Seattle sans car

[Alex+R 0]

I am going to move toward the end of this year to a new city. I've been focused on New York, but lately I've been fretting about money, and am starting to consider a few other cities.

It's REALLY important to us to live somewhere where we don't need a car. Could Seattle be one of those places?

I am looking for opinions from anyone who lives there, has lived there, has visited, has a friend there, or has just heard of Seattle in passing All my life people have told me I'd love it there, but I'll only love it there without a car.

I've never even BEEN to Seattle ( oops)

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Not sure about the public transport there but by all means, move to Seattle if you're tired of the sun.

Days per Year:

Clear ................71

Partly Cloudy.....93

Cloudy..............201

Oh, and hook a good shrink. I hear that most everyone in Seattle has a close relationship with one. Lack of sunlight is said to be a major cause of depression.

[Alex+R 0]

Not sure about the public transport there but by all means, move to Seattle if you're tired of the sun.

Days per Year:

Clear ................71

Partly Cloudy.....93

Cloudy..............201

Oh, and hook a good shrink. I hear that most everyone in Seattle has a close relationship with one. Lack of sunlight is said to be a major cause of depression.

Uh oh, that's not a very ringing endorsement! Yes I am a little worried about the whole lack-of-sunlight issue.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I lived accross the sound in Bremerton and there was a lot of cloudy rainy days. But it was mostly depressing drizzle versus RAIN.

You planning on living in the city?

I saw 'zipcars' here in NYC. They are coming to Seattle in the future. It seems like an excellent idea for people without a car.

http://www.zipcar.com/how/

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Not sure about the public transport there but by all means, move to Seattle if you're tired of the sun.

Days per Year:

Clear ................71

Partly Cloudy.....93

Cloudy..............201

Oh, and hook a good shrink. I hear that most everyone in Seattle has a close relationship with one. Lack of sunlight is said to be a major cause of depression.

Uh oh, that's not a very ringing endorsement! Yes I am a little worried about the whole lack-of-sunlight issue.

for some reason all the people in oregon say it's nicer there than in washington state.

edit: you can always try kansas since it's sunny and you love it so much

Edited August 20, 2006 by charlesandnessa

[moondancer627 0]

I visited Seattle Ten years ago. I didn't have a car and got around okay, but the friend I was staying with drove me out of the city to the mountains.

I remember a monorail downtown by the space needle, buses, and of course the Ferry.

Seattle was beautiful in August it didn't rain when I visited and being from the desert a little rain would be a change.

I guess if you can cope with drizzle and rain.

I would think about moving there.

I am sure things have changed alot since I visited.

Moondancer

[clloyd 0]

I don't think the monorail goes anywhere practical. Well, I suppose if you want to see the Jimi Hendrix Experience it does.

[kitkat1 5]

I think Seattle also has another car-sharing program - can't remember the name. If you live and work downtown, you could probably get by without a car. Otherwise, I think it would be difficult. But it's a great city.

Best city for public transportation in my opinion is Chicago - buses, subway (the "el") and commuter trains to the 'burbs makes it 100% doable without a car and the cost of living is much lower than NYC.

[ktmmansgal 0]

Not sure about the public transport there but by all means, move to Seattle if you're tired of the sun.

Days per Year:

Clear ................71

Partly Cloudy.....93

Cloudy..............201

Oh, and hook a good shrink. I hear that most everyone in Seattle has a close relationship with one. Lack of sunlight is said to be a major cause of depression.

Well, although you have some of it right --- Seattle is a Beautiful City --- You can live on one of the Islands and comute daily on a ferry and you can use the Bus, and in the city it is free --- busses in the city are great and they do have FlexCar for the ocassional need for a car. I have to admit Seattle is a bit behind in the public transportation side but all those clouds dont keep people from doing things ---- we have had a summer here in the 70s 80s and 90s it has litteraly been sunny and beautiful all summer --- and if past years are any indication, September and much of October are pretty nice too --- Nov, Dec Jan Feb and March are the months that get the most drizzle Now in NY or Chicago you get bitter cold to deal with and snow storms that stop parts of those cities --- it is not muggy in Seattle in the summer and in the winter a bit of drizzle but temps usually between 45 and 55 all winter long --- I certainly would choose damp over friggin freezing ---- , if you want the snow there are 5 or 6 ski resorts within 1 and 1half hours from the city --- with real mountains too --- I have a View of Mt Rainer out my Guest Room Window ---

And as far as the Shrink thing --- WRONG!!

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Well, although you have some of it right --- Seattle is a Beautiful City --- You can live on one of the Islands and comute daily on a ferry and you can use the Bus, and in the city it is free --- busses in the city are great and they do have FlexCar for the ocassional need for a car. I have to admit Seattle is a bit behind in the public transportation side but all those clouds dont keep people from doing things ---- we have had a summer here in the 70s 80s and 90s it has litteraly been sunny and beautiful all summer --- and if past years are any indication, September and much of October are pretty nice too --- Nov, Dec Jan Feb and March are the months that get the most drizzle Now in NY or Chicago you get bitter cold to deal with and snow storms that stop parts of those cities --- it is not muggy in Seattle in the summer and in the winter a bit of drizzle but temps usually between 45 and 55 all winter long --- I certainly would choose damp over friggin freezing ---- , if you want the snow there are 5 or 6 ski resorts within 1 and 1half hours from the city --- with real mountains too --- I have a View of Mt Rainer out my Guest Room Window ---

And as far as the Shrink thing --- WRONG!!

What about cost of living...I hope is not as expensive as NY is...I am getting tired of NY and seriously consider Seattle as one of my favorites...I am still at the very early stages of searching and still am just asking around???

Dorothy

Edited August 21, 2006 by ella74ny

[kittykatwoman 0]

I move to Seattle in 10 days.

According to my husband that lived in Seattle for his all life. It's not as expensive as NY. He says there are plenty of cheap and good apt at Lynnwood, Everett and around there.

About not having a car, I personnaly don't have a driving license, I never needed one because i live in downtown Paris.

But my husband says it can be a pain in the @$% without a car if you don't work somewhere that has a bus line near.

It's a beautiful city, the area is gorgeous, and it's very close to Vancouver, apparently a nice place to go when you are homesick and european, it's very alike.

I'm already sick anyway, I sooooo don't want to leave but well i give it a chance!

[Alex+R 0]

Thanks for the responses guys... so it sounds basically kind of like Minneapolis (where I am now)... you don't need a car, but I have always had one and I can't imagine living without one. Ugh! I *could* live without the car, but it would involve a lot of ride-mooching.

I agree with Kitkat about Chicago, but I went to school in Madison and spent every weekend there for a few years and I'm really looking for a change of scenery.

I know Seattle isn't much more expensive than Minneapolis, and a TON cheaper than New York. Does anyone know of any other cities that fit this profile? Cheap and don't require a car? I'm getting stuck on Seattle, but considering other things.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I am going to move toward the end of this year to a new city. I've been focused on New York, but lately I've been fretting about money, and am starting to consider a few other cities.

It's REALLY important to us to live somewhere where we don't need a car. Could Seattle be one of those places?

I am looking for opinions from anyone who lives there, has lived there, has visited, has a friend there, or has just heard of Seattle in passing All my life people have told me I'd love it there, but I'll only love it there without a car.

I've never even BEEN to Seattle ( oops)

Go to Seattle! My wife and I had the opportunity to move there through work at the end of last year but it fell through, so we ended up in NYC instead. Have to say - Seattle is a far better place to live. Cheaper too (you can actually buy a house there) - considering living in NJ is costing us about 1/3 more than it would in Washington, and we don't exactly live in a 'nice' area.

And yes, you can get around the city without a car. Although... for what you'd save moving to WA, you could probably buy a car - if you needed one.

Not to mention, this summer (in NYC/NJ) has been one of the hottest I have ever been through - not only hot but intensely humid. Seriously, you should really consider Seattle. NYC is a nice city, but its not worth living in New Jersey (at least, the part where we live).

for some reason all the people in oregon say it's nicer there than in washington state.

True, Portland is a good alternative to consider.

Edited August 21, 2006 by erekose

[Alex+R 0]

I am going to move toward the end of this year to a new city. I've been focused on New York, but lately I've been fretting about money, and am starting to consider a few other cities.

It's REALLY important to us to live somewhere where we don't need a car. Could Seattle be one of those places?

I am looking for opinions from anyone who lives there, has lived there, has visited, has a friend there, or has just heard of Seattle in passing All my life people have told me I'd love it there, but I'll only love it there without a car.

I've never even BEEN to Seattle ( oops)

Go to Seattle! My wife and I had the opportunity to move there through work at the end of last year but it fell through, so we ended up in NYC instead. Have to say - Seattle is a far better place to live. Cheaper too (you can actually buy a house there) - considering living in NJ is costing us about 1/3 more than it would in Washington, and we don't exactly live in a 'nice' area.

And yes, you can get around the city without a car. Although... for what you'd save moving to WA, you could probably buy a car - if you needed one.

Not to mention, this summer (in NYC/NJ) has been one of the hottest I have ever been through - not only hot but intensely humid. Seriously, you should really consider Seattle. NYC is a nice city, but its not worth living in New Jersey (at least, the part where we live).

for some reason all the people in oregon say it's nicer there than in washington state.

True, Portland is a good alternative to consider.

Yes, I'm afraid we'd end up in Newark, with even Brooklyn/Queens charging 1000 for a studio.

Seattle still has the high-tech stuff, right? I know Microsoft is outside of there. (My SO is a web developer/software engineer/programmer/whatever it is they're supposed to be called.) Doesn't seem like anyone *dislikes* much about Seattle except its weather.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I am going to move toward the end of this year to a new city. I've been focused on New York, but lately I've been fretting about money, and am starting to consider a few other cities.

It's REALLY important to us to live somewhere where we don't need a car. Could Seattle be one of those places?

I am looking for opinions from anyone who lives there, has lived there, has visited, has a friend there, or has just heard of Seattle in passing All my life people have told me I'd love it there, but I'll only love it there without a car.

I've never even BEEN to Seattle ( oops)

Go to Seattle! My wife and I had the opportunity to move there through work at the end of last year but it fell through, so we ended up in NYC instead. Have to say - Seattle is a far better place to live. Cheaper too (you can actually buy a house there) - considering living in NJ is costing us about 1/3 more than it would in Washington, and we don't exactly live in a 'nice' area.

And yes, you can get around the city without a car. Although... for what you'd save moving to WA, you could probably buy a car - if you needed one.

Not to mention, this summer (in NYC/NJ) has been one of the hottest I have ever been through - not only hot but intensely humid. Seriously, you should really consider Seattle. NYC is a nice city, but its not worth living in New Jersey (at least, the part where we live).

for some reason all the people in oregon say it's nicer there than in washington state.

True, Portland is a good alternative to consider.

Yes, I'm afraid we'd end up in Newark, with even Brooklyn/Queens charging 1000 for a studio.

Seattle still has the high-tech stuff, right? I know Microsoft is outside of there. (My SO is a web developer/software engineer/programmer/whatever it is they're supposed to be called.) Doesn't seem like anyone *dislikes* much about Seattle except its weather.

Having sat through a summer of 90-100F weather of 90% humidity, I'd say it’s a good compromise!

We don't live too far from Newark. It is most certainly not the Hyatt.