Seattle Observations

We Americans live in such a huge and diverse country, yet unified.  It is easy to forget that parts of the country are nothing like our own because it is still part of the same nation, right?  I was Midwestern born and bred but did live in other regions, off and on.  In that regard, I was lucky.  Still, I'm always just a little bit shocked to see how much different certain areas are from the flat-lands I call home.

I just got back from three weeks of visiting my family in Seattle and environs.  Can't help but make observations about the place--things I didn't know; things I should have known but never paid attention to; and things I knew for sure.  Here is a compilation of all of them.

1.  Climate in the Pacific Northwest is ocean/mountain-driven.    With the Pacific on the west and two mountain ranges on the east (the Olympics and the Cascades), the weather is controlled by ocean temps and mountain altitudes and the effect that both have on the atmosphere.  The Seattle area doesn't get too cold or too warm.  It is known for seasonal rainy/gloomy days, but I have to say that (while I was there, at least) there were only about four days with rain, and most of those had some sunshine, as well.  In fact, the weather psyched me out.  I had packed mostly cool-weather clothes but found myself more in need of a cooler wardrobe.  I'm not complaining!

When my daughter lived in Sunnyvale, CA, I noted that the climate went from sunny and naturally air conditioned, to cold/foggy/rainy, to hot--all within a distance of 150-200 miles.  It's the same in the Seattle area.  I watched Seattle news and weather forecasts every morning, but what was predicted for them (just a few miles away) wasn't true for us in the suburbs.

2.  Washington has real rain forests.  In fact, just the Olympic Peninsula alone has three of them.  I was in one!  Honestly, I didn't know that the US had real rain forests, but there it was.  

One "funny" of the visit took place as we were entering the Hoh Rainforest National Park.  I had been noticing moss hanging from the trees and wondered if it was the same stuff called Spanish Moss that hangs off trees in the Deep South.  As we were waiting our turn at the entrance gate, the car ahead of us was taking a long time.  The driver even got out of her car, etc.  Not sure why.  Meanwhile, I had my Access Pass and driver's license ready for when it was our turn.  (A word about the Access Pass.  I picked it up at Mono Lake in California a few years ago.  It provides handicapped seniors--a whole carload--to enter any national park in the country free of charge for life.  Saves $25 a pop!)

When we finally had our turn at the gate, the spunky ranger in the shack--maybe in her 50s--apologized for our wait and thanked me for having my pass/ID ready.  She confessed that she was in training.  It was her first day on the job.  I said, "So I'm going to test your training.  What is the name of the moss I see hanging from the trees?"  The gal didn't bat an eye.  She responded, "Fred.  It's name is Fred.  And if you see any that is particularly pretty, that's Frederika."  She obviously didn't know the answer to my question, but her response was so charming, we laughed and moved on.  My prediction is that anyone who has to greet the public and can think that fast on her feet will do well on that particular job!  (While in the park, we found signs that told us that the moss is called Club Moss, but it will always and forever be Fred to me!)  

3.  Because of the ocean/waterways and mountains, and the growing population in the area, traffic in Seattle and suburbs is quite congested.  I didn't expect that.  Meg and family live in Bothell.  There are no neighborhood grocery stores, or even convenience stores where you can stop in and bring home a gallon of milk in a pinch.  Everything is at least ten minutes away.  The nearest Walmart with groceries is more like 20-30 minutes away in good traffic--far enough that your frozen pizzas and ice cream can thaw, big time.  If I were an independently wealthy entrepreneur, I'd buy an Aldi's franchise and plunk it down in the middle of Bothell near where the Microsoft Connector (bus) picks up and drops off!

4.  Washington loves its trees.  They call themselves the Evergreen State, and where there might be no trees, they plant some.  From the very moment we left the airport upon my arrival, Robin asked me what I thought.  What was to think?  All I saw was roadway and trees.  All views are blocked by trees in urban areas.  In the Midwest, we have strips of trees that are planted as windbreaks.  In Washington, trees are planted to block the views of commercial sprawl.  Seriously!  Sometimes, it's frustrating to an outsider.  I didn't go there to see trees!

5.  The area where my daughter lives is a little Silicon Valley.  It is where Microsoft has its home location.  The Microsoft campus is in Redmond and is huge...actually bigger than a college campus with over 100 buildings.  As a result, the area is culturally diverse with folks of all nationality backgrounds...many of whom were born right here in the good ol' USA.  (Indiana just doesn't know what that's all about.)  It's a whole different cosmos.

6.  There are many homes/buildings in the Seattle area that look like cubes.  Denis tells me that is because they don't have to have peaked roofs due to not much winter snow.  They get frost and/or black ice, but not lots of snow.

7.  My daughter lives in a neighborhood that is on a hill.  Basically, there are no yards for kids to play in...just landscaping (and not a lot of that).  I'm told that these large homes are actually free-standing condominiums but without paid outside maintenance.  Meg and Den had a big yard in Illinois.  Where they are now almost warrants not owning a lawn mower!  I watched a neighbor mow his front yard one day.  Took him two minutes, tops.  So different from the Midwest!

8.  Seafood in the PNW is plentiful and fresh.  You'd think it would also be cheaper than here in the MW, but it isn't.  Crab is just as pricey out there as it is here in Indiana, even though we can't get much by way of really fresh fish here.  Go figure!

9.  My granddaughter's school has an outdoor covered walkway to go from gym to cafeteria and other places.  Doesn't happen here in the MW!

I totally enjoyed my stay.  Had my own room, complete with my computer, a TV, clock, fan, and comfortable bed.  It feels good to be home...but I miss my family!