We've been in Washington for almost 10 months now. When people find out we're "recent" transplants, the inevitable question is, "so, how do you like it here?" This question is almost always asked tentatively, as if the questioner is physically preparing themselves for a negative response (they raise their shoulders, squint their eyes, and lean back slightly).
Western Washington inspires strong feelings - people either love it or hate it. I know people in both groups and can understand both points of view. Some people (I call them SunFlowers) wither without ample sun and heat (my mom and most [all?] of my sisters fall in this category).
For me, though, I LOVE Washington. Capital L, Love! Even though I didn't grow up in the Pacific Northwest, in a strange way I feel like I've come "home." The landscape is stunning and the weather suits me wonderfully. A high of 78 degrees in August? Yes, please!
I've had a number of people, after finding out we moved from Florida, comment, "oh, you must really miss the heat!" No, no I don't. Not at all, actually.
There are many things I do miss about Florida - mostly my friends and my kids' friends, but also the beach, the smell of orange blossoms, Publix grocery store, and my Stake YW's calling - but the heat (and humidity and hurricanes and bugs and crab grass...) definitely does not make the list!
We moved to Washington right at the beginning of winter and we heard all winter, "oh, this is one of the worst winters we've had in a long time." I loved hearing that, because the winter didn't seem too bad and if that was a "bad" one, I figure we should be okay moving forward.
I think my kids adapted fairly quickly as well (maybe too quickly). When Spring rolled around I recall going outside one morning with Bryce. When we left the shade of the garage he threw his arm over his eyes and cried, "Aaauuugghhh, the sun! It's too bright!!" So much for my Florida-born boy.
On another occasion in early Spring, we spent a glorious afternoon at the park with some friends. After playing happily for a couple hours enjoying the sun, we made our way back to the car to head home. It was then that I glanced at my phone and noticed the temperature - 54 degrees!
Of course, I don't think I'll love the weather all the time here, and I'm sure there will be days (weeks? months?) that I'll miss seeing the sun, but I've always loved a good rainy day; they feel like make-hot-chocolate-and-curl-up-with-a-blanket-and-a-good-book days, and what's better than that?
Plus, did you realize that in Western Washington blackberry bushes grow as weeds?! Weeds! Isn't that the definition of paradise?
2 comments:
It sounds lovely, and I'm so glad that you're happy. I really liked Oregon when we visited there, but it was July, so I don't know how I'd feel about the winters. I really don't like to be cold, so CA is probably a good place for me! Sometimes I just wish for a bit more natural beauty in my surroundings, though.
As we're looking at jobs, there have been a few in the Pacific Northwest, but Rob has been reticent to apply to those because he calls me his solar panel (dies without sun...). Anyway, I was also veto-ing it until I realized that y'all were there which made it more desirable :) I'm glad that you guys are loving it! We'll see where we end up!
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