Seattle and me

[susandennis]

For years and years I was a nomad. My family moved a lot as Daddy got promoted - I lived in 5 different states before I hit 1st grade. When I left college I moved around looking for a fit and landed at IBM which, at that time really did seem like I've Been Moved... But I loved it. Whenever someone said 'want to move to...' I said yes before I found out where. I loved it.

But, I got to a point in my career where IBM wanted me back in New York (HQ) and I had been there and done that and had my fill of WingTip City. I was working for a wonderful guy at the time and before they made their move I went to him and pled my case. I told him it was time to jump off the career track and go live someplace fun for me. And he said that he was behind me all the way - he'd find me a job wherever and where did I want to go?

I only had really two places left on my list of I'd-really-like-to-live-there's - Chicago and Seattle. He made me pick. I had been to Chicago on business and pleasure but I'd never even seen Seattle so Seattle it was. I figured that if Seattle kicked me out, Chicago would be a nice fall back position.

The problem is, I fell in love with Seattle immediately. Right away. I loved the weather. I loved the people. I loved the action. I loved the downtown and the views and the water and the mountains. I loved that no one gave a shit who my Daddy was or what church I belong to and that we had two vibrant local daily newspapers. I settled in and, for the first time I could ever remember, unpacked every single box. That was January of 1992. And I've never regretted it for one single minute.

Sure, I'd like a bigger variety of fried foods, but if I ever left Seattle, it would likely be because of the weather. I love snow. I don't want to ski in it or snow mobile or anything like that. I just want to sit on my couch in front of a roaring fire and watch it come down. I want to walk my neighborhood in the snow quiet and listen to the crunch. I want snow but I also want cool summers so I'm not leaving for Chicago. Proabably I'm not leaving for anywhere.

I am just going to enjoy the snow photographs of my LJ friends and hope we get a flake or two maybe.

And, no, I would not like to discuss the Mariners, thank you very much.

Comments

[pheon.livejournal.com]

I think I have moved around almost as much as you have. Until we moved to Oregon, I had never lived more than 4 years in one place.

And we fell in love with the Northwest as well. A number of years ago, I got sufficiently annoyed with my then management to go job hunting. And was offered a job at Sandia Labs. When I asked Julie about it, she said she was OK with moving there. But I was going to have to figure out how to move Sally. The cow. [A careful analysis of the job made it not something I would want, anyway: even more office politics than I had here.]

And I agree with you on snow. And here we get some. Our house is up about 600 or 700 feet and so we see a little to more than a little most winters.

So we have been here 27 years and plan to stay even longer....

[susandennis]

The first time I ever lived anywhere long enough to get my drivers license renewed was Seattle. It was a huge deal for me. It was so not a biggie for the clerk who waited on me.

It's hard to imagine living anywhere 27 years but then there was a time when I couldn't imagine my living anywhere near this long...

[pheon.livejournal.com]

It's hard to imagine living anywhere 27 years....

Yup. It sure is. I was amazed several years ago to realize that we had been in Oregon for over 20 years and in this house for 18 of those. Not what my growing up was like.

Julie was less amazed. She grew up for 21 years in two houses in one town in Ohio. And before she married me had never been further west than Indiana, nor further east than Pennsylvania. Boy, did that change. :-)

[edbook.livejournal.com]

what a big change northern NM would be after the Puget Sound... I lived 8 places in the six years I was in the Navy and the last one was here on the Kitsap Peninsula... it was home the first day I was here back in '73...

Peace

[pheon.livejournal.com]

It sure would have been. I spent a lot of time up at Los Alamos and Santa Fe when I worked for Control Data in the 60s and 70s, and I never really became a desert person. I want green.

[fj.livejournal.com]

I feel you have been very lucky. My current path does not allow me to move without taking a big gamble -- basically, Nokia ain't moving me right now and I am not very employable anywhere I can go (the EU).

I hope to become nomadic again soon, 8.5 years is too long. I just need the right opportunity.

[susandennis]

I have been very very very lucky many times. If I had had different management in California, I would have never gotten to Seattle ever. Lots of time it was dumb luck but it was luck and I am so grateful.

[pinkfish.livejournal.com]

Well okay, sometime this February, I will point my webcam out the window, and you can have snow. You will have to find your own fire somewhere; maybe from another webcam.

[susandennis]

REALLY!!! Webcam snow would be wonderful!! I'll provide the fire! Right here on my webcam!

hey hey hey... have your webcam call mine...

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

This is similar to my friend Jane's story. She worked for Bell Labs in New Jersey, and was asked to take a two year assignment at Pacific Northwest Bell in 1978. She's been here ever since. She says she fell in love with the city as the plane was landing.

I've lived here 13 years, and think of this as my home, and can't imagine living anywhere else. There are still new views, new places, new discoveries.

Fire and Snow

[pinkrose70.livejournal.com]

Susan, I'm with you. I used to love watching the snow fall from inside, once I'd driven home and gotten warm and cozy. And growing up in Maryland,
I used to love watching snow fall at night from my dark bedroom and the gentle hush and softness it brought. Ahhhh memories.
The last time I was home in the winter I was lucky to see about an inch one morning, but it all melted by the afternoon.
No snow here in Southern California, and while it does get chilly, windy and rainy in the winter, I'm without a fireplace too.
So, thanks to a few friends I've seen snow via webcams in Michigan and Canada. :)
As for the fire, here's what I've had and it's almost convincing:
http://www.duraflame.com/hotoffers/screensavers.cfm

I like the 2nd one and if you turn out the lights and close your eyes......