Hey all! I'm thinking about relocating to Seattle. I just wanted to hear some input from those that live there: best areas, your experience there, employment, costs, etc. I know it does rain, not to concerned about that. I love the area and would like to know more about various neighborhoods. Ideally I would like somewhere close enough to dt that I would not have to drive to get there, but far enough out to have a house w/ garage without to horrible a price. I look forward to your stories/input!

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1982 300SD 180K, rebuilt engine
1973 450SLC Megasquirt
1990 Volvo 780 - 273k
1993 Volvo 240 Wagon - Scrap yard slumber

http://www.fuelly.com/sig-us/44619.png

The key is what is a reasonable price to you, and what field do you work in? Seattle is a big place, the Seattle metro area is huge, so where you will be working and where you will be living may be a few miles apart. Cheap housing doesn't happen there, that's why I am here. $1200 a month might get you a one bedroom apartment. Go further out, maybe as far as Maple Valley, and that same $1200 might get you a small run down house. Go across the water to Kitsap County, and you might find a halfway decent place for that much.
I know the economy there has dropped a bit in the two years since I left, so it may be cheaper there now.
Oh yeah, and if you want to donate that Volvo to a good home, let me know-

Remember that Washington and Oregon have one of the nation's highest suicide rate. The weather seems to be the main reason. Dull, over cast, rainy days with relatively long winter nights lead to a kind of 'cabin fever'. If you come from a place with relatively few trees then you may find the tree covered roads and hills a bit claustrophobic.

But, whatever you do bring your wallet.

That's funny....Scotland is with the LOWEST suicide rate in Europe and the weather is 99% like Washington and Oregon. Edinburgh and Seattle are virtually the same as weather and seasons. The only difference is that in Seattle they drive in the "wrong" side of the road

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http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/v...7/scotflag.gif http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/v.../scot2flag.gif

"If women are so bloody perfect at multitasking how come they can't have a headache and sex at the same time?"
Billy Connolly

The Scots have lived with that kind of weather for a thousand years which explains why the have such a high rate of alcoholism and they thing haggis is great.

Two words--Subversion Quake.

Could you point to some statistics that support that assertion?

You don't really know anything about Scotland do you? Just some folklore stories you have read on the Internet.

According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in their 2008-2009 "National Surveys on Drug Use and Health," North Dakota had the highest rate (10.8%) of alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse during the survey year while Tennessee had the lowest rate (6.0 %).
North Dakota also had the highest rate (31.4%) in the nation for "binge alcohol use" by persons who were 12 years old or older.

"Binge alcohol use" is defined as drinking five or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting on at least one day in the 30 days prior to the survey. Whereas North Dakota had the highest rate (31.4%), Utah had the lowest rate (15.9%).

In 2009 Scotland consumed 6.5 liters per head of 100% alcohol, the USA 7.6 liters.....nothing more to comment.

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http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/v...7/scotflag.gif http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/v.../scot2flag.gif

"If women are so bloody perfect at multitasking how come they can't have a headache and sex at the same time?"
Billy Connolly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Suicide_world_map_-_2009_Male.svg

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http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/v...7/scotflag.gif http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/v.../scot2flag.gif

"If women are so bloody perfect at multitasking how come they can't have a headache and sex at the same time?"
Billy Connolly

Fun Fact, annual rainfall in Seattle is less than New York City. However, Seattle's rain is mostly half a years worth of drizzles, not big floods and thunderstorms.

It's funny you mention that. I had read that very fact and quote it often to friends when I mention Seattke and the first thing they say is it rains too much.

Everyone brings up great points. IIRC the cost of lliving is apx. 20% higher then where I live currently (SLC). On the other side of that I noticed an abundence of help wanted signs during my visit over Memorial weekend. In contrast businesses continue to close their doors in SL. On a personal level having guaged ears, facial hair, tattoos, and a non traditional family does not automatically make you a trouble maker as it does here. There's also not total control over the state by a certain religious group who shall remain nameless. There is significantly more crowding. I know some of the pros and cons, and am grateful to hear the inpit from those who do/have lived there. I look forward to another trip up there, hopefully by the end of this month. Maybe someone from this bored would be willing to get together and show me around? Thanks for the input guys/gals!

PS- forgive my typing, I do all of this from my phone which is touchscreen and can't always get my thumbs to fit on the keys. ;-)

__________________
1982 300SD 180K, rebuilt engine
1973 450SLC Megasquirt
1990 Volvo 780 - 273k
1993 Volvo 240 Wagon - Scrap yard slumber

http://www.fuelly.com/sig-us/44619.png

and yet, there's Starbucks in SLC . . .

Seattle proper has a wide range of housing; from the Lake Washington mansions and below; lower priced options around the UW campus, and as you get further from the water and Elliot Bay, even more choices. Then there's the outlying communities ranging down south towards Tacoma and then up north towards Everett, all along that I-5 ribbon.

Sadly the 240 went to the scrapyard. It was a rust bucket from Wisconsin. carrier bearing was shot, motor mounts were gone, started spewing oil. I know they were easy fixes (the mechanical ones anyway) but I was done with this 500 dollar car. She served her purpose well though, hauled two OM617's in her and moved the blocks, heads, etc for the SD while I was rebuilding her. You should have seen the guys faces at the shop when I pulled up with a diesel engine in the back! Priceless. Those guys didn't realize how tough an old Volvo was.

__________________
1982 300SD 180K, rebuilt engine
1973 450SLC Megasquirt
1990 Volvo 780 - 273k
1993 Volvo 240 Wagon - Scrap yard slumber

http://www.fuelly.com/sig-us/44619.png

To be fair to the Scots, you'd be pickled as well if you had to run around in a drafty old kilt and listen to some dentally-challenged twits drone away on bagpipes all day.

If you want less crowding consider Portland.
My lack of body art makes me stand out in a crowd here.