My bittersweet Seattle experience (Issaquah, George: home, high school, salary)

[NW4me]

Very engaging story!

One odd thing: when you were interviewing, didn't you mention that you'd grown up in Seattle?
It sounds like the potential employers thought of you as an outsider,
as though the time you spent in California canceled your Seattle-native status.

I lived in the DC area many many years ago... everyone knows about the museums,
monuments and historic sites, but what sometimes goes unmentioned is how much
beautiful park land there is in the region, including within DC itself (Rock Creek Park).

However, I hated the northeastern winters. Being from So Cal, I wasn't accustomed
to the cold, and didn't like the ugly ice and slush on the sidwalks, the bare trees,
or the months of nothing going on.

But don't worry about that now. Get out and enjoy the spring / summer / fall!

[cis_love]

When we moved from LA to the Seattle area 7 years ago I knew nothing about WA and had pretty low expectations. I think I was pleasantly surprised by many things. Love the quiet area we're in and the slower pace of life. Housing is def cheaper than where I'm from. In the time we've been here, my husband's salary has quadrupled, our QOL has increased so much. We love this area. I miss CA a lot too but I think if I ever go back, I'll prob go back with unexpected expectations and nostalgia and will be disappointed by reality.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by NW4me

Very engaging story!

One odd thing: when you were interviewing, didn't you mention that you'd grown up in Seattle?
It sounds like the potential employers thought of you as an outsider,
as though the time you spent in California canceled your Seattle-native status.

I lived in the DC area many many years ago... everyone knows about the museums,
monuments and historic sites, but what sometimes goes unmentioned is how much
beautiful park land there is in the region, including within DC itself (Rock Creek Park).

However, I hated the northeastern winters. Being from So Cal, I wasn't accustomed
to the cold, and didn't like the ugly ice and slush on the sidwalks, the bare trees,
or the months of nothing going on.

But don't worry about that now. Get out and enjoy the spring / summer / fall!

Exactly what I was wondering. OP, when your interviewers would make a comment about not needing any more people from CA, most Seattle natives' automatic response would have been to say, "I'm from here, born and raised, I've just been away for a bit, and have been homesick for quite awhile". Is there a reason why you didn't speak up? It might have made a difference as to how many job offers you got.

The question about why would you want to move to a liberal city is bizarre. Don't they know CA is a liberal state, at least in the urban areas? Either the interviewers were inept, or there was something in your resume they didn't believe measured up, so they were looking for excuses to cut you out.

[yaya97]

Originally Posted by ponpiri

I can feel your heartbreak. DC is beautiful, though and you can travel further north for gorgeous fall scenery.

I will report back

[yaya97]

Originally Posted by NW4me

Very engaging story!

One odd thing: when you were interviewing, didn't you mention that you'd grown up in Seattle?
It sounds like the potential employers thought of you as an outsider,
as though the time you spent in California canceled your Seattle-native status.

I lived in the DC area many many years ago... everyone knows about the museums,
monuments and historic sites, but what sometimes goes unmentioned is how much
beautiful park land there is in the region, including within DC itself (Rock Creek Park).

However, I hated the northeastern winters. Being from So Cal, I wasn't accustomed
to the cold, and didn't like the ugly ice and slush on the sidwalks, the bare trees,
or the months of nothing going on.

But don't worry about that now. Get out and enjoy the spring / summer / fall!

Yes I mentioned every time that in spite of living in 3 countries in in 15 years, I considered ( and still do!!) myself a Seattleite.
Funny you mentioned Rock Creek as that is close to the home we closed on yesterday ( we purchased in a burb called Tenleytown! Will report back. This said, even in DC, it`s go Seahawks for me!

[yaya97]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Exactly what I was wondering. OP, when your interviewers would make a comment about not needing any more people from CA, most Seattle natives' automatic response would have been to say, "I'm from here, born and raised, I've just been away for a bit, and have been homesick for quite awhile". Is there a reason why you didn't speak up? It might have made a difference as to how many job offers you got.

The question about why would you want to move to a liberal city is bizarre. Don't they know CA is a liberal state, at least in the urban areas? Either the interviewers were inept, or there was something in your resume they didn't believe measured up, so they were looking for excuses to cut you out.

I mentioned in every interview that I`m from Seattle and also mentioned that truthfully I was very homesick. I did speak up. The liberal comment came as one interviewer who saw that I lived in Indiana many years automatically assumed that I was rightwing as Indiana is a red state.

[jabogitlu]

Originally Posted by yaya97

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.

Ah, yeah, that makes sense. There's a reason most people with families live in Federal Way, Lynnwood, Shoreline, Everett, Marysville...

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by yaya97

I mentioned in every interview that I`m from Seattle and also mentioned that truthfully I was very homesick. I did speak up. The liberal comment came as one interviewer who saw that I lived in Indiana many years automatically assumed that I was rightwing as Indiana is a red state.

That's completely bizarre and unprofessional. Is this what Seattle has come to? I remember the days (in Seattle) when no one mentioned politics in the workplace, or even outside the workplace. It just wasn't that big a deal.

[Gaylord_Focker]

Really enjoyed the OP. It was very emotional though obviously there was some bias

I was only in Seattle for one year, but I looooved the weather. Could've used more snow, but loved that it was never hot.

Looks like OP settled in DC? Loved my time there. Great 4 seasons and Georgetown is wonderful

[bobspez]

So much delusional thinking. Thinking you could go home again. Thinking you could live better on a lower salary and position. Leaving a comfortable life to recapture a memory. Living DT instead of a nice suburb, then being bothered by all the homelessness. I hope you can recoup your losses and learn from your mistakes.

I lived in a bunch of cities, NYC, Detroit, LA, Seattle, SF, Denver. The best city for me was the one with the most economic opportunity, which was NYC. Even though I was born in NYC and lived most of my life there, I retired to NJ because it's better value for my retirement dollars.

I was never fond of Seattle or it's weather. I lived in Issaquah and in Seattle for 1-1/2 years as a sophomore and junior in high school. I spent close to 10 years in SF and LA and preferred both to Seattle. In your shoes I would have picked Lake Tahoe as a vacation spot. I always felt like part of whatever city I was in at the time. I was formed by all of them.

It's funny that I have regretted some things I have done, but never regretted the things I chose not to do, because there's no way to know how they would have turned out.