Wednesday, I will be traveling to the Seattle area to explore an opportunity for advancement within my company. While I have mixed feelings about this, I am seriously considering taking the job if it is offered to me (at a salary that I can live with, of course).
I love Florida and have enjoyed my 4+ years living in the Sunshine State. However, I have to admit that I'm a little worn down after the last couple of years. I work in an industry that isn't very popular right now (a lawmaker recently compared my company to Al Qaeda) and making a break to a part of the country where the atmosphere isn't quite as contentious is attractive to my continued sanity.
I have never been to Seattle (or Washington State). I hear it's an incredible part of the country and I'm looking forward to seeing it. I won't be heartbroken if I have to spend another year in Florida, believe me. But since my life situation allows me some mobility, I think the time is right to explore the move.
So, I'm looking for advice from anyone who may have spent an extended amount of time in Seattle. (Or maybe just a couple days...that's more than me.) Any insight you might have about the area is appreciated.
I can't speak about Settle, because I haven't been there. Although, I have a co-worker from there and she is just biding her time to go home. Rainy, but beautiful and the cost of living isn't as high as it is here.
As for the experience, I moved from the East coast, a little over a year ago, and considering how far Seattle is away from where I am, then I could be totally wrong, but I have noticed a distinct difference in the two coasts in many ways. I don't know if I'll stay in Califonia, at this point, because my career choice also affords opportunity to move, but staying here wouldn't be the worst thing in the world or even a bad thing.
The most difficult part of the entire move was leaving friends and traditions behind. I miss that tremendously around the holidays. There's always air travel, but that's not always affordable (in my case w/the number of tickets I would need to buy). It seemed like it would be, but somehow, now that I'm here it hasn't worked itself out.
That doesn't really answer your question re: Settle, just some random thoughts about such a big move...
Re: Cost of living. If you haven't done this yet. This was extremely helpful in my decision to move:
Cost of Living Calculator (http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html)
Seattle is awesome! I would move there in a heartbeat. :yes:
Wow...
(http://www.geocities.com/ryanp24/SeattleSkyline.jpg.JPG)
My ex sister in law lived there for awhile. The only thing I ever heard was that she complained it rained all the time. Don't know about that, but wouldn't it cramp your lifestyle a bit? I'm wondering how many nudist areas they have around there for you to check out. :wink:
I have been there for business for a couple of days, for me, it is a little too...Artsy Fartsy...lot of stange people (at least to me they were)...I have been to the Spokane area, and I loved that. It is very beautiful and the people were very down to earth.
Quote from: Henry Hawk on January 29, 2007, 08:11:35 AM
I have been there for business for a couple of days, for me, it is a little too...Artsy Fartsy...
No offense, Henry, but I have the impression that anything beyond lawn jockeys and black velvet Elvis paintings qualifies as "artsy fartsy" in your book.
Quote from: C91 on January 29, 2007, 09:42:59 AM
No offense, Henry, but I have the impression that anything beyond lawn jockeys and black velvet Elvis paintings qualifies as "artsy fartsy" in your book.
I'm offended.... ;D
LMAO :biggrin:
LOL yeah, I thought that was funny too!!! Poor CWM/Henry, you just can't catch a break, can you?
:biggrin:
I'm the Rodney Dangerfield of "The Unknown Zone"....I get NO respect... ;D
I respect you....as long as you stay out of the tree, put down those binoculars and quit playing with the squirrels.
:wink:
Thanks Pariann..... ;D.............I have refrained myself for several days now................thanks..... :spooked:
C, how was your trip to Seattle?...Are you going to take the advancement with you work and make the move?
Aww I love the chicken man.
I guess I haven't been doing a good job keeping you all posted.
I did take the job in Seattle and am en route this week. I'm spending tonight at my parents' house in Anderson and will be heading north tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to get about 700 miles a day in and arrive in Seattle by Saturday afternoon...weather permitting. I'll try to check in where I can find wi-fi hotspots. (Something tells me once I get into North Dakota and Montana, they might be few and far between.)
congrats!...have a safe trip... :)
Thanks for the update, C91~safe travels to you & getting settled into your new "home". :smile:
I made it to Plymouth, MN today. Traffic was nice up through Chicago and across the Wisconsin Dells. Ran into evening rush hour in the Twin Cities.
I walked into a shin-deep snow drift at a rest stop on Wisconsin just to recall what that feels like. Photos later.
My target for tomorrow is somewhere in Montana.
Congrats and safe travels C91! This is a nasty time of year to be going through some of those states. Those spring storms can be killers! Here's to hoping you are safely in Seattle before the storms even know you are around. :food5:
My travel through has been nothing short of pleasant.
My journey between the Twin Cities and Bismarck ND was a little tedious. The snow on the ground combined with hazy conditions was killing my eyes. Once I got through Bismarck, it warmed up considerably and the scenery was spectacular.
I stopped Thursday night in a town called Forsyth, MT. Montana via I-94/I-90 is a long drive, but incredible. It was in the mid-50s as I traversed the Rocky Mountains so there were no adverse weather conditions.
I spent last night in a little town called Ritzville, WA and hope to check into my new apartment today.
I'll post pictures and thoughts on my MySpace blog beginning the week of the 19th, when I'm fully connected to the net and settled in to my new surroundings.
How's Seattle?
Care to share some photos here? :yes:
I'm about a month behind on my photo blog. I'm trying to post two back entries a day to get caught up, but I'm only up to March 3 as it is. (Please bear with me.)
http://blog.myspace.com/rp1973 (http://blog.myspace.com/rp1973)
A friend of mine is trying to get me to send my resume to Microsoft. I may just do it simply for the free trip(s) to Seattle. :biggrin: