Can a midwest girl survive and thrive in Seattle?

[cobalt]

We have listed our house and the showings have started!

DH is starting his job search and we are considering Seattle. We want a place where we can bike more than we do now, Green Bay WI area. Austin, TX is attractive for biking but I am not sure that we will deal well with the heat.

So, just what is it like to live and bike in Seattle?? We are used to the cold here but it is very bright and we see the sun all winter. Is it really gray all winter? I know I can solve this with a happy light!

If we lose our nerve the best bike city close by is Madison, WI but winter is long in WI. I have not been on my bike since November. I know I could put a parka on and try but my fingers turn blue when it's below 50.

Thank you!

[Biciclista]

it is pretty grey here in the winter. But we come to love our (normal) winters here because you can ride all winter. (this winter has been very different, it's been colder than normal and very snowy)

I don't have any trouble with SADD, but many people do. You'll find a lot of TE friends here already waiting for you here in Seattle.

[cobalt]

Thanks Bici, that's really nice to hear!

Do you have a lot of hills or is it flatter? We have flat with some small hills. I am so bad at hills but I suppose that comes with practice.

My daughter and brand new son-in-law just called and while they were looking at Chicago, they are not also looking at Austin, Seattle and San Francisco. We lived in San Jose so I know that I am not going to San Fran. but we might end up on the same coast which would be nice.

[salsabike]

I love it here. I love the weather, including the winters which are typically 40 degrees-ish and grey, with occasional sun. I ride all year round. I find the cool winters invigorating and the non-humid summers a true pleasure. Honest. I couldn't be happier. I grew up in Albany NY so am well acquainted with hot humid summers and frigid 5-month long snowy/icy winters. That's why I'm here.

PS We have LOTS of hills. You'll build the skills.

[Drtgirl]

Hi, I'm a midwest gal (Michigan) and have lived in Seattle for almost 5 years now. Whether you like the pacific northwest or not depends on your personal preferences. Honestly, I can't wait to move out of here. I like warm weather and the *few* weeks we have in the summer is not enough for me.

The riding is much better here than the midwest. Yes, you can ride all year-if you have fenders and raingear! It can be quite hilly in spots but there are also flat rides too. You can also find tons of people to ride with- Seattle is a very bike-friendly town.

PM me if you have any questions.

[cobalt]

I woke to find more help, you are the best, thanks!

I don't like the sun, I hide from it and once it's over 75 I want fall to come. So, that is why Austin is scary to me and Seattle not so scary. Once we zero in on job possibilities I'll have a better idea of where we might be going.

We turned 50 a day apart and just decided that we didn't want to wait til we were 65 to make a move. It's nice to take charge after being moved so many times with my husband's company. We both work full time so I love the idea of taking things down a few notches, smaller house, more biking etc.

I will have lots of questions in the coming months, thanks so much.

[Aggie_Ama]

I have no opinion on PNW because I am still waiting to visit but I overheard a funny conversation between a Wisconsin transplant to Texas and a Texas uproot to Colorado last weekend.

Wisc: I think after 5 years we finally just learned to deal with the heat and appreciate the come winter we wouldn't be shoveling that g-d snow. Plus the spring and fall is not too bad when we finally go into the 80's and my friends left up north can't ride on Christmas day without studded tires but I went out with the kids (his boys are racers).

Colo: I miss it here but not the summers. In Colorado we like the snow the first few weeks we ski then remember the summers are gorgeous and we really live there for the summers because you don't melt.


Oh and on the hills, you just get stronger. I moved from a flatter area when I was in college to here and you just start learning.

[solobiker]

You will have to let me know what you think. DH and I moved away from cold and grey northwestern NY winters to the great state of CO. We have been out here for about 13 years and love it, but we miss the water. When we moved out here our 2nd choice was Washington. I am not sure if I could handle the lack of sun. But being near water again would be great.Good luck.

[Biciclista]

the toughest thing about PNW is how expensive housing is. I know a lot of people who moved here and then returned to the midwest because they couldn't stand the crummy little houses they could afford. (compared to what they could buy at the same price back home)

[tc1]

Positives about living in Seattle
NO INCOME TAX!
Usually very little snow, this winter was an exception.
Hot in the summer is above 80. We usually have a few 90 degree days.
Lots of places to ride.
Very tech savvy.
Very enlightened regarding treatment of animals.
Beautiful scenery, lots of parks.
Long growing season, if you like to garden.
Good beer.

Negatives about living in Seattle
Sales tax on everything, just about
Tim Eyman
The Seattle freeze-out. The average Seattle mien, at least for white people, is one of extreme reserve. (I mean no disrepect to anyone, I am just aware that other cultures differ.) If you want people to talk to you, you will have to initiate the conversation. If you are fine with being outgoing, and receiving the occaisional cold stare, you will thrive. If you need human contact but are shy about it, you will be miserable here.

The Seattle process- somehow we have interpreted democracy to mean everyone gets a vote on everything, and everybody's opinion, no matter how uninformed on technical matters, is equally valuable. It can be a chore to get any big projects done. And Seattleites are loath to admit that they are ignorant of any specific subject.

Weather mild enough to have very long growing season will introduce you to new allergies. Tree pollen starts in Jan or Feb, pollen season lasts until late fall, with lots of plants in between. No ragweed though.

Some huge hills. Lack of bike routes for east-west travel. If you are thinking of a house in a specific location, ask us here.

I hope you guys move out here.

[NbyNW]

Check out the website for Cascade Bicycle Club. They have a lot of organized rides -- different locations & abilities. Also a great resource for general information and bike advocacy.

I keep meaning to try out one of their rides, but have been too busy/sick/anti-social.

A lot of new office buildings have secure bicycle parking for bike commuters.

Recreationally, there are some great trails. You might be able to look up the Seattle City Bike Routes map online. I use it all the time to make up my own rides.

[Biciclista]

I don't think people here are so cold, however, I've heard young women say that guys NEVER ask them on dates here.

[Tuckervill]

I didn't spend very much time in Seattle when I was there, but I didn't find anyone to be particularly unfriendly, no more than anywhere else.

Karen

[ASammy1]

Great thread! BF and I are thinking about making the move to the PNW soon too and this is all great info!

[cobalt]

Great thread is right! Super.

We lived in Connecticut and there is a difference in areas and how people can be. CT was a bit standoffish. WI people can be friendly but they do tend to keep to themselves and their friends from high school. Small towns are hard to move to. I left,went to college, moved 8 times and am back in my hometown and I need to leave!

Where we have lived in case anyone wants info on a place in return:
WI, Campbell (San Jose) (ages ago though), Connecticut, Atlanta suburb (traffic), Holland, England. I did not mind the winters in Holland or England and they were perhaps closer to the PNW than most other places might be.