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Corporatemonkey
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 06:07 am: | 
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I'm basically a country boy and Southern California would just be too big for me me. Seattle is big but nowhere near LA size.
In a way Seattle is more compressed than LA. Los Angeles is like row after row of small communities that together make up a a very large area. We are compressed between puget sound, the lakes, and the edge of the mountains. We are out of room.
During rush hour our traffic is actually worse than LA, and we are not allow to lane split.
Do you know what part of Seattle your job may be? Or is it in Bellevue?
which is why Wenatchee really look enticing.
Send me a email and let me know what is going on with your possible move. |
Zane
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 09:00 am: |
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Corporatemonkey,
I'm at work and can't get to my personal email so I'll just touch base here. It would be in the area of Seattle University.
We are a long way from them making an offer. I still have to do the third interview and then interview on site. Only then would I expect them to extend an offer. |
Corporatemonkey
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 09:10 am: |
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Seattle U is close to me. I am downtown next to the Pike Place Market.
If you plan on working near there, choose your living arrangement so you can take the bus. Parking is non existent during the day.
If you need any specific info PM me. |
Zane
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 11:13 am: |
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Thanks Jamie,
A lot of this is premature. I don't have a job offer in my hand yet. I'm leaning toward Farmington, New Mexico. I think the climate might be a bit more mild than Seattle and I like small town America.
Just hope I can pull it all together in time. |
Hooligan620
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 03:27 pm: |
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I live in Seattle and have been here for 25 years. I'm planning on retiring within the next two years and will be moving to Northern New Mexico.
Seattle has been good to us, we've worked and lived here, raised our two kids here. It is a very safe place considering it's a city of 600,000 people.
The weather is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be, it does not rain everyday, all day. Fact is you cannot beat a nice day in Puget Sound, it's green and lush, the water and the mountains, it is Eden. I don't know of a more scenic city anywhere.
The cost of living here is high and the population has become younger and more cosmopolitan, Seattle feels like our neighbor to the north Vancouver BC. Ballard, where we live, once a blue color fishing community is now referred to as "trendy" and boasts more condos then single family homes.
Seattle U is on Capitol Hill, the most diverse area in the city. It is also one of the major hubs for night life. The neighborhood once was poor and black, but with property values what they are it too is becoming more affluent.
We have a traffic problem here, mass transit is just getting started and they are basing most movement on buses. North South movement isn't bad, getting East and West is awful. There is a reverse commute with Microsoft in Redmond with most employees living here people leave the city in the morning and return in the afternoon. Given the small neighborhood design of the city and a vibrant downtown you have most everything you need close by so commuting except for work or events really isn't necessary.
Sports teams forget it! We haven't seen a winner in years and don't plan on one anytime soon.
Motorcycle roads can be a bit of a drive but once there I'd put our roads up against any in the country!
So why am I leaving Seattle for New Mexico. I was raised east of the mountains in Washington where it is much more arid, we actually have desert in this state. I miss four seasons, the sun and the snow. I also can get more bang for my retirement buck in the Land of Enchantment. The motorcycling roads abound and the area is under fished, I fly fish! The family skis and there is none better then New Mexico, Colorado and Utah!
If you come for a visit I too offer a cup of coffee and a tour of our fair city.
Good luck in making your decision, sorry I got long winded. |
Dbird29
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 03:53 pm: |
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Those roads in New Mexico are great and the Buell riders are fun to be with!
Check out their section in the Storm Front |
Zane
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 04:08 pm: |
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Steven,
Thanks for the info. You make Seattle sound pretty tempting. How is the school system in Seattle? I have one gifted son and one that has dyslexia and needs extra help. I have him in a private school because the public schools in Florida have a whole host of issues.
Steven, where in NM are you going to?
For that matter, does anyone have info on public schools in New Mexico?
(Message edited by Zane on October 28, 2008) |
Hooligan620
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 05:29 pm: |
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My kids are both products of public schools as are most of their friends. One is an RN and the other will go back to college to get a post graduate degree after working with autistic kids for a year or so. Their friends have gone on to state and private universities alike. There is an outstanding advanced placement program in the Seattle Public Schools and several high schools offer directed programs in everything from aviation to marine science . The schools not without their problems but I would not hesitate sending my kids through the public school system again. Middle School grades 7 and 8 seem to be the weak link but being active parents work wonders.
There are lot of private school options too, but tuition can be high. Schools on the East side of Lake Washington, Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, rate as some of the best in the nation.
My impression of New Mexico is it is a poor state and thus their public school system suffers. I might be wrong, please someone correct me, It was not something that influenced me as I'm done with school!
We are building in Taos, with family in Santa Fe and friends in Colorado, Arizona and Utah it seems like the perfect place to retire.
Yes there is an active Buell group in New Mexico and I hope to become part of that group! |
Sweatmark
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 12:13 pm: |
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FWIW- Born & raised in Seattle during the pre-Microsoft era, moved to DC, then Southern California, then back home for a while. Family still lives near home (Bellevue) and I visit regularly, quite often since moving to Oregon from Chicagoland 8 years ago.
The Puget Sound region is beautiful and offers great outdoors activity options. Weather is a problem, cost of living is painful, and traffic is a nightmare. My opinion is based on travel and living in the South and Midwest, plus WA-OR-CA. You will miss the sun. You will love the city (downtown Seattle). Your commute will cause ulcers unless you take the bus and a thermos. And remember this is my beloved home town.
I was in Orange County SoCal last week. Love the weather, even love the traffic (compared to Seattle or Atlanta or Chicago)! Wouldn't live there if my salary was doubled. You either live on the beach, near the mountains, or stuck in the sprawl; the choice is typically a matter of daily commuting time and housing cost.
Can't comment about that specific town in New Mexico, but the state is appealing: wide open, good riding, low cost of living.
CorporateMonkey's comment about career path and locale is wise and worthy of serious consideration.
Exciting options for your & family! |
Zane
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 12:43 pm: |
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The most interesting job of the three is in New Mexico and I do like the lower cost of living. So that is the direction I am leaning.
Never seriously considered LA and while Seattle sounds like a great place in many ways, it's sounds to big and crowded for me.
We'll see how the interviews go. |
Hooligan620
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 01:45 pm: |
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Good Luck with your interviews!
You can't go wrong moving to the Four Corners region, so much to do and see! Lots of family vacations a day or two away, good fishing and outstanding motorcycling. The weather is great you'll see the sun more in New Mexico then in Seattle. Much more small town then Seattle or LA too. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 02:05 pm: |
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As big as it is, Seattle really is a town. They tend to roll up the sidewalks on weeknites around 900pm, It will never be the LA or NY. Which I suppose is a good thing.
Heading out to Wenatchee today, Sunny weather and clear forecast. Pics when I hit town. |
Zane
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 02:41 pm: |
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Hey Cityxslicker,
Good luck with your move. We'll all be waitin' for the pictures. |
Slamber777
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 06:01 pm: |
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Hey, Hooligan620. Where in E. WA? |
Hooligan620
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 04:12 am: |
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I spent my elementary years in Moses Lake, moved near Sunnyside for Junior High and graduated from high school in The Dalles Oregon. My dad worked for Bonneville Power so we moved quite a bit. |
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