Teach me about Seattle living. Pros and cons

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foghorn67

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
I live in Orange County, CA. I do like it here, but CA is getting ridiculous on so many levels. Its also getting too crowded. When a Californian says that, you know its reached epic levels.
I love the weather (but the lack of rain might get us into a nightmare).

The company I work for is expanding in Seattle, and I might have the opportunity to play a big role in the expansion. Its far from a sure thing, but our departments' director got wind of my interest to relocate there and he didn't exactly close the door on it.

I have lots of questions about living there. Taxes? Rent? Good neighborhoods to live in (one room apt.)
People in general. I know Southern Californians are known to be materialistic and unapproachable. Seattle folks didn't seem to be radically different. Not unfriendly jerks, but not like the friendly south either.
Stuff to do...etc.

Interests are photography, outdoors, cars, shooting.

I took a few business trips up there in the past couple of years, I enjoyed it. Didn't get to see too much, but I had time to go to the air and space museum and check out Pike's Market.
Thanks in advanced.
 
deadlyapp

deadlyapp

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2004
6,660
737
126
Outdoors will be phenomenally better and shooting as well. You will have fewer outdoor days though as the rain is unpredictable and often. You've got a hell of a lot more scenery closer though - great snowboarding/skiing within an hour or two, a ton of national forests, the ocean if you go west, etc.

Sales tax is similar or slightly higher, there is no income tax though, which is a great bonus. Expect to spend more or similar if you want to live in Seattle proper, but there is a huge suburban sprawl around seattle which can reduce cost significantly.

Edit: If you have any other questions I can probably answer them. I lived in the Seattle area for about 13 years growing up and have lived in Cali since (central coast, LA, and SF).
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,057
14,462
146
Property taxes are comparable (or less than) much of CA, sales taxes are about the same, energy costs are considerably lower, food prices tend to be higher.

I don't live IN Seattle...but I'm an hour ferry ride away. (or about the same by car) Seattle housing costs are only slightly less than San Francisco prices...the city is crowded...crime is high...but (if you're into it, I'm not) pot is legal.
Weather is much more comfortable than most of CA...except for San Diego proper...rarely gets over 90 or under 30...snows a bit in the winter, but serious snow is pretty rare...but it does rain a fuck of a lot.
Seattle is pretty liberal...with all the good and bad that brings.

Personally, I would NOT want to live on that side of Puget Sound. Too crowded, too much crime, too expensive...BUT, I AM glad to be back in the PNW after 25 years in NorCal. Over here, it's a MUCH more laid-back way of life.
 
skyking

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,725
5,851
146
do you know the general location of the job?
That will play a huge part in where to seek housing. Seattle is not as far along with transit as many cities but they are working actively at improving it. If the job is Seattle-north, Ballard is a great place to look for housing.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,057
14,462
146
skyking said:
do you know the general location of the job?
That will play a huge part in where to seek housing. Seattle is not as far along with transit as many cities but they are working actively at improving it. If the job is Seattle-north, Ballard is a great place to look for housing.
Click to expand...

Just stay the hell away from South King County...and North Pierce County...right?
aag.gif
 
skyking

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,725
5,851
146
If the job is south-ish then you are stuck there. There are even OK choices down that way.
 
B

BUTCH1

Lifer
Jul 15, 2000
20,433
1,769
126
Their NFL team has a coach who will live in infamy as making the worst play-call in SB history.
 
shortylickens

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
its so liberal they actually flipped around and now move backwards in civilization.

they are so impressed with their coffee houses you will probably go broke trying to get your caffeine fix.
 
D

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
Can you handle 300+ days of grey skies a year? After 20+ years here I now think of light grey clouds as a "sunny" day :)

No income taxes is a win, though they try to make up for it with high sales and property taxes. The current governor is trying to push for capital gains taxes but that probably won't happen.

I grew up in Redondo Beach, CA and feel at home here. Even though I can't walk down to the beach after work for a swim :(
 
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RaistlinZ

RaistlinZ

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
7,470
9
91
DaveSimmons said:
Can you handle 300+ days of grey skies a year? After 20+ years here I now think of light grey clouds as a "sunny" day :)

No income taxes is a win, though they try to make up for it with high sales and property taxes. The current governor is trying to push for capital gains taxes but that probably won't happen.

I grew up in Redondo Beach, CA and feel at home here. Even though I can't walk down to the beach after work for a swim :(
Click to expand...

Fellow Redondo Beach'er myself. :) I miss that place.

Growing up under the bright sun I don't think I could ever live where it's so grey and rainy all year. Maybe you get used to it, but I think it'd take an emotional toll after a while.
 
skyking

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,725
5,851
146
you keep telling that 300 day number. It keeps the riff raff from moving up :D
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,057
14,462
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skyking said:
you keep telling that 300 day number. It keeps the riff raff from moving up :D
Click to expand...

It's actually not too far off the truth...

SEATTLE - Those new to the area this summer, with its seemingly endless sunshine, might be surprised that Seattle only averages 58 sunny days a year. That's seventh-least in the U.S. of cities that report official climate data, and as you might expect, other Pacific Northwest cities dot the list.
But I bet you can't guess the least-sunny place in the U.S.

With just 48 sunny days a year, it's Elkins, West Virginia, just edging out Astoria, Oregon which has 50.

As for the rest of Seattle's days, we average 226 cloudy days (4th most in the U.S.) and 81 partly cloudy days. Of all those days, we get 155 days of rain a year
Click to expand...
(from KOMO News)
 
V

velillen

Platinum Member
Jul 12, 2006
2,120
1
81
Seattle and King County are turning more and more into a mini California....or trying to at least. Lots of transplants from CA. With that youll find quite a difference of people in the state. people in King County tend to be different then the rest of the state

Its like any big city. Living in the city is expensive. Go outside of Seattle and you can find cheaper. Just depends how far of a commute you want. Traffic in Seattle blows and public transportation is still evolving.

As for everything else interest wise....we have great outdoors. It can get crowded in the more well known places though. Snoqualmie Pass is only ~1 hour from Seattle and offers skiing (well most years), hiking, and other adventures.

Shooting wise...in seattle you will be pretty limited to just handgun ranges. All the rifle ranges are a bit south or north and would be a bit of a trek compared to shooting handguns. But there are some nice ranges

Im like Boomer though...Ill never live on "that side of the water".
 
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foghorn67

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
Right now, we are in Renton and Kent. If I take a trip up there, the SeaTac Airport are the hotels where we stay. Driving to the offices takes me through some decent looking suburbs through the hills.
I didn't see too many apartments worth noting but I wasn't looking.
I don't know where we would expand at the moment. It would probably be towards the city or in it.
 
R

rednas

Senior member
May 26, 2010
298
0
76
I am also interested in this thread since there is a chance I will be moving to the area soon.
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
It's better than SoCal. (Aenima...) Pros: Cheap for a major city with decent population density. No income taxes. Can buy a lot of shit online to avoid sales tax on most goods. (And most food isn't taxed) Natural disasters and dangerous weather are pretty much non-existent. A lot of green and vegetation 365/24/7 compared to most other regions of the USA (but that's just how the PNW is; thanks Douglas Firs). It's likely going to be one of the best cities to live in 20 years if it doesn't get overcrowded. (This is because in 20 years climate change will royally fuck over a lot of other regions of the USA but not much for the PNW)

Cons: The people suck (this is huge...). City looks grey as fuck a lot of the year and it is constantly raining. The ground never dries. Weather generally sucks 9+ months of the year.

Outside of that, it is probably better than most of California. You can afford a home in Seattle if you do tech and the tax burden is quite low. There are also a lot of outdoorsy things to do within 1-2 hour drives but most people just stay in the city.

And if you're into cars, forget about it in Seattle. There is no car culture. You'll see a lot of Tesla's and Priuses... That's about as far as car culture goes. If you want car culture go hang out with the hood rats in Renton and drag race your POS rice-baker. Same for guns. People aren't into guns in Seattle. If you want to do that, you can go hang out with some hicks out past Tacoma or something.
 
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