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You hit the nail on the head with the corporate cut-throat culture and low wages in Seattle, that’ll really impact your quality of life.
Companies offer 90s wages but Chinese factory hours and culture, I’ve seen a lot of people burn out in the work =life seattle job culture, and it doesn’t help many are making less than they would for the same job in a much cheaper city elsewhere
Or it was just that corporation, which has gotten way too big for their britches.
I might have agreed but as mentioned, I did 3 interviews before in different companies (one start up, one big hospital and one IT type company) and honestly without being rigid-full of myself, comments in a panel like "why would you want to move to this liberal city ?" or the hiring manager that reminded me in the interview " you re not really from here so I`m not sure why we flew in someone when we have all we need in our backyard" .
For the story, the first interview was my first ever in 25 years that instead of writing a "thank you for inviting me" note, wrote on the plane back a " While I appreciate your consideration, I do not wish to be considered for next steps".
You hit the nail on the head with the corporate cut-throat culture and low wages in Seattle, that’ll really impact your quality of life.
Companies offer 90s wages but Chinese factory hours and culture, I’ve seen a lot of people burn out in the work =life seattle job culture, and it doesn’t help many are making less than they would for the same job in a much cheaper city elsewhere
I will be transparent. My job was a six figure job ( 120K).
I was making 85K in the Midwest 12 years ago and had more available cash at the end of the month. Of course the Midwest and Seattle are not comparable. I personally prefer Seattle.
I can now say that the salaries are, what I have seen, not aligned with the cost of living here. 4K rent (1000 sq ft on Lake Union), gas cost, car tabs... It adds up. and might take some by surprise. And I was very lucky that I had no car payment, credit card or any debt.
I did get one interview with a " big" pharma company on Lake Union one week after losing my job. The HR person mentioned a salary of 110K . I received notice a few days later that the position was " cancelled" due to Covid. Sure that was possible. The week before I left, the same ad popped up. Salary :90K.. The job description remained the same.
ShellNic, you are IMHO asking the right questions.. the one worry is the constant cost of living increases while the salaries do not seem to follow as companies are getting submerged with candidates. They can pay less because they know they will find people!
100% agree with your last statement. Had I not tried, I would have huge regrets today. It didn`t work out but it is a chapter in my book of life so I can turn the page
I've let fear prevent me from taking the plunge - and it's justified, I think lol. But yea, I just want a dose of living in the state before I retire, which is still at least a decade away but how will I know unless I try!
Quote:
Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom
I think it's good to have a lingering longing for something/someplace. It means your memories are pleasant or you experienced something good.
I have good memories of our time in the midwest... fireflies dancing on deep green summer lawns. Enjoying rural farmstead corn mazes, apple cider and donuts on brisk fall afternoons. White Christmases (at least there was some snow on the ground).
That said, you pointed out everything I currently love about living in the PNW. If I were pulled away I would miss those things too.
You just have to find the charms of where ever you're at and make the most of it. I haven't been in DC too many times, but I know I liked it more than my 20 years in Texas. You're very close to so many great places.
I live in the Midwest now and financially, we're doing better than we have in years. I do like many things about Indiana, which surprises the heck out of me, but I don't have family here. After a year of isolating, other than work, I feel the pull of family maybe more than ever before. I miss them - not everyone lives in the Seattle area, but enough do to hopefully make adjusting there easier. Oh, and I lived about 30 years in and around Dallas, TX - I don't miss it lol, but my husband's family has a home in east Texas that will be given to him when the awful inevitable comes. I feel like moving now is our chance - I can really relate to the OP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by homesinseattle
Sounds like the onset of COVID didn’t really give you much of a chance here. I wonder how your experience would have been different. The shut in was/has been brutal on all of us, made connections and human contact almost impossible. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if I hadn’t been well rooted with good friends here. Sorry yaya, save a place in your DNA for us.
I'm really hoping that should I be fortunate enough to garner a good-salaried position, that having my brother and family, and cousins, will get my husband and I "out there" enough to connect with people. I really don't need very many people, but after living here for 7 years without family, I need more than zero haha.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yaya97
Thank you for your kind words! I will try to be positive about DC . I am confident enough about the job that we made an offer on a home in downtown and close tomorrow. The area we chose actually reminds me of Queen Anne ( the Georgetown area).
I'm so glad you're happy with your decision - I know there must be some disappointment that the stars didn't align for you - but wow, how brave you were for making a go of your long time dream of "going home". I try not to lie to myself lol about the memory of living there - when I visit, I imagine getting up when it's dark, going to work, coming home when it's dark - I imagine schlepping groceries to the car in the rain - I think about the awful traffic - will I be able to live close enough to work that I'm ok? All the reality comes flooding in and I wonder, will this be a mistake? I don't know what the future holds, but I truly appreciate hearing your story!
This is so familiar and true to my own experience. Born and raised in the Seattle area, loved nearly every moment of my 27 years there. The natural beauty and fun childhood memories will always have me visiting for more. But just that...as a visit.
But I know I had it easy and even then things were crazy rough looking back. Out of university I cycled through several jobs and every last one was soul crushing. It never felt like anything was stable and I noticed most people were either getting burned out or going manic trying to keep up. Friendships were only surface level and seem solely for the purpose of advancement. Even my university friends dropped me unless I had something to give them like networking or housing.
When the pandemic hit my husband and I were financially okay, but the instability and loneliness in the city was too much and we decided to pack up and head to California. Even my 3rd generation Washington born parents left. It's just too expensive and constantly hostile without a lot or any reward.
Since being in California I can't believe the small things I just couldn't stand or find my while life with Seattle. The people are by far looser and more willing to just start up a conversation. The homeless are way less aggressive and in a lot of ways not that much of a problem outside L.A or San Francisco. You just feel like your able to relax versus constantly being on your toes for the next fight.
When you step away and realize how different Seattle operates versus the rest of the country it's crazy. Party because of how long it's been out on it's own and separated from the rest of the country. Seattle truly does things it's own insular way and if you don't fit in or get it be ready to be run out. Every place has beauty and pain, you just have to find it. Seattle just happens to constantly show you both sides 24/7.
This is so familiar and true to my own experience. Born and raised in the Seattle area, loved nearly every moment of my 27 years there. The natural beauty and fun childhood memories will always have me visiting for more. But just that...as a visit.
But I know I had it easy and even then things were crazy rough looking back. Out of university I cycled through several jobs and every last one was soul crushing. It never felt like anything was stable and I noticed most people were either getting burned out or going manic trying to keep up. Friendships were only surface level and seem solely for the purpose of advancement. Even my university friends dropped me unless I had something to give them like networking or housing.
When the pandemic hit my husband and I were financially okay, but the instability and loneliness in the city was too much and we decided to pack up and head to California. Even my 3rd generation Washington born parents left. It's just too expensive and constantly hostile without a lot or any reward.
Since being in California I can't believe the small things I just couldn't stand or find my while life with Seattle. The people are by far looser and more willing to just start up a conversation. The homeless are way less aggressive and in a lot of ways not that much of a problem outside L.A or San Francisco. You just feel like your able to relax versus constantly being on your toes for the next fight.
When you step away and realize how different Seattle operates versus the rest of the country it's crazy. Party because of how long it's been out on it's own and separated from the rest of the country. Seattle truly does things it's own insular way and if you don't fit in or get it be ready to be run out. Every place has beauty and pain, you just have to find it. Seattle just happens to constantly show you both sides 24/7.
What an interesting perspective - thanks! When I visit my parents in Southern California, I do imagine what living there would be like. Growing up, I had this weird fascination with California - it, too, is a dream. I don't know what the recruiter will come up with but I told him anywhere on the west coast including Nevada lol.
Maybe I should just stay put - suffer through Midwest winters and no family, just so I can save money until retirement. Not ideal but visiting and vacationing may be the best way. I keep talking myself out of it because I KNOW how expensive it is - where I live now, I make extra payments on my mortgage most months because I can. I'm not bragging, this is a strange and cool place to be, so I wonder if I should put this particular dream to rest...
$4k a month is pretty expensive. Did you need a 3 bedroom flat or something for family? I live in a 1 bedroom in First Hill for like... nearly a quarter of what you paid.
In 1940, Thomas Wolfe wrote a book titled, "You Can't Go Home Again" including how much Asheville NC had changed from the 1920s. This lament was in 1940. So it has been going on for a long time, nostalgia and missing the benefits of the past.
Life has changed for the worse in many ways. Going back home after 2 decades, you are going to find that most things are not the same and not improved either. That is true for most of us. I moved on. Going home was never an option.
You are very lucky to have lived in Seattle at one of the best times. You are one step ahead of the rest of us for that. Seattle is not the same and never will be the same.
I visited Seattle in 1982. No homeless.
I returned in 1991. A scattering at the waterfront.
Compare to today.
In 1982, Interstate 5 was flowing freely. The last time I visited seattle, I constantly stayed on the Aurora because I5 was constantly a parking lot.
$4k a month is pretty expensive. Did you need a 3 bedroom flat or something for family? I live in a 1 bedroom in First Hill for like... nearly a quarter of what you paid.
It was a 2 bedroom as we have kids and it was essential to live in a good school district. It was on Dexter. I saw 5 places in the QA school district and they were all 3600-4400.
I can feel your heartbreak. DC is beautiful, though and you can travel further north for gorgeous fall scenery.
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