Seattle, Washington
Dear World,
I have fallen in love with Seattle. I didn’t even know anything about Seattle before I came here except that it housed Nirvana and Starbucks. But now, I just want to know more. It’s the first city that actually seems interesting, has a wide variety of things to do, and has a really, really good vibe. I think it’s the people, everyone seems genuinely friendly and have time to talk to you. The streets are easy to navigate and logically placed. I know the main streets leading to downtown and then half of them are numbered, with a mostly square grid and no crazy hills. There is even parking downtown, though it is expensive, but it’s available, and that’s what’s important, really. The Pike Place Market is amazing. It’s got fresh produce, like, really fresh produce and this seafood restaurant and all these handmade things and shops with vintage children’s book art that they print right there. All of it is really unique, I haven’t seen anything like it before, and that impresses me.
We went to the poetry slam last night and it was also incredible. They were some of the best slam poets in the nation, and it fucking showed. Tonight we went to something called the Moisture Festival, which is a kind of badass independent circus and it was spectacular, spectacular, no words in the vernacular, can describe this great event and we were dumb with wonderment. Seriously.
Oh yes, and to top it all off, there is a store that sells nothing but men’s kilts, and it’s apparently really, really popular. So I get to randomly see guys wearing skirts on the street. I think that’s enough reason to move here alone.
So yeah, I’ve found the place. We’re going to Vancouver tomorrow to stay a couple of days, even though it’s not in the running (I can’t get a Canadian work visa), I’d still be really close by in case it’s as cool as everyone says it is. It’s totally a day trip away, and so is Portland. And there’s mountains, and I know winter’s going to be hell, but hey, I’ve got at least six more months before I’d have to deal with that and I’ve never seen real seasons before, so I think it’ll be good for me. Also, winter clothes. I love winter clothes, but I never get to fucking wear them. And there are actually cool clothes here. There are shops here that I’ve never imagined, like Utilikilts! That’s what I love about Seattle, it’s like the whole town has a sense of humor. I looked online and there seem to be some sorts of jobs available and rent isn’t much different from Orlando.
I’m really glad I felt this way about a city, because before I was trying to think about it logically and still weighing the pros and cons and kind of freaking out that I don’t know which city I want and Austin was the best, but it still wasn’t “the one” and it’s so far away, but being here in Seattle gave me this incredible gut feeling that I knew it was right. Everything just feels perfect. I know nothing will ever be truely perfect, but at least I know this is right for me for the time being.
So yeah, off to Vancouver in the morning and pretty soon I’ll be looking for a job and home! And speaking of home, I found this amazing om with bells on it that is just perfect, right here in some shop. I need to put it in my room, when I get one. It’s my first housewarming present to myself. It’s weird to think that this whole journey is almost done. I’m going to have to start thinking about real life again and having a stable routine, it’s so exciting! Blue skies ahead! Or at least a bluish-gray skies…
