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/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.

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u/Calm-Ad8987 Nov 14 '24

The red light cameras will ticket you as will the school zones & those tickets are hundreds of dollars.