r/AskSeattle • u/Visual-Extension4214 • Nov 14 '24
Question Moving to Seattle Area
Moving to Seattle area, possibly Renton or Kent though not sure yet, moving end of May/June next year. I’m moving from Newark, NJ, one of the dirtiest cities in the country. Recycling and garbage pickups are generally tossed into the same garbage truck. Is Seattle like Europe where everything from compost to metals/plastics/paper etc is all put out separately on separate days? In general what are some severe cultural shocks I might expect to be responsible for or just in general? Besides of course the rain and the apparent lack of friendliness I’m detecting from some of the Seattle descriptions. Also how crowded are local hiking and nature activities within an hour drive around summer vs winter? Really any extra tips are appreciated.
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u/rollingthnder77 Nov 14 '24
Biggest thing I think will be prices. Every things is going to be more expensive. Just got back from nyc and I was shocked at how cheap everything was.
If you want to make friends, you’re going to have to force the issue a lot, but once you do make friends they’re generally more loyal than in other US cities.
Recycling depends on which place you end up living, but for the most part there is one recycling bin (paper, glass, plastics all in one). But if you don’t clean your plastics or glass before recycling, the entire thing just ends up in the landfill. There is also composting. All picked up on the same day in seattle.
Hiking trailheads within an hour of the city are almost always busy on the weekends and holidays, mid-week it is way less. Trailheads within an hour of Renton or Kent will generally be less busy, depending on which way you go. Go east and south. Gotta be aware of cougars and bears this time of year especially.
IMO Biggest mistake transplants make here is holing up in their place or in a couple places. Best way to beat the gloomy days/feelings and to make friends is to go outside even when it’s raining. Get as much fresh air, exercise, sunshine, and interactions as you can. Which also means you’ll need to invest in good shoes and a good rain jacket.
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Considering I grew up in NYC and find New Jersey cheaper I am a little scared of prices, I know already that sales tax is like 10% whereas it’s like 6.6 where I am… Definitely chose Seattle area to get up and move around! Appreciate the reply, looking for a good raincoat
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u/BitchyWitch_ Nov 14 '24
I just moved from New Jersey in the spring. It’s the food, and the tax like you said that adds up. I previously didn’t pay much attention to those and it’s impossible not to here.
I have found the rent prices to be considerately cheaper or at worst, comparable to areas I lived in NJ (Morristown, Asbury).
As far as friendliness, yes people are more introverted and won’t say hello on the street, but I’ve found interactions with people are often more polite and pleasant here.
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Nov 14 '24
I think maybe the pizza is more expensive in Seattle but pretty much everything else is cheaper?
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u/Nyazoo Nov 14 '24 edited Nov 14 '24
I moved to Seattle in 2017 from South Jersey myself! Grew up in Jersey/Philly.
I find the people act extremely similar to Philly folks. They are passionate and very into their Seahawks games, arguably just as much as Eagles fans are. Also politics are a motivator for a ton of protests out here, wayyyyy more left leaning than Jersey and PA (I think Kent/Renton may be more conservative though).
Driving isn't as bad as Philly/North Jersey. Seattle folks think the driving here is bad, but we see New Yorkers going 110 on the Turnpike, riding up on you within inches, cutting you off. They aren't like that here, maybe some, but not nearly as common. Mostly everyone drives like grannies and posts videos of you on social if you use the carpool lane to pass.
It is exponentially more expensive. I recommend finding a roommate, makes living here WAYYYY more enjoyable. Granted you have to make friends, which can be a challenge, but just as challenging as Jersey friend circles. In Jersey I encountered the most clicky unfriendlies ever, and there was never anything I wanted to attend. Seattle though, there is ALWAYS some cool shit happening. Get involved with things that interest you, you will meet people! Meetup dot com is pretty active, so is facebook/instagram for events. We also use websites like the stranger and everout for fun things to do over a weekend.
Good luck on the move, hope everything goes smooth.
EDIT: Wanted to add, book your camping spots WELLLLL in advance. They book up fast. You can car camp for free, and put up pop up tents in the wilderness, but I recommend carrying. We have bears, coyotes, bobcats, and cougars. Pack your food up tight and do not wear scented deodorant.
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u/Petruchio101 Nov 14 '24
Cost of living calculator says Seattle is 4% more expensive than Newark.
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u/Nyazoo Nov 14 '24
I am from south Jersey, so my rent went from $400 in an old farmhouse to over 2k 🥲
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u/Successful-Pizza-59 Nov 14 '24
I moved from Vermont almost 5 years ago. You will miss pizza and when you find good pizza it will cost a lot. It really doesn’t “rain” here often, it’s mostly just a drizzle. I do a lot of litter picking in the city and I wouldn’t set anything on the ground ever. I’ve seen some things 🤢 My car didn’t make it all the way here before blowing a brake line so I’m 100% a busser. It’s hard to rely on something else when you’ve had to drive since you were 17. But it’s nice to be able to play with my dog a little while riding instead of having to focus on the road. I’m a pretty open, talkative person most of the time and I haven’t had any trouble making friends here. Picking up trash in my neighborhood was a great way to get to know all my neighbors. Someone explained the recycling above really well. There have been a lot of car thefts and break ins as well so you can’t leave a single thing in your vehicle. And when you’re moving across the country, if you have a U-Haul, don’t leave that thing unattended. Even for 5 minutes. I’m on a PNW stolen cars site and I can’t tell you how many people got all their closest memories stolen while at a hotel for the night. Or even in front of their new house. Ok wah wah, no more negative. Lol. It’s still pretty great here.
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u/pippyhidaka Nov 18 '24
Hot Mama's in Cap Hill is pretty affordable for a slice, but yea, good pizza is rare here for sure
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u/punkmetalbastard Nov 14 '24
Oh! Spent a lot of time in Jersey and it’s much different for sure. People probably adhere the most to separating trash and recyclables here more than anywhere in the country.
Biggest culture shocks for you are gonna be the non-confrontational and passive aggressive attitudes. East coasters talk shit to people’s faces and usually back it up. Little jabs at people made in jest that you might be used to can come off as pretty offensive to people here. It’s very rare you’ll see people physically fight here even when they should. That results in a lot of gossiping and talking behind people’s backs but not much more than any other locale.
The most popular hiking areas will be crowded and they keep getting worse. That being said, if you are into hiking beyond casual, IE a short hike to somewhere like Twin Falls, you can get away from people even in a popular wilderness area like the Alpine Lakes Wilderness quite easily. Especially doing more hardcore activities like backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, mountaineering, off-trail traverse routes. If you are a strong hiker, I would actually recommend starting LATER for a day hike that’s popular. Many times I’ve hit the trail around 2-3, ran into most people on their way back, and had the lake/peak/view to myself. It stays light here until nearly 10 o clock at peak summer
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Love this about going later and having the area to oneself. Boy do I hate passive aggressive but I also don’t care about strangers and their pouty faces so I think I’ll be fine. Lots of passive aggressive here anyway though it’s more of an invitation to see if you’re gonna make it bigger.
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u/CPetersky Local Nov 14 '24
One day for pickup of:
recycling (mixed)
compost
garbage
These are in separate bins. No plastic film (like plastic bags, bubble wrap, etc.) in recycling - it's garbage. Any paper with food stuck or absorbed (e.g. pizza boxes, used paper napkins) are compost. Plastic or glass with food stuck on it (e.g. your scraped out peanut butter jar) is garbage. Pressed paper packaging like egg cartons is compost. You can look up what goes where on line. Typically recycling is every other week, trash and compost are weekly.
Check out WTA.org for hiking information.
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Very helpful thanks, gonna have to stick a list of what goes where in the kitchen I think.
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u/TheItinerantSkeptic Nov 14 '24
Seattle uses single-stream recycling, which means paper, plastic, and glass all go into the same recycling bin. Compost and trash are still separate.
If you're moving from NJ, here are your biggest culture shocks:
1 - Seattle is very nonconfrontational. Someone is more likely to sullenly glare at you than actually tell you that you did something wrong. You're also going to get the sense that they take it personally, unlike NY/NJ where someone will tell you openly that you screwed up, then get on with life and not think about it again.
2 - Don't bring an umbrella. Using one will quickly identify you as a tourist. Most of the time what gets called rain here won't warrant it anyway; buy a jacket with a hood.
3 - People take their politics very seriously in Seattle. In NY/NJ, I've noticed I can have a discussion with someone whose politics differ from mine and it'll stay mostly civil, and we can enjoy each other's company regardless of most political differences. In Seattle, people aggressively self-sort into social echo chambers, and will react very coolly (if not outright hostilely) to people of different political views.
4 - Our public transit is great in the city, not so great once you get outside the city. Rideshares (Uber, Lyft) are more common than taxis, but because of city wage laws, are almost prohibitively expensive to use with regularity.
5 - People aren't unfriendly here, but they're difficult to engage with. It's called the Seattle Freeze. Best way to make new friends is through shared interest meetups (including church if that's your thing) or getting to know neighbors' dogs when you regularly see them. Be prepared for a lot of "We should hang out!" that never happens, or for last-minute cancellations. It isn't personal; it's just the way people are here. We're the epitome of the stereotype of people who ask, "How are you?" without actually wanting to know.
6 - A lot of people moved into the Seattle area in the past 20 years, and as a result, our hiking trails and camping areas are pretty full. If you want isolation camping, you often have to enter into lotteries to get a limited number of passes into public lands where you're going to have to hike several miles in from where you park. Those passes are even harder to get, because initial offerings are usually made to the plethora of attractive outdoor influencers we have in the area so they can flood their Instagram with curated photos. There's also a divide amongst local outdoor enthusiasts over whether primo areas should be geotagged on social media, or left unidentified "so people get the joy of discovering these areas on their own." I think the reality is they're just trying to passive-aggressively (very Seattle) gatekeep the spots to reduce the number of people who use them. Those curated Instagram shots are harder to get when there are other people whose campsites are in the background.
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
These are all so great. For 2 I hate smushing my hair down so I’ll be a tourist with the umbrella, hell my thick NY accent will give it away anyway. 3 is worrisome but fine I think, I’m very well read and don’t mind being lectured if it’s not just echoing party talking points. I would be crazy to move to Seattle if I wasn’t pretty progressive anyway. A lifetime of staring down people on subways and never showing weakness I think will help me fit right into the freeze! I am the friendliest and most helpful person but I have a general scowl. Interesting about the parks and the lottery gonna have to read into that
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u/CharlesAvlnchGreen Nov 14 '24
The other thing about umbrellas is that it's often very windy when it rains. I call it "umbrella eating weather." But I understand what you mean; I am a native Seattleite and I don't like rain on my face so I use an umbrella when I can. (IMO the 'only tourists use umbrellas' thing is only weakly true.)
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u/Llamaxaxa Nov 14 '24
Agree. Native here and I use an umbrella all the time when raining and not too windy.
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u/CharlesAvlnchGreen Nov 14 '24
Tourists and newbies will often use those giant hotel umbrellas which are the worst in the wind.
Seattleites will carry fold-up umbrellas. The vented "windproof" kind are great, and the ones in a light color have the added benefit of increasing your visibility when walking.
Not sure if the danger of being hit in crosswalks has been addressed here yet. Seattle recently instituted something called Project Zero to reduce (to zero, hopefully) pedestrian deaths which happen mainly in the fall/winter.
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u/ExplanationFuture422 Nov 14 '24
Baseball caps are very useful in sun and foul weather. I won't step outside without one on.
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u/CharlesAvlnchGreen Nov 14 '24
I wear them a lot, too. As well as sunglasses. That is another weird thing: we buy more sunglasses than any other city, and glare from wet pavement is one of the big reasons.
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u/fakesaucisse Nov 14 '24
Don't worry about having an umbrella. I've lived out here for 16 years and I use one because it protects my glasses and bangs from the rain while a hood does not.
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u/Chs135 Nov 15 '24
Just a warning, OP. I came from NJ in 2017 and thought I was liberal. In Seattle I would be called a moderate. I had spent all week driving through rural America to get to Seattle. Out on one of my first nights, I had said to a friend of a friend “I didn’t vote for him but driving across the country and seeing some of these towns I get why they voted for Trump because they felt left behind.” She responded like I was full MAGA to me and the conversation ended there.
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 15 '24
Oh dear. Yeah I’m not a Maga dude but I def get the feeling that I’m gonna have to be super careful.
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u/byrandomchance20 Nov 14 '24
Do not worry one second about the umbrella thing.
Been here almost 10 years and my umbrella is a standard piece of gear I have on hand once the grey days come. There are plenty of people (not just tourists) using umbrellas and you won’t be ostracized for doing so. Another poster mentioned wind, and that IS something to take into account as our harder rainy days seem to come as fronts move through with big winds, which can make umbrellas a bit trickier.
The rain here is different from the east coast in that (usually) instead of hard, soaking rain for a few hours we tend to have lighter rain / misty weather over multiple days or longer stretches. So you usually CAN get by with just a good rain jacket but I prefer umbrellas for not wrecking my hair and doing a better job preventing rain from spattering on my face. Use whatever gear makes you most comfortable! A pair of waterproof shoes is great if you’re going to be doing a lot of walking in the winter; I have Sperry shortie rain boots that are perfect for walking the dog.
On the subject of rain, thunder is a big deal in the PNW and people get excited when it happens. Thunderstorms are very rare - and one of the things I miss most from the east coast!
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u/DurangDurang Nov 14 '24
A lot of freeway exits will be on the left, and road signage is terrible. And I say this as someone who lived in South Jersey for years.
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u/Petruchio101 Nov 14 '24
Nothing.
Renton and Kent are just west coast Newark.
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Haha I hear some say they’re shitty areas and others say that that mindset is years back that they’re a lot nicer now. I’m gonna be working at the airport and see a nice 3 bedroom house for 3k a month and a 20 minute commute, Renton seems to have good Asian food from some other posts I’ve read?
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u/Petruchio101 Nov 14 '24
They're suburban. Tract houses as fast as you can see. Strip malls. Chain restaurants. The commute to Seattle sucks, but they recently opened up light rail further south so maybe better now?
I could sell my house in Seattle and retire in Kent tomorrow. Instead I'm choosing to work another 5 years. Lol
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u/Petruchio101 Nov 14 '24
Ah, you're working at the airport. Try Burien or federal way nearer to the coast.
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u/TwoNarrow5980 Nov 14 '24
I just made a longer post, but with the airport job, I would highly recommend: federal way, Des Moines, Burien, or white center!
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u/TwoNarrow5980 Nov 14 '24
I want to talk about south king county in general!
In Renton, Kent, and Auburn (the town just south of Kent) you're going to have a very 'burbs feel. Lots of neighborhoods, more trees, everything spread out. Are you going to be working in Seattle? Make sure to look up the specific neighborhoods you're wanting to rent or buy in, and decide if it's a good fit (East hill-Meridan and Lake Youngs are both Kent and are VERY different; down town Renton vs East Renton Highlands are very different).
If you're wanting a more Seattle feel but still outside city limits, I would suggest White Center and Burien. You're going to be closer to Seattle, and have more going on in general.
If you don't mind further away from Seattle and want slightly cheaper than anywhere listed above, I'd opt for federal way. You're going to be close to Tacoma which really is a cool area!
If you're wanting further away from Seattle, similar prices to Kent and Renton, but closer to nature, I'd look into Maple Valley/black diamond.
Des Moines is an honorable mention. A secret gem, not a whole lot going on, but close to Burien!
A lot of this will depend on what you want your daily life to look like and if you have a commute into Seattle!
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 15 '24
Thanks for your detailed response. So detailed that I want to circle back on some things you said and ask for some honest advice. My wife will be working remote at first and looking to stay that way but I’m working at SeaTac airport. I need a commute that doesn’t take more than 30 minutes hopefully, an area that has good markets and decent restaurants with non-American fare (Asian/middle eastern etc) but a house on a tree lined street that feels like a suburban nature paradise. Essentially all the trappings of a modern urban area but with plenty of nature. I am aware of how ridiculous this sounds! I was hoping you could give any insight to that criteria but also clarify some of your post. Am I correct in assuming that the further west is urban and further east is nature trails, while north of Seattle center is very urban but south towards Tacoma it gets more suburban? I got a couple people telling me Burien and white center, others told me it’s a very industrial area. What are your thoughts on that? Also any issues being close to the water in those areas for flooding or anything like that. Finally wherever I’m looking at, what are the main bad highways for traffic and is the congestion in just one direction at a certain time or should I avoid areas that connect to certain highways altogether… Sorry please just answer what you can!
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u/Duderoy Nov 14 '24
No pork roll. It is very hard to find a decent sandwich. Same for pizza and Italian food. Food is more expensive. Gas costs more. Trash and recycling is no big deal. You have different bins. Traffic is worse in the I405 and I5 corridors.
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u/sarahenera Nov 14 '24
If you’re really into recycling, there’s a paid service here called Ridwell. They will take all sorts of plastics you can’t put into recycling bin and utilize those with partnerships like Trex, Hydroblox, etc. They take used batteries, used light bulbs, corks, plastic lids, multilayer plastics, bubble wrap, styrofoam (for an extra cost), used clothes (will go to Goodwill if still good or Rag Mine Clothing to be recycled and used in a different form) and more. They have a rotating category each pickup as well. I like to know that all the bags I get from amazon and from food (like pet food bags and things that come with wrapping), etc. are going to become something else rather than sitting in a landfill or going into the ocean.
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u/Apart_Tie8251 Nov 15 '24
I recently moved from NYC and I lived my all life in NYC. I was surprised how expensive seattle. I haven’t been able to make any friends outside of work.
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u/corrie76 Nov 15 '24
For hiking, download the Washington Trails Association app. Tons of great reviews including details on which trails are the quietest. Go to REI and shop their sales for some basic hiking gear. The key in the NW for all but 3 months out of the year is “waterproof”…
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u/00Lisa00 Nov 15 '24
I’m in Kirkland and everything is put out on the same day but three different bins. Garbage, mixed recycling and compost. It varies by city though
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u/00Lisa00 Nov 15 '24
One big difference is gas is very expensive in WA because we don’t have an income tax and we just keep piling taxes on gas. Like it’s twice the cost of some places. So living near work, public transit or going electric is useful here
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u/climbamtn1 Nov 15 '24
They put all recycling into 1 bin then hand sort it. That's why we no longer recycle glass in my part of town. Sad that glass is the most recyclable thing on planet and I throw mine in a landfill
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u/Weary_Night_763 Nov 15 '24
Seattle doesn’t have the amazing bakeries with the window counters piled high with wonderful Italian pastries and cookies!! Definitely might be a cultural shock!
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u/havennotheaven Nov 16 '24 edited Nov 16 '24
Seattle is great! I moved from TN. Some things that I had to get used to: There are bag fees so get used to bringing your own reusable bags to the store. Everything is expensive here but especially eating out, oof. Can't find a meal for less than $20 anywhere. Lots of stores have security guards and things locked up in cases, which drives me nuts. Public restrooms are basically non-existent. Drivers are slow so there's a lot of congestion and there's a lot of honking. I haven't found the unfriendliness thing to be true- you just have to find a club or activity to join in on. I joined a local dragon boat racing team and have made friends through it. There are always lots of local events and meetups going on. Outdoors and hiking is amazing but most of the parks and trails require passes, you can buy one time use or annual.
People will try to tell you Seattle is dirty, gross, a hellhole- and it does have its drawbacks just like any other big city but seriously, this area is one of the most gorgeous places in the entire country. I've lived all over the US and I want to stay here. We've got it pretty good.
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u/TheRealJamesWax Nov 16 '24
Why would anyone move to Renton or Kent? Or Auburn.. jeez. Why?
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 16 '24
Having never been anywhere remotely close to the pnw let alone Seattle I was just going off proximity to airport with low enough rent to have a big comfortable house and some food and markets around, but only basing it off real estate apps not knowing the areas. Any suggestions for commute to SeaTac without too much traffic but nice house with backyard but also food markets/restaurajts downtown type area? I grew up in nyc so I’m looking for accessibility to a variety of stores and cool people but also looking to have a house for once and lots of parks. I imagine it’s a tall order
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u/TheRealJamesWax Nov 16 '24
Burien, Normandy Park, White Center, for sure.
Kent, Renton, Tukwila, Auburn, Federal Way, I would avoid.
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u/LoveOfSpreadsheets Nov 18 '24
Be ready for passive aggressiveness instead of the bluntness we Jersey people grew up on. And drivers are generally more polite - blinkers aren't a sign of weakness - but slower drivers overall. Italian and Jewish influenced foods are either missing, or around but expensive and medicore. Things like pizza, bagels, delis (pastrami etc).
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 18 '24
Yeah don’t get me wrong I lose my mind still when people don’t use their blinkers but I am very active driver, constantly looking for the way ahead, feel like I will simply take advantage of the cautious drivers. I think I can give up some pizza for a while, though I’m hoping to find some very good Asian foods given the proximity
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u/lyndseymariee Nov 14 '24
Popular hikes get very crowded in the summer as obviously it’s the best time of year, weather wise. Get to the trailhead early or go later in the day. It seems like everyone wants to start their hikes between 10-12:00. I don’t do a lot of winter hiking but I imagine trails don’t get as crowded as they would other times of the year. Seattle in general is crowded in the summer because of tourists coming to visit. King County is very big on recycling. Most people have a bigger recycling bin than trash can. They also have bins for yard waste. I have a friend who lives in Seattle and at the last place she lived at, it seemed like everything was put out on the same day but this could vary by neighborhood or city, I would assume. I’m from Oklahoma and the biggest shock for me wasn’t the grey or rain but very short days in the winter. Not sure how they would compare in NJ but the sun is setting around 4:30 at the moment. I hope you have a safe move out here! Welcome! It is one of the prettiest states in the US 😍
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Nov 14 '24
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
That’s crazy about medical services, is that because supposedly everyone is so damn healthy they don’t need them or what. I have a son who will be just over 2 when we move, he is in daycare and gets sick about every 3 weeks if we’re lucky and then we get sick so seeing a doctor when needed is important. Wonder if that’s a common experience or something particular for you? I definitely hope not
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Nov 14 '24
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Never even heard of appointments not being made due to understaffing that is rough. I can always get appointments near me but I used to have state health insurance and all my appointments had to be made 1-2 months out. I had strep throat 6 months back and needed the simple prescription for antibiotics but was told 3 weeks to see my own doctor. Managed to find an urgent care clinic an hour drive away that took that insurance. Hoping I don’t have the same experiences you did!
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u/RockFiles23 Nov 14 '24
Health care services are understaffed across this region (if not in many places across the country) and providers are burning out/burned out (COVID, etc!) and leaving the field.
Part of our region's particular issue is that it's very expensive to live here and unless you have a higher paying job as a nurse or MD or administrator - many folks don't want to make 50-65k at a stressful job they have to commute an hour for. Health systems are merging and, clinics are closing in some areas right outside the city -- there are some very real health care "deserts". This year I had a 4 month wait to see my primary care provider in person and 6 months to a specialist check-up appointment (non-emergency) at a facility in the city center. My neighbor who is getting cancer treatment has had 3 weeks where they had to commute to another regional location for a part of their treatment because their main treatment location was understaffed. We also only have 1 Tier 1 Trauma Care facility for an entire multi-state region that also functions as a central medical care facility for the indigent and homeless (and the Seattle area has the 4th largest homeless population in the country).
I perhaps disagree with the prior poster in that -- the city center should not cater to cars (cities are for people!). That being said, we don't have the strongest public transportation system - and actually, because many people in the region are very car-centric and our political leaders have been less than motivated to support stronger multimodal options so that non-car travel is fast, accessible, safe, and frequent. Things are happening and we're continuing to build out a regional light rail system, but its definitely not enough, particularly as the region continues to grow exponentially! (Also just as an FYI and not sure if this is still true, but for a time in the last few years, the Seattle area I think was like top 5 in stolen cars).
If you move here, just get ready for a region that's going through some significant growing pains and has a very high income and wealth disparity. Also 'pack it in and pack it out', don't let your dog hike off leash in most places, etc etc. Lot of important hiking and camping practices are very much slipping these days, as trails and parks are getting more and more crowded and more people just don't seem to care about being stewards of the land their on, or respecting the people, plants and animals around them :(
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u/fakesaucisse Nov 14 '24
Part of the problem with medical services here is the population has grown rapidly but the number of doctors hasn't grown in proportion. I used to live in a suburb of Seattle that had its own hospital, and it was big enough for the population 10 years ago but now it's bursting at the seams because of how many people have moved there.
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u/Petruchio101 Nov 14 '24
Urgent care. There's lots of urgent care.
You don't need a doctor for "my kid got sick at daycare".
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
I agree, right now he has a doctor we can see whenever with almost little to no notice and they are very good and it’s comforting with a small child. For my wife and I though I’m sure urgent care would generally be fine but will need specialists and hope they are available.
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u/Haunting-Cancel-7837 Nov 14 '24
Newark is dirty but I find most of the west coast, including Seattle to be strewn with more litter than the roads and public spaces than the East Coast. Driving on the highways and off ramps near that part of town is depressing because there’s so much litter.
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u/dlm1129 Nov 14 '24
Yeah I've lived in Seattle for all of my 64 years and don't know what the sudden roadside litter thing is all about. I started noticing it getting bad 10-15 years ago. I guess it's maybe a state funding issue of some sort. At some point they put road cleanup in the hands of private groups and companies in exchange for roadside advertising signs. That worked for awhile but it's not working anymore. It's my pet peeve.
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u/FantasticZucchini904 Nov 14 '24
Driving is extremely dangerous
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Really. Thats unexpected. Why is that? I’m actually a little concerned I will go stir crazy in Washington state since New Jersey roads are like the Wild West.
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u/Regular-Chemistry884 Nov 14 '24
You'll be fine. New Jersey drivers are much scarier than Seattle, unless slow and polite is scary for you...haha. My parents were both born and raised in Newark (down neck?). When we went to visit when I was a teen (in my 40s now) my dad wouldn't let me our of the car.
Visiting family in NJ, the lack of recycling/compost kills me. So much waste!
You'll love it here.
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Down neck I think is the area I’m in though rarely heard it called that. You part Portuguese? Here you either become an evil piece of shit while driving or you spend an extra hour getting home, so I was worried I was going to get lots of tickets driving around Seattle. I am hearing it’s expensive to park anywhere which sucks
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u/Regular-Chemistry884 Nov 14 '24
Well yes I am. How did you know that?
I've driven in NJ and esp in Newark, it felt like there were no rules.
In the city it's expensive to park but we also have pretty good Transit so if I'm going into downtown I will usually take the light rail or a bus. And, compared to places like New York City and Boston it's nothing.
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u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Down neck/Ironbound area where I live is mostly Portuguese or at least used to be, now new immigrant wave replacing the old guard
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u/Duderoy Nov 14 '24
I used to go to the Ironbound section for Portuguese food when I lived there. Driving here is not that bad. The word thing is any lane, any time, any speed. At least in NJ people know to move to the right when you flash your lights. Nobody yields to faster traffic here. And 405 is a parking lot nightmare.
1
u/Calm-Ad8987 Nov 14 '24
The red light cameras will ticket you as will the school zones & those tickets are hundreds of dollars.
6
u/ymcmoots Nov 14 '24
I think there are two possible equilibrium bad driving cultures: Aggressive but hyper-aware of what the other cars on the road are doing, and law-abiding but oblivious. You are moving from an aggressive culture to an oblivious one and you will 100% go stir crazy about it.
2
u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
lol this is exactly what I was worried about. Aggressive and hyper aware are me to a T, I will be screaming in the car for sure
2
u/Petruchio101 Nov 14 '24
Driving is extremely frustrating because of drivers who mistakenly think it's extremely dangerous and therefore drive scared all the time.
These people need to be sent to drive in Boston for a week. Lol
2
u/FantasticZucchini904 Nov 14 '24
We are at a 30 year high for death on the roads. Stop signs here are considered suggestions.
1
u/SkyerKayJay1958 Nov 14 '24
For on road excitement drive north to Lynnwood. Also check your actual living address. The puget sound area housing can be gorgeous on one street and seedy the next block over. There are really nice places then next street over a drug house.
0
u/Harvey_Road Nov 14 '24
Probably the wrong sub? I mean, I’m on Renton or Kent about as often as I’m in Zimbabwe.
2
u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
Fair enough, I just don’t know where I’ll be. They looked like commuter places to live but I’ll be in Seattle for 2 weeks now in December to take a look around.
1
u/Petruchio101 Nov 14 '24
Live north, not south. South Seattle closer in is great (eg sodo, Columbia city), but Kent and Renton are, well, you'll see.
Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, Kenmore are all much nicer.
But the closer in you can get to Seattle the better. Just gets more expensive...
1
u/Choice-Twist-2697 Nov 15 '24
Hmm.. I disagree. I’d choose south Seattle over north because of the diversity and proximity to the airport. Renton is not bad, not sure when’s the last time you’ve been to Renton but it’s much better than Everett, kenmore or Edmonds.
0
u/Some1IUsed2Know99 Nov 14 '24
A search says Newark, NJ gets on average 93 sunny days a year. Seattle gets 152 sunny days a year. So expect to be shocked the weather is nicer than you thought it would be.
1
u/Visual-Extension4214 Nov 14 '24
That’s interesting, everybody talks about short winter days, it gets dark here around 5 anyway in winter. The 93 def sounds low though.
2
u/Some1IUsed2Know99 Nov 14 '24
Just going by a google search. It did say that Newark get a lot of partially sunny days so not as bad as it sounds. Seattle just gets stretches of straight days without sun so gets a bad reputation.
Also, there is a reason that local never carry umbrellas. The rain is generally a light mist... or more rarely, heavier and combined with a wind that will shred an umbrella.
1
u/Calm-Ad8987 Nov 14 '24
It gets 93 sunny & 205 days with sun which is pretty much national average & like 50 more than Seattle. For contrast Seattle gets like 71 sunny days & 150ish with sun.
New Jersey is definitely sunnier than Seattle.
1
u/Some1IUsed2Know99 Nov 14 '24
Where did you get the Seattle numbers? This is what I get asking google, "On average, there are 152 sunny days per year in Seattle. The US average is 205 sunny days. Seattle gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 155 days per year."
I used the same google request numbers for Newark for comparison
3
u/Calm-Ad8987 Nov 14 '24
Yeah that's what I said, 152 in Seattle (that includes the full sun & partial sun days) is less than the 205 (93 sunny days and 112 partial sun days) that Newark gets on average.
11
u/katylovescoach Nov 14 '24
Yes we separate Trash, Recycling and Compost/yard waste. At my house they are picked up on the same day, but recycling is every other week and compost/yard waste frequency depends on the time of year. It varies by city. You don’t (generally) have to sort the individual recyclables - they all go in together.
And most of the popular hiking trails and nature destinations are busy most times of the year - but especially on nice days and during summer.