Last week's visit to Seattle was the easy part - I went to see if it was the city for me and came to the conclusion that it most certainly is. That's fantastic and I have lots of photos to share, but the moment I arrived back at Dulles International, I realized that I now have to face the hard part. Finding a job there from across the country is the first step, of course. And as if that won't be enough of a challenge, the logistics of actually getting there, as I've said before, are not pretty.
That said, I have done it before and, while it is unpleasant and costly, I know I can do it and I will have help. I really can't sit around wallowing in self-pity when I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity in the first place. It is scary and I will owe a few people a great debt, but I knew after the first day there (not even a full 24 hours) that it was just the right fit for me. On the water, near the mountains and lovely forests. Eating the best tater tots ever (I'm not joking) at Canterbury or Lunchbox Labratory, oh god and Serious Biscuit (damn you, biscuits!). Getting to try a bunch of local beers (and ciders) at Tippe and Drague and meeting the lovely people who make it such a great place to hang out.
I am also very lucky to already have one of my dearest friends living there (Meg's sister, Jenn), who introduced me to a bunch of amazing people that made my trip that much more interesting. And Seattle that much more enticing. Steph, Murph, Michelle, Panda - I can never thank them enough for making me feel at home. And for giving LostGirls a new sub-blog: Found in Seattle (label-wise).
When I started Lost in DC (the first blog for LostGirls that we came up with). It was created as a way for me to force myself into local adventures in order to help other people who arrive in the DC Metro Area and are as befuddled as I was at first. I was under the impression that at some point I would know the area really well and be excited to live here. Now that I've been here fifteen months, I realize that as amazing as this area can be, it just isn't for me. DC itself is a pretty awesome place, filled with free museums (and some that are not) that I'm so glad I got to spend time in. The National Portraiture Gallery and the Botanic Gardens (both visited with my best Jess...and I don't think I ever posted about the latter, so add that to the list of things I need to do before I leave) were wonderful experiences and having a birthday dinner at Fogo de Chao (a Brazilian steakhouse - it's meat-tastic) is something I'll never forget.
This isn't a bad place to live and I know plenty of people who are very happy here. But while I don't hate it, I know it isn't right, not a good fit, not the place for me. So the adventure to Seattle begins here...I'm sorry if it ends up being as painful for you to read about, as it is for me to experience, but I'm pretty sure it'll be worth it in the end.
I have a lot of great Seattle memories and photos to share with you in the coming days, but for now I leave you with my first pictures of Seattle:
These were taken on a friend's balcony in Eastlake, a few blocks from Lake Union. From there, you can see all of downtown (including the Space Needle, of course) and over to Gasworks Park (just outside the right frame of the bottom photo). I spent a lot of daytime hours staring at that view during my visit, just dumbfounded by it.
Coming Soon (more Found in Seattle):
- True definition of the "Seattle Freeze" (what's up with the Snickelfritz?)
- Seattle, the true home of Tater Tots (so says I)
- A few Seattle bar and restaurant reviews (real quick ones, though)
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