Why should I (or should I not) move to Washington state? (Seattle: home, buying)

[nicolexanne]

I am going to graduate college next May and have started thinking about where I want to move after I do graduate. I am from southern Oklahoma and I keep coming back to moving to Washington. I would really like to know what it's like to live there before I move though. Can anyone help give me an idea of what it's like?
I would prefer someone who actually lives there to tell me what it's like all of the time.
Also, what are some good areas to move to for LGBTQ culture?

If anyone has moved to Washington from Oklahoma that could give me a direct comparision that would also be very helpful! Thanks so much!

[WANative]

Ok, Ill bite--You should move to Washington if you love the outdoors, dont mind rain and have a good job lined up (COL is high). You shouldnt move to WA if you cant handle not seeing the sun for 5 months a year (Nov-March), dont like really bad traffic and finally if you dont have a good paying job lined up.

[Glacierx]

Not all of Washingon is dry. Even on the wet side, some places get 16 inches/year.

[Hemlock140]

I have friends that moved from your part of the country who have told me some of what it's like there. Washington is very much like 2 separate states.

West of the Cascade mountains is very liberal politically, tolerant and accepting of all. There is a lot of natural beauty from the woods, rivers, lakes, Puget Sound and the ocean. All of the green is due to the rain, which ranges from 40 to 130" a year.

East of the Mountains is more like Oklahoma in both being more conservative but also more hot and dry. Rainfall is just 7-20" a year, with a lot of plains, and even desert areas.

Except for a few small towns in the middle of nowhere, all of WA has a higher cost of living. West of the mountains is higher than east, and the Puget Sound area (Seattle) is among the highest priced in the county for home buying and rent.

[lady fern]

For the LGBTQ culture, I would look at either Seattle or Olympia. Or head to Portland, OR.

[bad apples]

Seattle

[es_em]

I would add that you should definitely visit before deciding to move here. And not in July or August (during our short and very glorious summer). My only knowledge is about living in Seattle, but I am a very strong believer that people pretty much either love Seattle or hate it. I know it's oversimplifying, but I've yet to meet someone who was kind of luke warm and ended up loving it here. I think it's got a combination of qualities that either click with a person, or don't. Visit and then see if you "click."

And, in Seattle, we have pretty much every kind of LGBTQ scene there is to have. Even our mayor is gay.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

West of the Cascade mountains is very liberal politically, tolerant and accepting of all.

This part was meant sarcastically, right?

Seattle is one of the most intolerant places in this state.

"Tolerance" means accepting of all. Not accepting of liberal ideals and nothing else.

[Wilson502]

Originally Posted by PS90

This part was meant sarcastically, right?

Seattle is one of the most intolerant places in this state.

"Tolerance" means accepting of all. Not accepting of liberal ideals and nothing else.

I have to agree here, especially in Seattle proper if you do not kiss Obummer's ass, and have your own independent views, and not simply just a typical liberal sheep, than you will be shunned here. Which is odd considering this is one of the most supposedly "educated" areas of the country, u would think people here could figure out that the people get screwed by both parties. Nope.

[folkguitarist555]

Yes, I agree, Seattle is beautiful, and a great city, but If you are not in a high powered white collar career (yuppie/techie to the extreme), or ultra ultra liberal granola type (tats, piercings, blue hair, goth, new age beliefs, and etc...), it is near impossible at least for single men, to date, and to make many friends. Nice city, but easily the most exclusive minded, solipsistic, and socially cold places I have ever lived, in my opinion. So if one falls into one the of the above two, then Seattle is likely paradise to them. I actually find lovely Seattle to simply be one of the most smug cities in the USA, imo, socially speaking....to put it bluntly,....lol....just my opinion and views. And the traffic? God help Seattle, with that one, it is mind numbing, imo...