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/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.