Meh
Our friends S and B were in town this weekend and we had a great time. It's so nice to be able to hang out with folks you've known forever, but in a new way now that you're both engaged/married. S and B live back east, along with most of our good friends. We had a few great discussions about Seattle vs. Philly. And now it's all rolling around in my head.
I miss the east. But I do love living here. It's beautiful, it's liberal, and there are plenty of great things to do. We are also really lucky in that we live right in the middle of downtown and can walk to everything and anything. I'm driving 10 minutes tonight after work to do a sailing class. There aren't many places you can do that.
But Seattle is also 3000 miles away from close friends and family, and the housing market sucks. Suuuuucccks. As in, sucking away all of your cash. We know that buying a big house with a yard is impossible here, but definitely possible elsewhere. Which is crazy considering that we're 2 well-paid professionals.
Then there's the issue of kids--I want my kids to know their grandparents and their aunts and their uncle. That's not going to happen if we continue to live out here. Not to mention the isolation. I know that kids can be a joy, but I also know that your marriage usually takes a hit and if I'm a stay-at-home mom I'm going to need support or else I will go nutso.
So those are my thoughts today. Do we stay here, loving Seattle, or leave for the sake of our kids and possibly the long-term happiness of our marriage? Do we move east, possibly hate it, and really resent the decision? Or we could move east and love it. Bah.
I miss the east. But I do love living here. It's beautiful, it's liberal, and there are plenty of great things to do. We are also really lucky in that we live right in the middle of downtown and can walk to everything and anything. I'm driving 10 minutes tonight after work to do a sailing class. There aren't many places you can do that.
But Seattle is also 3000 miles away from close friends and family, and the housing market sucks. Suuuuucccks. As in, sucking away all of your cash. We know that buying a big house with a yard is impossible here, but definitely possible elsewhere. Which is crazy considering that we're 2 well-paid professionals.
Then there's the issue of kids--I want my kids to know their grandparents and their aunts and their uncle. That's not going to happen if we continue to live out here. Not to mention the isolation. I know that kids can be a joy, but I also know that your marriage usually takes a hit and if I'm a stay-at-home mom I'm going to need support or else I will go nutso.
So those are my thoughts today. Do we stay here, loving Seattle, or leave for the sake of our kids and possibly the long-term happiness of our marriage? Do we move east, possibly hate it, and really resent the decision? Or we could move east and love it. Bah.
2 Comments:
well, I can't say for sure whether you would love it or hate it here, but I do know that you can buy a really nice house with a lovely back yard, even on the salary of one working professional and a poor debt-ridden, financially non-contributing grad student sidekick. :)
There may not be as much to do here, but we are within driving distance of DC, Baltimore, NYC and Boston. And I think Philly is in the midst of a renaissance period. Things are gradually picking up around here.
I think we could really like Philly. Especially if we get a place with air conditioning. I'm just nervous that we won't adjust. But then again, I was singing along to Bruce in the car today, wishing I was back in Joisey. So who knows. :-)
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