Pacific Northwesterners: Let''s talk Tacoma!

[katamari]

I just got back from an interview. While I am not trying to get ahead of myself, as they won''t make an offer for another 2-4 weeks, it went really well. I cannot then, help but think about whether or not I would accept the position where it to be offered. The job is at a university in Tacoma, which seemed like a lovely place. But, I was there on a very tight interview schedule and did not have time to explore the city myself. I was hoping the PSers from the PacNW could tell me what they know about Tacoma. I have many questions.

Is it a good place to live?

Would it be a good place to relocate (i.e. is it fairly open and are people willing to make friends--I would be moving from 2500 miles away and have no existing friends there)?

What are the neighborhoods where young professionals live?

How large a salary do you think it would take to live comfortable?

How is the nightlife? Arts? Food? Entertainment in general?

Is Seattle so much better that it is worth the commute? (I have never lived non-urban or within more than biking distance from any job I have ever had).

I would love to hear anything else you can think of, too. Several of the faculty I talked to live in Seattle and commute. While I would consider this, the downside is that I would be making Tacoma salary so the faculty have told me that property ownership in Seattle proper on our salary is absolutely impossible on only one salary (though we will be lucky to have two).

 

[April20]

Katamari, I don't live in the Pac NW anymore, but I lived for six years just north of Tacoma in the Federal Way/Des Moines area. It's much more affordable to live in the Tacoma area (or at least was as of when I left 3 years ago), but if you could afford to live in Seattle, I'd live there. You'd be completely opposite traffic when it comes to commuting, but it is a bit of a drive- probably 35 miles depending on where you live. There's a train that runs from the southside to Seattle, but I think it might only run north in the mornings.

I know the housing market has taken a little bit of a smack in the last couple of years, so I'm not exactly sure what houses are selling for today. I sold at the peak of the market and got a stupid amount of money for a tiny house.

I didn't know anyone or have any family in the area when I moved there. I made friends and did enjoy living there for the most part. If I had to do it again, I'd move into Seattle proper rather than in the 'burbs though.

ETA: I also moved from 2500 miles away. If you're outgoing, you should be fine.

 

[April20]

I forgot to comment on restaurants. I used to joke that after you left Seattle proper, everything was a chain unless it was Mexican or teriyaki. This was really true where I lived. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants is in Tacoma though. It''s called Vuelve a la Vida. Grandma''s in the kitchen making fresh tortillas.

 

[LGK]

Date: 11/21/2009 12:28:34 PM
Author: April20
I forgot to comment on restaurants. I used to joke that after you left Seattle proper, everything was a chain unless it was Mexican or teriyaki. This was really true where I lived. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants is in Tacoma though. It''s called Vuelve a la Vida. Grandma''s in the kitchen making fresh tortillas.

My husband and I say this exact same thing! Woodinville was PAINFUL. All chain mexican restaurants and Red Robin-

. I missed good sushi and pho like mad, and would drive down to Capitol Hill on the weekends often just to fetch sushi.

We have dinner in Tacoma every so often with my in-laws, but I haven''t hung out there much. The four or five restaurants we''ve tried have all been good- though they''ve all been Italian food since that''s what my MIL likes.

The Tacoma Aroma seems a lot better these last couple of years.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

It''s been years (10+) since I''ve visited Tacoma (if that says anything). . .from my recollection it''s an undesirable city and has the type of mall I''d be scared to shop at. Maybe it''s better now. . . I''ve NEVER been a fan of the South End and prefer living/shopping, etc., up north so the only time I drive by Tacoma is if I''m heading down to Oregon (which we do a few times a year).

My guess the cost of living is much lower in Tacoma (as my friend lives there b/c of this) and Seattle can be pricey, so yes, it may be better to rent a place down south until you get use to the area. Maybe a 6 month lease on an apartment and then decide if you''d rather take up the commute.

FWIW, living anywhere around here (up north where I am) can be expensive. Where we live now, we''re paying $1,800 a month rent. Not sure what that compares to as far as where you''re living now. A house two blocks down from ours is up for rent at $2,000 a month!

 

[April20]

Date: 11/21/2009 1:34:58 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten

Date: 11/21/2009 12:28:34 PM
Author: April20
I forgot to comment on restaurants. I used to joke that after you left Seattle proper, everything was a chain unless it was Mexican or teriyaki. This was really true where I lived. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants is in Tacoma though. It''s called Vuelve a la Vida. Grandma''s in the kitchen making fresh tortillas.

My husband and I say this exact same thing! Woodinville was PAINFUL. All chain mexican restaurants and Red Robin-

. I missed good sushi and pho like mad, and would drive down to Capitol Hill on the weekends often just to fetch sushi.

We have dinner in Tacoma every so often with my in-laws, but I haven''t hung out there much. The four or five restaurants we''ve tried have all been good- though they''ve all been Italian food since that''s what my MIL likes.

The Tacoma Aroma seems a lot better these last couple of years.

I didn''t comment on the Tacoma Aroma earlier as I wasn''t sure if it was still noticeable. I''m guessing it is!

I was trying to be somewhat gentle about Tacoma in my original post as I wasn''t sure if there was anyone here that lives there and loves it and didn''t want to offend, but in all honesty, you couldn''t have paid me enough money to live there when I was in the area.

 

[jcarlylew]

oh tacoma! i am from the king county eastside (bellevue) and i used to hate tacoma, but after going to the zoo, making deliveries and just driving around the city, i find it pretty darn similar to the eastside. i remember looking at houses down there that were around 250-350 for the downtown areas, but that was 3 years ago.
i will say, though, i hate the traffic there.

 

[katamari]

Thank you all so much for weighing in!

April20, it is so good to hear from someone else who moved across the US! I am more than willing to be outgoing and have no trouble talking to people, but I am kind of worried about the "coolness" culture on the West coast. I expect people to be friendlier than, say, on the East coast, but I have been living in the Hearland where people go from saying hi, to telling you their life stories, to inviting you over for dinner in the first 20 minutes of talking. That is a great point about the opposite commute. In my mind it is really hard to wrap my mind about them being only 35 miles away. I am used to living in states where 1-2 hour drives separate cities. Also, that is so funny about teriyaki. I remember on the route from the hotel I was staying in to one of the restaurants we ate at, I saw Happy Teriyaki, Super Teriyaki, and No.1 Teriyaki. I am still confused what genre of food "teriyaki" even is.

I will absolutely check out Vuelve a la Vida is I actually get the job and end up moving!

LittleGreyKitten, I was actually surprised in the lack of good sushi restaurants. I even suggested we get sushi one day for lunch, and was told that we would have to go to Seattle for that. Seriously?! You are on the ocean, Tacoma--get it together, y''know?! All I have read about Tacoma online suggests that there has been rapid gentrification and growth of the downtown area, but that doesn''t necessarily mean it has become livable. We did go to one really hip and trendy Thai restaurant downtown, but it wasn''t the kind of place I would frequent, even though the food was amazing. And, yes, I did hear of the aroma. I was staying directly on the Sound, during a windstorm, and I never caught it. My DH even calls me "The Supersniffer" as I am really sensitive to smells--I cannot even wear perfume or be around people who do. When I asked about it, I heard that the city spent hundreds of thousands of dollars chemically cleaning the mill, but I do have to say it is something I would worry about.

MC, you hit the nail on the head about cost of living. Right now, in OH, we pay $750/mo rent for a three-bedroom, 1400 square foot, single family house in a highly desirable urban neighborhood. The idea of $1500-2000 rents does blow my mind a bit. There is a really good chance that I would be moving out ahead of my husband by a couple months just because of his work obligations, so I think the idea of a short term lease would be a wonderful option to pursue. It might even be worth it to spend a couple months living in both Tacoma and Seattle to see the difference. Plus, where DH would get a job would obviously change the decision entirely. I have heard that cross-Seattle commutes can take an hour to go 10 minutes some time, so if he were to get a job up North, I would certainly insist on a longer commute for myself so his could be more mentally healthy.

jcar, oh good geez. I may have fainted a bit to see that houses downtown are selling for that much (maybe I need to stay off the web looking at real estate in Seattle, then, so not to have an actual heart attack). I loved the bit of the city on the Sound where I stayed--I think it was in the Ruston area, but it did seem like traffic played a major role in getting around unless we were traveling in off hours.



Again, thanks so much for all the info! It does seem like Seattle might have more of what I am looking for and be more of what I am accustomed to, minus the commute. When applying, I fully intended to live in Tacoma were I to get the job. If I am lucky enough to get the offer, I will have to seriously consider being able to live in Seattle (or at least the Seattle suburbs)--or at least travel there frequently--so that is good to know. I will probably have more questions if I actually get the offer. In the meantime, it is good to know there are some drawbacks so that I can detach a bit from the job and the area in case I don''t actually get the offer.

 

[April20]

Katamari- Just a quick word on commuting into Seattle if your husband gets a job there. The east-west commute across the bridges (i-90 or 520) can be a nightmare. The north commute can be painful at times too. I always lived south and commuted north. The cool thing about living south as far as commuting went was that there were a series of side roads you could take to keep you off I-5 and get nearly zero traffic unless there was something seriously wrong. I''m happy to go into more detail on that should you need it at some point.

The other thing you should know is that the bus system for commuters into Seattle is really great. I worked downtown the last couple years I was in Seattle and parking wasn''t worth it. I started taking the bus, which I''d always shyed away from. After doing it for a couple days, I wondered why I never had. I went from the hub station in my area directly to the downtown "busway". Fabulous. I''d read or sleep every day. I miss that bus system. I live in Atlanta now where public transportation is the pits.

I hope you get the job! When Seattle is pretty, there is NO place prettier. When it''s digusting, well, go to a movie.

 

[April20]

Oh, just thought of something else!

A friend of mine in Seattle got a rockin'' deal on a downtown live/work loft. He''s renting, but it was a crazy, crazy deal due to low occupancy. They moved into it after he got laid off last year because it was cheaper than where they were. I''m happy to reach out to him and see if those type of deals still exist if you end up moving that direction. Housing costs are definitely more expensive in Seattle, even with the down market. If you grab an apt in the ''burbs, you can usually get a decent deal because the turnover is crazy.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 11/22/2009 12:01:26 PM
Author: katamari

MC, you hit the nail on the head about cost of living. Right now, in OH, we pay $750/mo rent for a three-bedroom, 1400 square foot, single family house in a highly desirable urban neighborhood. The idea of $1500-2000 rents does blow my mind a bit.

Yes, the rents are crazy. Keep in mind though that we live in an unusual area. There are two upper-middle class neighborhoods and a grouping of condos and those are the ONLY homes in my son''s school boundries (there are NO apartment complexes). One of the three neighborhoods has an HOA rule that renters aren''t even allowed, so it''s a bit snooty here. Just a quick bit - our house is 4 bed/2.5 bath and 2,400 sq. feet, so it is bigger. We also have a larger than average yard as it''s 17,000 sq. feet. The townhome condo we rented was $1,500 and 1900 sq. feet - 3 bed with an office, as well.

When I travel from the northend into Seattle in the morning, it takes me about 45 mintutes. From where I live it takes about 35 min. to get to Bellevue (which is a nice place to live!). That is when I leave at 8:45. I''m a SAHM, but will drive to the Eastside to run errands.

 

[LGK]

Date: 11/22/2009 1:33:59 PM
Author: MC

Date: 11/22/2009 12:01:26 PM
Author: katamari

MC, you hit the nail on the head about cost of living. Right now, in OH, we pay $750/mo rent for a three-bedroom, 1400 square foot, single family house in a highly desirable urban neighborhood. The idea of $1500-2000 rents does blow my mind a bit.

Yes, the rents are crazy. Keep in mind though that we live in an unusual area. There are two upper-middle class neighborhoods and a grouping of condos and those are the ONLY homes in my son's school boundries (there are NO apartment complexes). One of the three neighborhoods has an HOA rule that renters aren't even allowed, so it's a bit snooty here. Just a quick bit - our house is 4 bed/2.5 bath and 2,400 sq. feet, so it is bigger. We also have a larger than average yard as it's 17,000 sq. feet. The townhome condo we rented was $1,500 and 1900 sq. feet - 3 bed with an office, as well.

When I travel from the northend into Seattle in the morning, it takes me about 45 mintutes. From where I live it takes about 35 min. to get to Bellevue (which is a nice place to live!). That is when I leave at 8:45. I'm a SAHM, but will drive to the Eastside to run errands.

Nice price! My husband and I finally moved out of a huge apt complex a bit north of Seattle that, when we moved, was renting to us for $1300/mo for a 900 square foot apartment with 2 bedrooms. When we'd moved in in 2002 or '03, we paid $800/mo. Utilities not included, of course. And they wanted to charge us an extra $50 per cat per month, too. When they came out with that clause, we actually refused to sign the lease, but kept paying rent, since we were so close to being able to move; it worked, they didn't boot us out, but we avoided the pet rent.

 

[katamari]

Thanks for the well-wishes on the job, April20! I really, really hope I get it, too! It really was everything I want in a position. I currently take a bus daily when it is not nice enough to walk, so it is good to hear this might still be a possibility. Also, if I get the job, I will absolutely love to hear about the broker/agency your friend used. Like I said, I love urban life and have grown quite accustomed to it, so I would be much more interested in living urban if it is possible. I just imagine that I will be living in the burbs because, while academia is not minimum wage by any means, it certainly isn''t something you go into for the money.

MC, wow! I didn''t even think that a yard was an option, so it does sound like you have quite a place. Maybe when I am thinking about rents, I need to focus on quality of the place. We don''t have any kids yet, and won''t for a couple years, so a good school district isn''t a must--we would likely not buy for a few years. 45 minutes isn''t too terribly bad a commute, I suppose. I would just have to listen to All Things Considered on the radio instead of as a pod-cast

LittleGreyKitten, we have two cats and have always been lucky to avoid pet rent. $50/mo. each is ridiculously high! It sounds like you are living in the type of apartment we would be moving into, so it is very nice of you to share your rent so that I have something concrete to think about.

I will absolutely consider the crime reports, SanDiegoLady. I had always imagined that I would live in the same community as the college I worked at in graduate school, but, unfortunately, the uni district is one of the least safe places in Tacoma. You are the second person to mention Gig Harbor. It looks absolutely lovely on google maps, so I will certainly look there. But, it is sounding more and more like the answer to my question about Seattle being worth the commute is a resounding yes!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 11/23/2009 4:22:12 PM
Author: katamari
MC, wow! I didn't even think that a yard was an option, so it does sound like you have quite a place. Maybe when I am thinking about rents, I need to focus on quality of the place. We don't have any kids yet, and won't for a couple years, so a good school district isn't a must--we would likely not buy for a few years. 45 minutes isn't too terribly bad a commute, I suppose. I would just have to listen to All Things Considered on the radio instead of as a pod-cast

Yeah, quality is important. We lucked out with our house. It belongs to a woman who bought a foreclosure to move into and because the market isn't all that hot, she wasn't able to sell this house (she had it listed at $476,000 or abouts) and chose to rent it instead. We did have to pay up $5,400 to move in - first/last/damage. I wish we had PM so I could give you more info about where I live. I'm just not comfortable saying here.

Oh, and we don't pay pet rent for our cats. I've never even heard of that. Yikes, I have fish too. Wonder how much fish rent would be

.

 

[sunnyd]

I also live on the eastside with Jcar. I work downtown and am one of those bus commuters! I don''t know anyone who lives in Tacoma, but I always think industrial stink (the aroma) and crime (because COPS is always featured in Tacoma).

If you''re looking for urban living, I''d check out Greenlake. It''s a bit north of downtown though, so your commute would be longer. I honestly can''t think of anywhere I''d really like to live between Seattle and Tacoma. Renton maybe? There are some good parts, and they''re developing a ton. Same with Kent. But there''s still issues with crime.

Cost of living is super high though, and downtown what you get for the money is not much. Rent in the $1000 range, but you''d have to pay $300/month for parking too.

Jeez, I''m Debbie Downer-ing where I live, and I love where I live!

Eastside is good, but commute would be long. That pretty much sums it up.

 

[winelover23]

Tacoma definitely gets a bad rap about being crime central of WA HOWEVER it''s just like every other city. It has nice areas and not so nice areas. If you do your research I''m sure you can find wonderful neighborhoods in Tacoma. I love love love the PNW so I''m all for spreading that love! I''ve lived here my entire life and even thought I live much further North than Tacoma I would still recommend it. If you run out of things to do here I''m afraid of you because we have it all! Mountains, desert, ocean, lakes, rivers, cities, great food, BEST COFFEE evah, the list goes on...

 

[rainwood]

katamari -

Seattle native here. First, about Tacoma. If you get the job and decide to take it, you shouldn't rule out living in Tacoma the first year and see how you like it. Talk to people who CURRENTLY live in Tacoma (especially faculty) and see what they say about neighborhoods. There are some lovely neighborhoods in Tacoma, and Ruston does seem to be turning into a hip, happening place. Downtown Tacoma has changed a lot in the last few years so don't rely on 10-year old information from anybody, including those of us on Pricescope. Tacoma will also be cheaper to live in than Seattle. If you're moving to the PNW from Ohio, the cost of housing will blow your socks off and not in a good way. Seattle is even more expensive, and it's 30 MILES AWAY. Even though it's a reverse commute, you will spend a considerable amount of time on I-5, whether you drive or take public transit, and traffic may be bad in Tacoma but it's way worse in Seattle, and I-5 can be bad anywhere, any time of the day. And Winelover is right. Tacoma, like other cities, has places where crime is a problem and places where it isn't. Just like any urban environment, including Seattle.

About the Pacific Northwest in general, here's what you'll need to consider. The climate is one I happen to love, but it drives lots of people bonkers. Not the rain as much as the ever-present gray in the fall, winter, and spring. It's just part of what living in the Northwest is all about, and you need to be okay with that. We do get some snow, but not like Ohio, and our summers are much milder and less humid. On a beautiful day, there is no place better. I also think there's no place better on a day when it's gray and windy and pouring down rain, but lots of people would disagree.

As for the temperament of the locals, I can only pass on what I've heard or read from people who move here from elsewhere. Like many places, we have lots of transplants and they bring their temperament with them so it's hard to generalize. That said, people from elsewhere have often described the personality of Seattleites as polite, but reserved. People are pleasant and nice, but not 'best friend in ten minute, Midwest' type friendly. I don't see it because I was born here, but enough people have talked/written/complained about it, that there must be some truth to it. So take that for what it's worth.

I don't mean any of this to sound discouraging because huge numbers of people move here and never look back. I was lucky enough to be here from the start, and I wouldn't live anywhere else. Still, it's best to know what to expect as you are the best judge of whether PLU, UPS, or whatever university you would be at is the right move for you and your husband.

 

[ericad]

I live very close to Tacoma! I relocated to the PacNW 8 years ago from the SF Bay Area and never looked back! I chose Gig Harbor, which is just across the Narrows Bridge from Tacoma. We loved it. We now live further west near Port Orchard (between Gig Harbor and Bremerton) and it's very affordable, we have 5 acres and just adore the country life

If you want to be in the city, Seattle is great and the reverse commute will be fine. If you want country life, I strongly urge you to check out the Harbor! There's also a terrific commuter bus to Seattle from Gig Harbor (in case your DH gets work in Seattle) as well as a bus to Tacoma! I just can't gush enough about Gig Harbor, though. Small town feel, everything you need nearby, it's just idyllic - to me anyway!

PS - search Google Images for pics of Gig Harbor

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 11/23/2009 9:09:59 PM
Author: rainwood
People are pleasant and nice, but not ''best friend in ten minute, Midwest'' type friendly. I don''t see it because I was born here, but enough people have talked/written/complained about it, that there must be some truth to it. So take that for what it''s worth.

The Northwest section of the Sunday Times had an article about seattle politness. It basically said that we''re all nice on the surface, but it''s difficult to crack that surface and make true friends. I''m not sure how accurate that is because I too have lived here all my life and am use to the way everyone is. For me, I make it a point to persue a friendship if I see a person and I click. I don''t play games like, "lets have lunch some time," but instead say, "lets meet up this friday," and that''s worked very well for me.

 

[ericad]

Being a transplant, I''ve heard a lot about the Seattle personality and I don''t get it at all. I have found people to be totally pleasant, friendly, etc. More so than in the Bay Area, where people kept to themselves and it was very cliquey.

But my brother, who lived in Seattle for a few years, still talks about how passive aggressive Seattlites are, how strange and unfriendly, etc. I don''t get it at all! So I bet a lot of it is perception and expectations. He''s now in Phoenix and loves it. Go figure! Maybe it''s the rain that made him grumpy...

I actually have a neighbor who is so super friendly it kind of freaks me out! He''s a sweet old man, living with his wife, and their grown daughter and her family live next door. Wonderful people. But he''s the type who will pop over just to say hi, or drag me in for a cup of coffee to chat, or just show up one day to plow my driveway or cut back our blackberries (he knows we''re "city folk"). I adore them, but I''m not used to it and he always catches me off guard! I have no clue how to drop whatever it is I''m doing to just relax and chit chat if it isn''t planned out in advance, lol.

I will say that there is something very unique about the culture here. Perhaps that''s what people can''t quite put their finger on about the personalities here...I don''t think I could really describe it...but it suits us.

 

[April20]

I had a hard time with the culture when I was there, at least in professional settings. I''m very southern and have southern bluntness. I cannot tell you how many times people would complain about my "tone" or what I''d said. They were always slicing and dicing what I''d said and coming to conclusions on what I''d meant. They''d never to come to me directly about it, but they''d definitely make sure my manager knew about it. It drove me nuts. I finally got to the point where I was censoring so much of what I said, I wondered if it was even worth it. I remember when this first started happening, my boss at the time sitting me down and telling me that people in Seattle were different and he was still adjusting to it, years after moving up from the Bay Area.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 11/24/2009 10:18:29 AM
Author: ericad
I actually have a neighbor who is so super friendly it kind of freaks me out! He''s a sweet old man, living with his wife, and their grown daughter and her family live next door. Wonderful people. But he''s the type who will pop over just to say hi, or drag me in for a cup of coffee to chat, or just show up one day to plow my driveway or cut back our blackberries (he knows we''re ''city folk''). I adore them, but I''m not used to it and he always catches me off guard! I have no clue how to drop whatever it is I''m doing to just relax and chit chat if it isn''t planned out in advance, lol.

See, having a neighbor pop in to say hi and drag me to have a cup of coffee would drive me nuts. I only like to do things if planned ahead. Living here all my life had kind of trained me to have a lot of aquaintainces, but only an intimate group of true friends.

 

[katamari]

I got offered the job!

I am still in negotiation phase and talking it over with my family, but it is looking very likely that, come August, I will be living in the PacNW, so thank you all so much for your comments and help!

MC, I completely understand that you don''t feel comfortable sharing your neighborhood. I would also be uncomfortable sharing that info here, but I do appreciate knowing that it seems like we will be able to find something similar. We definitely are not going to buy right away, DH may not finish school at the same time as I do or might have to stay to finish work projects. I just hope the market is a little looser still in 2011 so we can get a better deal. I have read that there are a lot of vacancies right now, due to the market, so hopefully this will push rent and home cost down. I also tried to find the article you referenced and I don''t think I found it exactly, but I did find several articles about the "friendliness" of the Northwest. I really think your suggestion about being direct and think it might help. I would usually go for the former, but you do have to put yourself on the line sometimes to develop relationships (friends or otherwise), so why not be straight up about it.

I don''t think you sound like a Debbie Downer, sunnyd. There are some clear drawbacks about living in this area--especially traffic and cost. DH will likely be looking for a tech job (he will have a CS PhD), so there is already a chance he will end up working in Renton as Microsoft recruits heavily from his program. Good to hear that may be okay.

winelover, you are so right about there being so much to do. I have been to Seattle a couple times--but this was my first time to Tacoma--and it was awesome! The natural beauty was just inspiring, honestly. I completely understand how people become so outdoorsy there; it has to be hard to stay inside. And, I do love the food, the coffee, the beers, . . . I would also be quite lucky to be able to afford to live in a nicer community, which certainly would mean less crime than others who are not as fortunate would experience.

Such wonderful advice, rainwood. I really, really appreciate your response. When I was interviewing, about half the faculty lived in Seattle and half lived in Tacoma. Of course, they were all very sure they each had made the proper choice and lived in the best possible neighborhood. I should have paid more attention, though, to why they felt they made the best decision. I will have to probe them more on that in future discussions. I certainly think that living in Tacoma, at least at first, will help with the cost transition. I have two very good friends living in Portland right now that I went to grad school with and every time we talk, how shocked they are by cost comes up. I think I will also love the climate (though I might put less effort into straightening my hair every day) because I hate the extremes of Ohio, but I do like the range and am not quite sure what I will do with, say, my -25^C parka I never leave home without. I am generally a personable and agreeable person, though sometimes passive and reserved, so I will just have to break from my shell if I want to make friends. I am very active in my community in OH, so hopefully by doing that in WA I can meet people and that will eventually turn to friendships.

Ericad, it is so cool to hear that you came from somewhere as great as the SF Bay and still love Tacoma! That is very promising. Gig Harbor is absolutely breathtaking online and, from quick searches, it seems like housing is reasonable. And you have 5 acres?! DH will love to hear that! He grew up much more rurally than I did (not truly rural, but subdivision on the outskirts of the suburbs with houses on similarly huge plots) and he has always wanted a place like that. Maybe your neighbor is from my neck of the woods

. I am glad to hear you haven''t felt any problems. I think a lot of it has to do with your interests. I have some people in my graduate program now who are total hipsters and, despite being largely from the midwest, they put up the cool pose and act all pretentious. Since that is a thriving subculture right now (though mostly among people a bit younger than myself) that is also a barrier. But, I tend to gravitate toward people that are open, fun, and outgoing, so that personality, hopefully, supersedes any regional norms.

Uh oh, April20. I am originally from NC and my family certainly has the southern bluntness. I remember my college roommate being shocked at how blunt my mother and I would talk to one another with no hard feelings. I am lucky to be going into a very autonomous line of work, but I will remember that for sure!

 

[zoebartlett]

Congratulations Katamari!!! That''s so exciting. What a great opportunity. I have no advice to offer but my sister and her husband live in the PNW and they LOVE it. My sister occasionally works in Seattle (as an actor/performer), so if you have specific questions about the area that I can pass along to her, I''m happy to do so.

 

[ericad]

Congrats!!! I hope you love it here as much as my family does.

 

[jcarlylew]

congrats!! there will definately have to be a PNW GTG soon!!

 

[TooPatient]

Look at the crime rates for any neighborhood you move to.

Here is a story from Tacoma. Just happened this morning. King 5 News


5 police officers in uniform with marked cars were having coffee this morning before starting work. A man walked in and shot them. 4 of the police officers are dead.
The shooter had no interest in any of the other customers and it was not a robery. The shooting is being called an ambush.


I don''t think there is any perfect & safe neighborhood where bad stuff never happens. I DO think there are places that are less safe than others. Do your research before deciding where to live up here.
(I have lived in Snohomish/King county my entire life and love it here. You won''t regret coming to the NW. So much great food, music, museums, etc.)

 

[April20]

Congrats on getting the job!!! IMO, August is generally the PERFECT month in the Pac NW. The weather can be magical for those 31 days. It can make up for any disgustingness you experienced in the previous 11 months!

You''ve gotten lots and lots of good advice on this thread, I''m sure you''ll find the perfect place (for you guys) to live!

 

[rainwood]

Congratulations, Katamari! That''s wonderful news. If you are willing to be in a non-urban environment, I''d also encourage you to give Gig Harbor a close look. It''s a great place to visit and I''m sure would be a wonderful place to live.

And the unfortunate police shootings are certainly making news, but I wouldn''t let that influence your decision. The shootings were in Lakewood, not Tacoma itself, and only the police officers were targeted. We also had a police officer murdered in Seattle a short time ago, and maybe he gave the Lakewood shooter the idea. It''s really, really sad, but targeting law enforcement officers is something that happens in too many places. That said, both Seattle and Tacoma are safe places to live, with certain parts (like any city) that are safer than others and certain professions that are safer than others.

All of us PNW''ers are happy to help if you decide to take the job.

 

[TooPatient]

Date: 11/29/2009 11:44:24 PM
Author: SanDiegoLady

Date: 11/29/2009 3:45:18 PM
Author: TooPatient
Look at the crime rates for any neighborhood you move to.

Here is a story from Tacoma. Just happened this morning. King 5 News


5 police officers in uniform with marked cars were having coffee this morning before starting work. A man walked in and shot them. 4 of the police officers are dead.
The shooter had no interest in any of the other customers and it was not a robery. The shooting is being called an ambush.


I don''t think there is any perfect & safe neighborhood where bad stuff never happens. I DO think there are places that are less safe than others. Do your research before deciding where to live up here.
(I have lived in Snohomish/King county my entire life and love it here. You won''t regret coming to the NW. So much great food, music, museums, etc.)

As a law enforcement family, this breaks my heart... I did just say there was a high rate of crime there.

Having so many officers murdered this way (or ANY way, but I hope you understand my meaning here) is so devastating.

Just saw your post. Great advice. (Gig Harbor is beautiful)

Longer commutes are awful on the main roads (405, 520, etc) but there are some places with a reasonable "back road" that parallels the main road. If you can find out about things like that, you may be able to get a little further away into a safer area without adding a major commute.


SanDiegoLady -- It was so sad to wake up to this news story. These men and women risk their lives every day to protect us. (Big thanks to your law enforcement family.)

Update to the story -- story update
They know who the creep is. He''s got a long history (including assaulting another officer & raping a child). He was shot trying to get away and they are now looking for him. They''ve got his house surrounded now and neighbors are asked to stay inside.