Seattle/Kirkland area -- Is it a good place?

lionpaw · 07-08-2011, 03:25 PM

I don't know if this will help you much since I left Seattle/Bellevue/Kirkland area six years ago....But what I will tell you is that Seattle has a very well established lgbt community, and Bellevue was just getting it's community together when I left....At the time, Kirkland didn't have anything to offer for the lgbt community...

When you leave Seattle and take rte. 520 into Kirkland (or Bellevue) these areas tend to be more conservative in nature. You will see lots of different faith systems to worship at, and it tends to be a more family oriented environment...In these areas, you are pretty much left alone.....

These areas offer much, but also be aware that you have to be able to adjust to the overcast skies (which tends to be most of the time)...The region has a long rainy season, and in the summer it can be quite humid.....

You also might want to check out the Seattle Times for additional information on the cities....It will give you a better picture on the economics of these cities and the state.

Good Luck!....I loved the area when we lived there....

Gemme · 07-14-2011, 10:18 PM

I'm not sure about the public transportation in Portland, but Seattle's was actually pretty good. The buses ran for free during the week in downtown areas too. It's been almost a year since I left WA, so maybe that's changed, AtLast?

It's family friendly, though you are going to find idiots no matter where you go.

I love the area around Pike Place Market. It's a melting pot of everyone and everything. Kirkland, however, I didn't spend a lot of time in, so I'm not sure about specifics for there.

Congrats on being headhunted, AJ!

Slater · 07-15-2011, 09:38 PM

There isn't really anywhere in the Seattle area that is not queer friendly. Let's put it this way ... I have lived for 7 years across the water in Bremerton, which was/is a dumpy little Navy town and even Bremerton is pretty queer-friendly.

I haven't spent much time in or around Kirkland in a number of years, but it was (and I imagine still is) a fairly affluent, very white, tech-industry-dominated suburb.

The queer community in Seattle is large and visible. I would agree with AtLastHome that the biggest drawback is the public transit. There is a new light rail system, but it is still very limited, primarily connecting downtown with the airport, but it will be expanded to the University of Washington (and maybe then over to Kirkland, I'm not sure).

Housing prices are still falling so it's a good time to get into the market. The state government is kind of in financial shambles because voters don't seem to understand that they need to pay taxes if they want a functioning government (why yes, I am still a little bitter about last November's elections).

Good luck with Google. By the way, your avatar is great.

--Slater

07-08-2011, 03:25 PM	#1
lionpaw Member How Do You Identify?: very married lesbian couple-there are two of us that use this site Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: pa Posts: 734 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,585 Thanked 1,579 Times in 517 Posts Rep Power: 2193030	I don't know if this will help you much since I left Seattle/Bellevue/Kirkland area six years ago....But what I will tell you is that Seattle has a very well established lgbt community, and Bellevue was just getting it's community together when I left....At the time, Kirkland didn't have anything to offer for the lgbt community... When you leave Seattle and take rte. 520 into Kirkland (or Bellevue) these areas tend to be more conservative in nature. You will see lots of different faith systems to worship at, and it tends to be a more family oriented environment...In these areas, you are pretty much left alone..... These areas offer much, but also be aware that you have to be able to adjust to the overcast skies (which tends to be most of the time)...The region has a long rainy season, and in the summer it can be quite humid..... You also might want to check out the Seattle Times for additional information on the cities....It will give you a better picture on the economics of these cities and the state. Good Luck!....I loved the area when we lived there.... Last edited by lionpaw; 07-08-2011 at 03:29 PM. Reason: didn't finish...

07-14-2011, 10:18 PM	#2
Gemme Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Queer Stone Femme Girl of the Unicorn Variety Preferred Pronoun?: She, as in 'She's a GEM' Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The roads are narrow here Posts: 36,631 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 182,498 Thanked 107,925 Times in 25,666 Posts Rep Power: 21474887	I'm not sure about the public transportation in Portland, but Seattle's was actually pretty good. The buses ran for free during the week in downtown areas too. It's been almost a year since I left WA, so maybe that's changed, AtLast? It's family friendly, though you are going to find idiots no matter where you go. I love the area around Pike Place Market. It's a melting pot of everyone and everything. Kirkland, however, I didn't spend a lot of time in, so I'm not sure about specifics for there. Congrats on being headhunted, AJ! __________________ Gemme's Journal I'm misunderestimated.

07-15-2011, 09:38 PM	#3
Slater Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Seattle area Posts: 147 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 41 Thanked 793 Times in 129 Posts Rep Power: 14631970	There isn't really anywhere in the Seattle area that is not queer friendly. Let's put it this way ... I have lived for 7 years across the water in Bremerton, which was/is a dumpy little Navy town and even Bremerton is pretty queer-friendly. I haven't spent much time in or around Kirkland in a number of years, but it was (and I imagine still is) a fairly affluent, very white, tech-industry-dominated suburb. The queer community in Seattle is large and visible. I would agree with AtLastHome that the biggest drawback is the public transit. There is a new light rail system, but it is still very limited, primarily connecting downtown with the airport, but it will be expanded to the University of Washington (and maybe then over to Kirkland, I'm not sure). Housing prices are still falling so it's a good time to get into the market. The state government is kind of in financial shambles because voters don't seem to understand that they need to pay taxes if they want a functioning government (why yes, I am still a little bitter about last November's elections). Good luck with Google. By the way, your avatar is great. --Slater