A dream job for DH has come up. He's very happy with his current job, but this one was just dropped in his lap by an old coworker. His phone screen was with some famous guy in his industry at a very large, very well known company. It went really well and he's been asked to consider if he could even move to Seattle before moving forward.
I've never been to Seattle and my experience with it is limited to the Twilight movies. We don't have people to watch our children overnight, so I'd have to make a decision about moving there without ever visiting. Ive done some googling, but it's not like I can put this out there on FB for the world to see. I need all the info on Seattle. It seems like such a mega culture shock from metro D.C. I just can't even envision it.
Help me!! What do you know about Seattle? Schools, environment, culture, cost of living...anything you know is game. Hey, even if you had a cousin's boyfriend's ex wife who once lived there- that's better than me. Any info is good for me!!
I'm leaning toward a very strong no on the move, but I'm not sure if that's just because I don't know anything or am against this idea. I'm very risk averse- I mean I only allowed myself to spend $3 in Vegas. I just don't want that to hold DH back from something amazing.
Paging tiffmich08 because she's a transplant. I'm a native Washingtonian so my experience would be different than hers. I'll come back and post more after I put Ro down for the night.
Me: 32, PCOS Him: 30, 4.5% morph, TTC: 10/11/12 After 5 failed Clomid cycles and 3 failed Femara cycles with HCG triggers, IVF #1 w/ICSI April 2015 resulted in a BFP! Our little Newt was born January 2016!
My cousin, who is originally from DC, lives there with his wife (she's from there) and 3 kids. They love it. I've only been there once and really liked it, but I honestly have no other info to give you.
What I can tell you is that a big move like that with young kids is VERY hard. I'm not saying it's not doable because it is, but it is very stressful. I mean, really really stressful. I actually like moving and discovering new places and our move was worth it, but I'm not going to lie about how crazy it was.
Also, I'm not sure what company your DH is looking at, but my cousin works for Microsoft and is very happy there.
I have a few friends I met through IF that live there. I just put this question out to them. They probably won't know much about schools since our oldest kids are 4, but the rest of it they can answer!
We have visited once. There's a nice harbor, sonif yiu are into sailing or water, it's gorgeous. My aunt and uncle live on a sailboat, and that is one of their docking places.
It rains a lot. It's kinda windy. There is some public transport but I am betting not as nice as the metro. I only took it twice when I was in Seattle. It was fine though.
There is quite a bit of cool stuff to do there. That's all I have.
Okay. So. I moved away when I was 18 so it's been awhile. I can't give you any "living there as an adult" experience, but I can tell you about growing up there and visiting as an adult. If there are specific areas/suburbs, I may be able to give you more detail. I freaking love Seattle. I have a hard time explaining exactly why. I'm sure some of it is just because it feels like home. I love exploring the city. There is so much to do and see. I've taken DH there four times and we've never done the same activities twice, besides visiting Pike Place market for flowers and donuts. It's become a tradition for us. The mix of urban, ocean, and evergreen forest is so unique. There are endless places to swim or hike or picnic. I live in Minnesota and I'm shocked that people in the Seattle area are so much nicer than in the land of Minnesota nice. Generally people eco conscious and liberal. The cost of living is high, but I don't know that it's higher than any other big cities. Schools do vary greatly depending on your district, so I'm afraid that's something you'll have to research once you have a better idea of what area you're looking at. Honestly, I would move back in a heartbeat, but my family is... complicated. Also, for whatever it's worth, a coworker of mine goes to Seattle a couple times a year because she loves it so much. She has no ties there, but but would love to move there if it weren't for her dad with medical issues here.
Me: 32, PCOS Him: 30, 4.5% morph, TTC: 10/11/12 After 5 failed Clomid cycles and 3 failed Femara cycles with HCG triggers, IVF #1 w/ICSI April 2015 resulted in a BFP! Our little Newt was born January 2016!
Post by bluefairy5 on Jan 28, 2017 21:10:26 GMT -5
I have a friend who moved from a metropolitan area in NC to Seattle (so, not quite D.C. but not rural Montana, either) and loves it there. She lives in Mill Creek. Socially and politically she's quite liberal, and feels she's found a good niche there. Has a 3-yo daughter and has been happy with the things available in that regard. She offered for you to FB message her, but I know you're pretty private, but I am happy to relay any questions!
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Post by turquoisequeen on Jan 28, 2017 21:24:49 GMT -5
Loved visiting there. Nice people. Great food. Lots to see and do. Lots of outdoorsy people. We visited for 4 days and didn't rent a car... took public transit or walked everywhere. It was beautiful in Sept and didn't rain at all while we were there but I know it does rain a good bit there.
As to weather, it rains a lot in the winter (the last couple years have seen more snow than rain, though) and a fair amount in the spring and late fall. But summer and early fall are absolutely gorgeous, though some summers see drought.
Oh, and also. I5 (main freeway) is atrocious during rush hour. Like, really bad. But once you figure out what time's to avoid it, you're gold.
Me: 32, PCOS Him: 30, 4.5% morph, TTC: 10/11/12 After 5 failed Clomid cycles and 3 failed Femara cycles with HCG triggers, IVF #1 w/ICSI April 2015 resulted in a BFP! Our little Newt was born January 2016!
It's in an earthquake zone It's gorgeous in summer Schools are great, especially for special needs People are outdoorsy and crunchy Companies tend to be a little more laid back expect people to have a life. Have great family leave policies. Can be cheaper at times to fly through Canada to get places.
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I live in LA and have met several Seattle-to-LA tech transplants in the last few years. For what it's worth, almost all of them have said that the traffic in Seattle is WORSE than that in LA. Let me tell you, that is saying something.
Other than that, I have been to Seattle a good amount of times and have always enjoyed it. Beautiful nature within the city, awesome nature-y day trips outside of the city, amazing food (especially seafood!), smart liberal people, no snooty "old money" feel like you get on the east coast. Downsides: 9 months of rain and gray. High cost of living. Big spiders.
You've gotten some good info so far! One of my friends is asking what area of Seattle before she gives me more info, she said it could affect a lot of her answers. If you don't want to give that up, I completely understand.
A student of mine just moved from there and I remember his mom telling me about the earthquake zone. She said that's one reason they left. They are also conservative and couldn't handle the liberal way of thinking.
Ok, but for real. I asked my coworker whose daughter lives out there. She lived in NOVA until a few years ago. She loves it, as stated very liberal. It is expensive and lots of traffic, but not as bad as here. There are city things to do, but it is a much smaller city. It can rain a lot. This is from a 20 something with no children.
You stated there is no family to help you, but are they very far? We have no family near by, but they are still drivable. I had wanted to move to the west coast at one point (DH wasn't a fan), but our families would have been a long plane flight away.
I need to know -- the $3 in Vegas, was it on penny machines to make it last longer? Did you win anything and cash out right away?
The only thing I know about Washington, and not even Seattle in particular, is that a few of my favorite wineries are there!
I mean sure it sounds like a great place from what everybody has said, but here's where I'd be on it:
No way could I move cross country without ever having been to the city or a peek at where I'd be living. I wasn't exactly sure which house we'd bought when we moved here (we looked at 80 in two weekends!), but I knew I had seen it and liked it
I know there's no family nearby now (same as with us), but how easy would it be to get to or from Seattle and Texas? I'd think there's direct flights to whatever airport your family is near, but I'd want to confirm and compare the prices if that's a factor for visits.
We moved here for DH's job. He knew people through work and had somewhere to go and see people every day. Obviously you'll get out more with LO's, but how are you when it comes to meeting new people and making friends? I don't want to have to deal with that again. LOL
MC Sept '10, MC Dec '10, DS born 2012 Clomid + TI = BFP #1 March '13, MC April '13 Gonal F + trigger + IUI #1 = BFP #2 10/21/13, MC 10/31/13 Gonal F + trigger + IUI #2 = BFP #3 1/16/14, ectopic w/ heartbeat & rt salpingectomy 1/29/14 IVF #1 - ER 5/9/14 transfer cx'd due to high P4 FET #1 - 6/26/14 transferred 1 AA blast BFP!! EDD 3/11/15 Beta #1 13dp5dt - 1548 Beta #2 15dp5dt - 2748 Beta #3 18dp5dt - 7586
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! This is tons of great info. And, thank you so much for sending out feelers to your friends. I really appreciate it, as I can't really come out on FB and ask. It really sounds like people just fall in love with Seattle and I'm glad to hear your thoughts on the culture. That area of the country is just so unknown to me and I've read that Seattle definitely has a certain feel (but, I think I'd like it!). Anyway, despite the terror of these huge spiders (WTF?!?! SPIDERS?!?!) and earthquakes, I think DH is going to continue with the interview process. A move with three little kids to an area I know nothing about is so scary (I'm going to be sending you some messages, leahb12!), but I've just been feeling so restless lately. Our parents have to fly or drive days to see us, so it's not a huge ordeal for them either way. And, as DH reminded me, his parents moved from VA to Seattle in the 70s before settling in Texas. Seattle has a lot of the characteristics I think I'd like in an area and it seems to be an amazing opportunity for DH. This is SO early in the interview process, but I'm feeling more confident in the idea that this might be a great thing for our family.
If the interview goes well, I'm definitely going to take you guys up on the offer for info on neighborhoods and maybe even ask for more info from your friends. DH has two former coworkers who moved out there in the last few months and they live in eastern suburbs, but I'm not sure where the actual office is. I'll be asking soon enough!!
ruthie, as to the spiders, the only big spiders I really saw growing up were daddy long legs. They're harmless and mostly all leg. Creepy if you're somebody who's freaked out by spiders in general, but not a real concern otherwise.
Earthquakes... That is a valid concern, but I can tell you about my personal experiences. I've always actually enjoyed them, as do many people in WA. Growing up, I actually slept right through them and was disappointed when I found out in the morning. Some are bigger than others, but I've never been through one that actually scared me. The most damage I've seen from them is minor plaster and foundation cracks. That's not to say the "big one" isn't coming, but every area has its own set of possible natural disasters, so I feel like it's a wash.
Me: 32, PCOS Him: 30, 4.5% morph, TTC: 10/11/12 After 5 failed Clomid cycles and 3 failed Femara cycles with HCG triggers, IVF #1 w/ICSI April 2015 resulted in a BFP! Our little Newt was born January 2016!
H and I flew in and out on a trip to Canada. We got in the "rush hour" traffic people mentioned. It was annoying, but nothing compared to Atlanta. Loved the feel of the city and would like to visit longer. If you move forward I have a friend's from my BMB from the area I can tag in to answer more questions.
Post by karabear4409 on Jan 30, 2017 7:47:00 GMT -5
I've never been, but I've only heard great things. I just wanted to wish your H luck in the interview process and both of you luck making that hard decision, if he gets it!
I'm happy to help in any way! Also as hard as it is, I think it's best to do a big move like that when the kids are so young. We moved a few months before DS1 started K, and we both agreed that we wouldn't want to move again unless we have to now that he's in elementary school.
Just know that as stressful as it is, it's temporary. And it could be a lot of fun!
I spent parts of my early childhood there and, to this day, feel that my time there was incredible. It's a great place for kids - museums, aquariums, diverse nature all around, ferry rides, nice people! I've been back a dozen times as an adult and always loved visiting. My brother lived there for a decade as an adult and was sad to leave. I would love to live in Seattle...GL to your H on the interview!
We have visited Seattle about twice a year for the last five years for fun - and then I've had dozens of stays there for work (flight attendant). So my opinion is purely tourist-based. The city is awesome, lots of great shopping, Pike Place Market is world famous for a reason, and the city is very walkable. We only rented a car one time to drive out to the Boeing factory. The baseball, football and soccer stadiums are all in a row. Probably more homeless people than any other city in the US that I have been to besides Honolulu. Cost of living is high but I imagine it is comparable to DC. We have been for a week when it poured rain nonstop and then another time had beautiful weather the whole trip. Seattle was actually one of our two cities we had to pick between when we moved this last spring. A few factors had us choose elsewhere but the main thing was cost of living.
Post by wibblywobbly on Jan 31, 2017 15:29:53 GMT -5
I was born just south of Seattle and then grew up in Canada just a few hours north of Seattle. I visited there often and then was there for a bit a few years ago on our way to a cruise. I love Seattle, mostly for the culture and climate. I actually enjoy the rain and it never seemed to be excessive. The city is very diverse and easily walkable. Last time I was there we landed in the airport then took the train into the city, then we walked to the Greyhound terminal. The cost of living is high and schools range from okay to awesome. It's right on the water so fresh fish all the time! (If you like seafood.) Traffic on the I5 is terrible.
Good luck with the decision, it would be hard for me to make this life choice without visiting the city.
MC 11/2007, MC 11/2008 4 cancelled IUIs in 2014 IVF 7/2014 - BFP! Sophie Due 4/9/15 Born 3/22/15 Surprise BFP - Ectopic Pregnancy Right Salpingectomy 8/2015 Another spontaneous BFP 1/2016 - Liam Due 10/08/16 Born 9/25/2016
I've been out there once and loved it so insanely much that DH and I hope to move there one day. It was beautiful, there was a ton to do, and it seemed easy enough to get to places. Looks like PPs gave you some great insight. It is a lot to up and move, and it's scary. So the job offer he's getting would really REALLY have to be worth it.
Post by amandaleigh on Feb 2, 2017 20:01:29 GMT -5
I lived in Seattle (in the city not the burbs) for 12 years and moved away 2 years ago. Reach out if you need any more intel. My son was born there so I have experience of the city with at least a small child.
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