C'mon, is the weather really that bad? (Seattle: apartment, new home)

[Olympian2]

Originally Posted by dav51lin

moved here from so cal for job in 1979 yes the rain here is that bad i have never gotten used to the grey damp constant rainy days 8-9 months of the year can get depressing unless u like hibernating inside away from moss grey skies wet n gloomy

Daylight (5000K) LED light bulbs have become pretty inexpensive now (Wal-Mart if you dare or Amazon for me). I've replaced my CFL bulbs with LED bulbs and just leave them on most of the time. 6500K CFL bulbs are also available. Those are really bright and do consume more power than LED bulbs, but look on the bright side and consider them supplemental heating. I don't think that I have ever been depressed by the weather, I just get tired of it and find the bright lights "uplifting". (I'm surrounded by trees, and it's never naturally very light inside even when it is sunny outside.)

I just did a quick check on Expedia and, besides food, the complete cost (including taxes and other fees) of a flight and week's stay in Las Vegas is around $540. Others like to go to Hawaii, but that would be more expensive.

Since you moved to Wherever, WA for a job, you should be able to afford one of those ideas.

Disclaimer: I have not read through this thread completely, so sorry if those ideas have been mentioned before.

[Olympian2]

Originally Posted by TrueTimbers

Now THAT is the smartest thing I have heard so far this year..¡!!!!!!!

Since I moved to Washington because I was sick of heat, sun, and droughts, >= 3 of us agree.

Rather than an impressive house in Washington or Deserton, I would prefer modest houses in both locations. I would leave Washington soon after Samhain and return with the hummingbirds.

[jertheber]

I'll throw in here with an update on what I think is the best approach to the northwest weather conundrum for those about to move here. Statistical measurement of the weather here always falls short of the "experiential" reality, that's to say that you really do have to live here for awhile to see if this clime is something that you can put up with---or not. From the other posts here that describe the likes of Pennsylvania weather I'd imagine the same sentiment applies, you gotta experience it, and yeah, charts and graphs don't mean squat..

I just returned from the Palm Springs area, we went there for some sun, and man we got our share of it, ninety one on most days, with the dust, wind, and desert blandness we really did feel like outsiders. I guess that the OP in this thread did move, and hopefully found some relief from the California heat and dryness, as for anyone else thinking about the prospect of relocating to the Pacific NW I'd say come here, spend enough time here to really get dug in, if it isn't for you, so be it, we can't all live in one place anyway.

[pikabike]

Too funny, jertheber. I also recently came back from Palm Springs. When we flew there, the predicted high was 92, and I feared it would be too much of a good thing after living in the PNW for a few years.

Walking off that plane, through the terminal, and into the dry sun felt great! I guess all those previous years of living with hot summers, plus taking countless trips to various desert areas in winter and spring, had an adaptive effect that never really wore off.

What I noticed upon returning to a damp, cool Sea-Tac, was that my allergies almost immediately kicked up. The temp change didn't faze me. Humidity might be another story.

The OP, some six years ago, said he or she LIKED rain. I wonder where he or she ended up, and how that turned out.

[Ruth4Truth]

What about the rumor I've heard elsewhere that Seattleites typically winter vacation in Hawaii. Does anyone here know anyone who does that? I'd never heard of it when I lived in Seattle, but people living elsewhere mention it, as if it were a thing. Maybe it's an exclusive socio-economic group that does that?

[Botev1912]

Hawaii, Mexico, California, Arizona.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

What about the rumor I've heard elsewhere that Seattleites typically winter vacation in Hawaii. Does anyone here know anyone who does that? I'd never heard of it when I lived in Seattle, but people living elsewhere mention it, as if it were a thing. Maybe it's an exclusive socio-economic group that does that?

I don't know about Seattleites, but tons of people where I'm from in NE WA have winter homes in Arizona.

Of course, all those people have much more $$$ than I do.

[509]

Originally Posted by PS90

I don't know about Seattleites, but tons of people where I'm from in NE WA have winter homes in Arizona.

Of course, all those people have much more $$$ than I do.

We just got a winter home in Arizona. Well, it is just our 5th wheel on a lot with a small casita.

It costs us $90/month or $1100 a YEAR. You might be able to afford that.

I think the drive down and back up costs us more for gas than the Arizona lot.

My wife just could not handle the Wenatchee weather from November through March.....so we spent the big bucks to get her out of here during those times.

[TrueTimbers]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

What about the rumor I've heard elsewhere that Seattleites typically winter vacation in Hawaii. Does anyone here know anyone who does that? I'd never heard of it when I lived in Seattle, but people living elsewhere mention it, as if it were a thing. Maybe it's an exclusive socio-economic group that does that?

In PT and the likely the San Juan islands yes,. Hawaii, south Pacific or South America seem like seasonal or longer destinations. In PT, we have quite a great group of Pacific Islander's as residents too.

I would say Hawaii is part of our natural "drift" here. It surely is not socio economic. It's a way of life.. A cultural thing.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

I've been having dreams about Yuma, AZ, lately...I don't know why...