew up in FL, and after stopping off in a few other states, landed in Seattle 4 years ago and haven’t looked back.

Here were my biggest eye-openers:

1. Weather: Wherever you leave Florida in July, when you get on the plane it will probably be in the 90’s, muggy, and if it’s in the afternoon, thunder storming. When you land, it’ll be in the low-70’s, sunny, and dry. If you’re wearing shorts, you may be cold. Whatever place you are renting will probably not have AC.
2. Creepy Crawlies: Mosquitoes are really uncommon in Seattle proper. Not a lot of freaky spiders, and I don’t think that there are any venomous snakes in the area. Windows in Seattle do not have screens and your open window is your climate control.
3. Hills: There’s more rise from sea level in Seattle than anywhere in FL. If you like walking, get used to walking uphill.
4. Views: Because of aforementioned hills, there are near-unlimited vantage points giving great views of the city , water, and...
5. Mountains: For anyone that grew up in WA, mountains are probably no big deal, but to me as a Floridian, it’s as foreign as if dinosuars grazed in the distance. Not only do you get mountains, but you get mountains to look at in both the east and the west, with Rainier showing off in its majestic glory on clear days.
6. Living Expenses: Just about all living expenses are higher than FL except utilities, because the weather is moderate and your place will be smaller than anywhere in FL. If you live in Seattle one way to offset this a bit is to assess how much car you need. We easily scaled down from 2 cars in the most recent state (NJ) to 1 in Seattle. If you live in the city and don’t commute via car, if you honestly assess how frequently you use it, using transit, rentals and ride shares may save you money. When we lived downtown, the car was paid off, but parking was 200/mo, plus insurance and maintenance... honestly it wouls have been cheaper to not have a car.
7. Food: Generally great Asian food, seafood, beer, wine, cocktails, and coffee. If you’re looking for regional food back home you’ll probably be disappointed. Sometimes I just want a Cuban sadwich and a sickeningly sweet cafe con leche served in a styrofoam cup, but the culture surrounding that experience is thousands of miles away.
8. The water is probably cold. The Pacific is extremely cold compared to the Atlantic, and many of the nearby lakes are fed by snow melt. Cold.
9. Seattle is not a fancy-dress place. There are of course exceptions, but Seattle is much more casual than cities on the east coast.
10. Cannabis is widely available and openly consumed.
11. Homeless people exist conspicuously in Seattle. If you read this forum, it’s mentioned in every thread just in case you ever forget.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by MrGrocer

Grew up in FL, and after stopping off in a few other states, landed in Seattle 4 years ago and haven’t looked back.

Here were my biggest eye-openers:

1. Weather: Wherever you leave Florida in July, when you get on the plane it will probably be in the 90’s, muggy, and if it’s in the afternoon, thunder storming. When you land, it’ll be in the low-70’s, sunny, and dry. If you’re wearing shorts, you may be cold. Whatever place you are renting will probably not have AC.
2. Creepy Crawlies: Mosquitoes are really uncommon in Seattle proper. Not a lot of freaky spiders, and I don’t think that there are any venomous snakes in the area. Windows in Seattle do not have screens and your open window is your climate control.
3. Hills: There’s more rise from sea level in Seattle than anywhere in FL. If you like walking, get used to walking uphill.
4. Views: Because of aforementioned hills, there are near-unlimited vantage points giving great views of the city , water, and...
5. Mountains: For anyone that grew up in WA, mountains are probably no big deal, but to me as a Floridian, it’s as foreign as if dinosuars grazed in the distance. Not only do you get mountains, but you get mountains to look at in both the east and the west, with Rainier showing off in its majestic glory on clear days.
6. Living Expenses: Just about all living expenses are higher than FL except utilities, because the weather is moderate and your place will be smaller than anywhere in FL. If you live in Seattle one way to offset this a bit is to assess how much car you need. We easily scaled down from 2 cars in the most recent state (NJ) to 1 in Seattle. If you live in the city and don’t commute via car, if you honestly assess how frequently you use it, using transit, rentals and ride shares may save you money. When we lived downtown, the car was paid off, but parking was 200/mo, plus insurance and maintenance... honestly it wouls have been cheaper to not have a car.
7. Food: Generally great Asian food, seafood, beer, wine, cocktails, and coffee. If you’re looking for regional food back home you’ll probably be disappointed. Sometimes I just want a Cuban sadwich and a sickeningly sweet cafe con leche served in a styrofoam cup, but the culture surrounding that experience is thousands of miles away.
8. The water is probably cold. The Pacific is extremely cold compared to the Atlantic, and many of the nearby lakes are fed by snow melt. Cold.
9. Seattle is not a fancy-dress place. There are of course exceptions, but Seattle is much more casual than cities on the east coast.
10. Cannabis is widely available and openly consumed.
11. Homeless people exist conspicuously in Seattle. If you read this forum, it’s mentioned in every thread just in case you ever forget.

Grocer, try this place right across from Rejuvenation on 1st Ave South about a mile south of the stadiums. It’s pretty legit: https://www.cafeconlecheseattle.com/

There is actually a big ballroom space in the back, pre-covid they used to have big latin music events with congas, marimbas, the works.

[jabogitlu]

9. Seattle is not a fancy-dress place. There are of course exceptions, but Seattle is much more casual than cities on the east coast.

Indeed. I grew up in the south and every professional person sweats through the summer in their suit or dress. I have no idea why. I'm so happy to live in Seattle where, as a finance professional, I can show up in a half-zip sweater and jeans pretty much any day and be taken seriously.

[folkguitarist555]

Go to Portland Oregon OP. Seattle’s the most uptight, anti social city in America. Portland blows the doors off of Seattle. Mark my words.

[MrGrocer]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

Grocer, try this place right across from Rejuvenation on 1st Ave South about a mile south of the stadiums. It’s pretty legit: https://www.cafeconlecheseattle.com/

There is actually a big ballroom space in the back, pre-covid they used to have big latin music events with congas, marimbas, the works.

I have been there and it is quite good. About as good as I could hope for in the opposite corner of the country! What I was trying to convey is that the food that Florida does well isn’t all over the place here.

[rjshae]

Originally Posted by folkguitarist555

Go to Portland Oregon OP. Seattle’s the most uptight, anti social city in America. Portland blows the doors off of Seattle. Mark my words.

Yes, Portland's a nice city. I've enjoyed my visits there.