7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving To Seattle (from California!)
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2023
- Interested in buying or selling in the Seattle/Bellevue area? Get in touch with me at: monicachurchrealestate.com/ or monicachurchrealestate@gmail.com
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Please if you move here from Cali, know you left for a reason caused by years of Democrats running that state in the ground and upping taxes. Please Please please don't bring that voting style here. Try something different so this state is not ruined further. Please. Hugs and love
Looking to move from Portland to Seattle. Not really sure the difference between the 2 cities.
@@randyphay5884 I will create a video of the difference!
cool to hear you're with compass are you at the bellevue one or fremont office?
The Seattle freeze 🤦♂️ - That needs to get melted, somehow 😂
Rain in Seattle is highly overrated. We may have a few gray days during the winter but the temps are warmer than most other Northern locations making it well worth it.
Can tell you're from here! I love rain but we literally have months of mist you don't count as rain. Folks from about anywhere else won't do stuff outside in sideways misty rain.
One big difference between Seattle and Bellevue is that unlike Seattle, if you shoplift or smoke fentanyl or car prowl in Bellevue, you will be arrested and prosecuted. Bellevue is cleaner and safer, if a bit more boring. But, sometimes boring is better. Seattle is 20 minutes away if a raw experience is what you crave. Also, in Bellevue, you can park your car for free almost everywhere. Not so in Seattle.
Very true. And also very little campsites located around the freeways. 🤨
I would rather be in seattle than sterile Eastside
Coming from the East Coast, I'm always overdressed for things in Seattle. But the laid back thing isn't just clothes, its people's attitudes too and that part I've come to appreciate
I’m originally from VA and I understand what you mean. I’ve lived in Western WA for 10 years now and def adapted lol. I used to be dressed up for everything but then I realized, eh. Haha
Its not just a Seattle thing. It’s pretty much a west coast thing. I’ve lived for a long time in AZ, CA, and now WA. It’s casual.
Yeah, I agree you eventually just stopped caring lol. Because truly nobody cares. I’m originally from the East Coast as well. I’m from Philadelphia so living here in Seattle has been pretty good.
@@noambitton2307 I'm also from Philly. Go Birds!
@@genxtechguy Unless it's LA, people are super fitted here, but it's like casually fitted. Like, people can still look expensive, but they're not always "fancy", if that makes sense.
I don't live in Seattle, but I think of how fortunate it would be to live that close to Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier NP and the San Juan Islands. I remember taking the ferry from Anacortes to one of the San Juan Islands on a sunny, summer day and thinking it was one of the most beautiful settings I've ever seen.
It gets old.
North Cascades National Park is fabulous too!
@@mirandataylor6385no it don’t lol
@@misteriknow2069this
@@mirandataylor6385tell me you’re boring
May-September, Seattle/Bellevue is paradise. Endless sunshine and 65-75 degree weather with cascade mountains on one side , Olympic mountains on the other; Puget sound on one side, lake Washington, lake sammamish on the other . Truly gorgeous in late spring to early fall. It’s a well kept secret. I don’t even want to go to Hawaii until the long winter strikes!
I'm a transplant from the Midwest myself, been here 23 years. When I visit friends and family back home I always tell them that as a country boy with a limited understanding of fashion, one of the things that I appreciate most about Seattle and the Northwest in general is that you can dress any way whatsoever and no one's going to question you at all 😃
I even recognized my fellow Seattleites at a layover in Dallas fort Worth from three terminals away, I saw how everybody was dressed and said those are my peeps right there 😊
I recently relocated from Seattle to NE Tennessee. At first I went out dressed like I used to: sweats or jeans, maybe a bit messy from gardening...
Boy, was I an outsider! Now I "dress up" to go grocery shopping or anywhere in public, and am fitting in so much better!
This is so true I’m from the East Coast and it’s one of the first thing so realized upon moving there
I was born and raised in Bellevue and for the most part you got it pretty spot on. I always thought Seattle was so much cooler but as I’ve gotten older I’m always frustrated having to go over there because of the traffic, parking, cost, and general dangerousness of some areas. I still love Seattle, don’t get me wrong, but Bellevue is much more suited to that suburban-city family dream
I hate drivers in Bellevue. I work 3 years commuting from Redmond to Seattle to do engineering work in the streets and I have to say I've never liked working at all in Bellevue because of the drivers.
That's not saying I have anything against people living in Bellevue I just would never.
@@evilparadigm I’m totally with you on that one! I swear every time I go to visit my parents someone almost hits me. I learned to drive in Bellevue when I was 16 ten years ago, but it’s so much worse now
@@Rhiannonbaisch just so you know fatal car accidents increased by 70% in Washington after COVID. Be safe out there.
So would you advice me to come from North Carolina to sialtlle
@@zakarialaachir9636 I would say visit a place before you move at the very least. Seattle and Bellevue has it's problems. Both are expensive rent wise.
This was a great video. The one place that I really enjoy is the Public Library and what an architect masterpiece it truly is. Just going in and climbing to the top floor really is a neat place to go. Thank you for sharing!!!
We had a similar journey. Grew up in Tacoma, moved to San Diego then Orange County and now back to the PNW. So happy to be back working and living in the PNW!
My husband lives in San Diego, I live in Seattle and everytime I visit him I can’t wait come back
@@denizgul6131What’s wrong with San Diego?
@@bxi1547San Diego has a disgusting weather Santa Anna wind blows dust and over priced and nothing to do but the cold beach
Tacoma is cool. Yeah, parts of Tacoma are definitely hood and sketchy, but it's very underrated as foodie/coffee/brewery destination. Been going down there every other week since moving up to Seattle in January and have been digging my experiences in Tacoma. Just hoping my car doesn't end up getting broken into during my visits there, lol.
I love your videos of Seattle! I live in Atlanta and I swear during the winter, I might as well be in Seattle! All it does is rain! lol
I moved to Seattle from California back in 1996. I seen cities grew a lot. Yes, it rains a lot but it is paradise in summer and stays light until 930 pm. Love the greenery and water here. The reason Bellevue blew up because of Microsoft is there and all other tech companies there. Crime in Seattle definitely gotten worse since Covid and the more people going to be and worse cities get. I love living in Seattle. Wouldn’t move back anywhere else.
3 new Sweetgreens coming soon to WA 😍
11th + Pine
South Lake Union
Totem Lake
Zero in Oregon 🥲
This is a cool perspective on Seattle from someone who lives 45 min away from the city, moved away for some years and came back lol. As someone who actually lives in the city of Seattle, it’s like 60% true. Truth: Seattle does get dark at 4pm in the peak of Winter. It can be grimy and ratchet in certain neighborhoods & on public transit. Fancy restaurants have no dress code (except a few like Canlis, Palisades, Chinooks, etc) And of course: the Seattle Freeze from locals, but transplants are cool & so are locals once you break that shell.
The truth: Seattle’s style is Hiking Chic. Patagonia, Filson, Northface, Arc’teryx, HH, etc. We dress for functionality for the elements, not a brunch on South Beach lol. Plus we have hellllla healthy options. There’s more healthy options in Seattle than non healthy options, LA just has more because LA is bigger. I mean this is still the West Coast after all. And I might be wrong on this…but Seattle’s architecture is pretty known for its Victorians & Craftmans. I mean walk around one of the fancy old neighborhoods like Mt Baker, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Laurelhurst, etc & the houses have more character than the boring average cookie cutter houses in states like California, Florida or Arizona. Just my 2 cents.
I'm a semi-retired Seattle native who abandoned Seattle for the Eastside decades ago, and I'm so glad I did. I just watched this video and I think you would do people a favor by stating: Unless you actually work in Seattle you'll enjoy life here more in the outer lying communities. Try to find a place fairly close to your work, and strongly consider the commute in your decision making because the traffic and congestion, especially in the dark wet months, sucks here! The freeways here are nothing like other major cities, they don't get better due to the geography limitations and likely never will. The increase in crime in Seattle is real, I still work there part-time and I see it regularly. Also, the "Seattle Freeze" is more about people being colder and generally not as openly friendly here as in many other areas of the country (not the weather). I've noticed it every time I've traveled to a warmer climate area of the U.S. people are generally just friendlier there. We do seem to become hermits from Nov thru March, maybe that's why, and for as long as I can remember we don't really welcome people who move here from other places because we have the attitude that it has ruined what Seattle used to be like and has caused the price of living to sky rocket here. -A Seattle native
I live in Sacramento and while it's too hot in July/August, the people are more down to earth here. It's also very diverse with plenty to do if you like hiking and nature.
Very good summary. I grew up in Wenatchee, then lived in LA for 9 years, then back to Seattle. I find LA people to be friendly, but not necessarily nice. Seattle people are not overly friendly but they are nice nice once you get to know them- which takes time.
Great video Monica! Thanks for posting!
You nailed it on this one. My favorite point was that no one in Seattle is from Seattle. I grew up and went to school in Seattle. I can name only two other people in my office (100 year old famous Seattle business) that are from the Seattle area. One of them has their name on the building.
So on point! Wow this brings back nostalgia for my time in Seattle during the pandemic. I miss the cozy vibes! (Not the rain).
I'm from the LA area (long beach) and just moved out from Bellevue to Seattle (Ballard). I think traffic is worse here, especially on bad weather days (10 months out of the year, lol). It is consistently taking me 1 hour and 30 minutes to get the 15 miles home from Bellevue to Ballard at 5:30 PM. Everything else is pretty spot on.
Yikes. Bellevue to Ballard during traffic time? No wonder you're miserable. I'd move across the bridge if I were you.
@syk939 can take up to 2 hours it feels like
@@syk939 I bought in Ballard. During all the planning it was showing it would only take an hour max. But in execution, it was wrong. So it will be the job that has to change not the housing. Lol.
The traffic is worse when the weather changes. If it goes from sunny to rainy or from rainy to sunny people completely forget how to drive. They love to rubberneck and now the weekend traffic is now from Thursday at noon until Monday.
Traveling East/West is much harder because of geography (lakes and hills) than North/South. Ballard is impossible to get anywhere unless you are going to Magnolia or Blue Ridge.
My gosh It’s been 7 years!! I remember tuning in to your road-trip vlogs back to Seattle being so excited for your 2nd channel. You’re such an inspiration to me, can’t wait for your next vlog 💚
Summers here are now about as good as it gets, shoulders season are a mixed bag and the winter is a good time to travel/ski/snowboard or focus on your work/studies and deal with the gray and rain.
What I love most is proximity to diverse local natural,destinations mountains, inlets, lakes and the majestic pacific coast from ocean shores to the north Olympic mountains. And it’s seldom crowded ! ( do Washingtonians even realize that places like Ocean shores , pacific beach etc exist?)
Yes, we know there are beaches at the ocean. 😉We frequently go over to Kalaloch, Ruby Beach, Westport, etc. They’re a little north, but Ocean Shores can get really crowded in the summer so we like to stay north.
Just remember when the big one hits those beaches are going to drop 30 feet. But the reason to live here is not because of the city but the natural beauty in every direction. Car camping is no fun anymore because you are surrounded by 10,000 other people who may not want to go to sleep tonight.
I love how you mentioned the eating habits of the two cities! Very important take I feel like more people should talk about :)
Which I found is very biased. You can find a lot of healthy food options in Seattle.
There is no good BBQ in this area, what they call cole slaw is just raw cabbage, and mayonnaise is the condiment of choice.
I moved from LA to Seattle last year and now I want to move back to LA. I miss it so much.
You miss L.A.?
I’ve moved away from Ca a few times and I always come back. I just love Ca. I’ve lived in other states and a couple of countries and I always dream of Ca. I was born in Louisiana but I’ve moved a lot because I wanted to see and live in other places.
Miss the thottin around
Great insight! I moved from LA/Redondo Beach to Maui, got tired of heat and sun, love Seattle weather. Enjoy the summers here, but really prefer the winters.
I moved from San Francisco to Seattle 6 months ago and I couldn't make a better Descision, this is a gorgeous city that I have loved for over 20 years, I just couldn't live anywhere else.
I'm in SoCal and visited Seattle in April. I noticed the anti-dressing up thing while I was there. 😆 Casual is more comfortable though, so why not? Here in L.A., as you probably remember, some people really dress up and others don't. There's a big range.
I found Seattle to be beautiful. Loved the cool weather. And Vancouver BC is so close! I think there are a lot of advantages to living in Seattle.
Good one! I was living in Bellevue, but the main perk was that it is closer to the mountains :)
I think you covered a lot of stuff quite well.
Seattle is such a great city, but you briefly touched on some imperfections (which you can find in any big city). I lived in First Hill for a year. There is nothing like looking out the window and seeing Mt Rainier. Quirky, endearing and edgy, I need to go back.
You are so much better off in seattle. Hats off to you girl. Best of wishes. Best of luck. You'll do fine
I think a deeper dive into the traffic and driving. I think there are more challenges geographically (and weather) … bridges, lots of waterways, and steep roads on hills, the push to make everything “walkable”, and really tight streets … as an example, LA and Phoenix have lots of flat land not interrupted by water, or too many obstacles so freeways are mostly straight, ultra wide, and flat.
Monica, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this video. Living there from 1985 to 1997, everything you said is true. Even then Bellevue was the more upscale place to live. Homes were WAY more affordable than unlike now. During the year’s I mentioned above that’s when the first influx of people migrated north from California and started buying up everything.
Even then you could go downtown to Pioneer Square at 2:00 AM and buy one pass to all the bars and have no issues. Would not think of trying that now. I’ve long since moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and it’s slowly becoming California too! Take care and stay safe.
When I moved here from Chicago in 1999, I remember being shocked at how little people honked. 😂
Seattle is always where I will come back to. Hands down. Just handling commitments. 🙌🏻😊
Living in the Northwest, you hit the nail on the head with the quirkiness of Seattle residents.
Seattle has its own signature building style. Modern Tent.
Mostly accurate except the various fitness groups don't stay in during the winter. They still meet for group activities and races etc at night. For example soccer, running and even nordic clubs. You can still find people at Lincoln Park even at 12 midnight in the winter with headlamps
I've lived in Seattle for more than 40 years. Driving in here is very relaxing and courteous. You have to, because there are not many freeways like in many other cities. So, the traffic is almost always slow. You are lucky if your car is moving much less passing in the left lanes. Enjoy! 🙂
Damn good video, Mon. Back to lofty standards and a very honest and open opinion of what you feel.
This is so true. kudos!
Good info to know. I travel all over the west coast but have not spent enough time in WA yet.
I’m from Northern California and moved to the East Side in March of 2020. Just moved back home in October 2022, but it’s not home anymore!!! I miss everything about Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, etc., the people are so nice and well-educated, and so modest in comparison to Californians! I plan to move back!
So ppl are educated in California? Your comment is misleading and that’s your opinion but WA is not it I’m sorry. There’s no resources. The food is bland and there’s no diversity. If you like fake and arrogant people then WA is for you. The driving sucks and it’s boring. Theres barely any lights and the stores close around 7pm. Like come on. Depression is a disability in WA. That alone should explain that you need to run away.
I live about an hour north of Seattle... Nice perspective on the area...
Seattle style is arts and crafts and craftsman!
It is also those odd 90s wood architecture but now it is ugly boxes with drab colors and town homes that are all stairs.
Blunt straight forward I respect that 👍👍 awesome
The weather crushed me there. I need sunlight to thrive! ☀️
I have a tendency to say that Bellevue is across THE MOAT, and when Seattle gets out of control, the people in Bellevue can simply roll up 520 and I-90 like draw bridges. Lmao.
Great channel. I am moving to Seattle from San Diego next week!
The “perfect” place u long for doesn’t exist. Appreciate wherever u go for what it is, be like Dorothy & tap ur ruby shoes.
So true there's no perfect place..tou have to appreciate it and make it your home...
If you're a penny pincher you may want to consider Tacoma. Tacoma to Seattle is -40 min commute.
If you don't mind minor insolation may wanna consider gig harbor or bremerton.
If you wanna do all your spending in Portland go to Vancouver WA
Driving is so much true. Left lane, passing lane!
1. Move left.
2. Pass a car to the right
3. Move back right.
In Washington State, it's against the law to drive continuously in the left lane. It's a passing lane only, and yes, you can be ticketed for staying in the left lane.
You can stay in the left lane for a bit of time but only if you're exceeding the speed limit (think 65mph), but you can't park yourself there.
This differs from CA where the left lane is the "fast lane" and you can stay there continuously.
❤ most useful overview on youtube
I prefer Seattle proper to the surrounding suburbs in every way. So grateful to have bought our city condo in 2021 when the interest rates were so low 💚
Love this!
Kirkland totem lake area is getting a sweet green, I’m so excited to try it
They are? This is news to me...I've always enjoyed hitting up Sweetgreen as a long time Bay Area resident, but I've been up here in Seattle since January. Good to know.
I’m not sure where you are in Washington but I’m in Lacey and it doesn’t get dark until 8:45pm. Yes it’s very expensive here in WA . But I love it here I’m from NV and I don’t miss the heat !
I think I read they are opening a Sweetgreen in Totem Lake / Kirkland 🙂
Seattle, at least some of the newer constructions, look very Scandi :)
Regarding the way people dress, it was a shock when I visited because I was coming from DC and DC is very dressy and a little stuck up 😋
I visited Seattle, Washington four times when I was younger in early 2000's and I absolutely loved staying there for several weeks with my uncle. Great city, clean and very European like I would say. So yes Seattle is way better than LA and I lived in LA fifteen years so I know both. Thanks for your video.
We just got a Mendocino Farms lol. I like driving more in SoCal. Here you can weave in and out of traffic at 60 mph on the freeway.
I’m in Seattle now. Anything over 40 MPH and these folks start sweating. I can’t stand it. 😂
There’s also a great Asian American community with an International District stores, restaurants and other fun and tasty places to check out.
Agree! I was surprised when she said it’s harder to eat healthy in Seattle. I feel that the number of local shops, restaurants, and healthy ethnic foods are unbeatable. And they are in every corner and neighborhood from Tacoma to Seattle to Everett to Redmond and Bellevue.
Monica you have to try the Mendocino Farms that just opened up in SLU! Wish we had a sweet green tho
There’s one coming to SLU soon! Near the Sephora
i love it here!
I love Seattle. All my life I'm dreaming about moving there
Love the rain and I wish it would rain.
Seattle area is so nice and pretty in the summer
Welcome home
Eating out is so expensive in Seattle. I’m so used laid back Seattle style that when I when to Chicago (which felt cheap to go out in) I felt like a slob!!! People dress UP when they go out there and I was always a light overdressed in Seattle.
I learnt something from my dad about the drivers most of them drive slow because they’re not in a rush and want to “take in “ the drive
Monica, do you miss CA at all? I've done similar. Lived in both states, and it's hard. I want to go back to Seattle's Eastside, but I remind myself of the dark winters. The worst of it is only about two months. Even by March it starts to feel better. But.. Man, I agree with all these points. There are nicer areas of Southern CA that doesn't have what you mention. Thousand Oaks is really nice, for example.
I also moved I’m Latina and than I came back every thing changed in Washington I moved out for university In Kentucky
Hi Monique. I am pretty much a fashionista. I wear things like thigh high moccasin flats NEON ORANGE. and also floor length pig tail extensions. im currently sitting on the floor of my local JC PENNYS wearing my emoji spandex dance shorts and hot pink cropped denim blazer. I paired this look with a stylish but sensible rosace red Haviana flip flop and a salacious taco embroidered purple infinity scarf.
haha this video is entirely spot on; I moved here from Bulgaria!
The left lane is for actively passing only. Once you pass, by law, you move back to the other lanes. I don't know why this is so hard for people to figure out.
I agree with her for the most part as I’ve lived in both cities. But I don’t know where she is living but you can find a 1 bed apartment for $1200-2000 in good neighborhoods. I’m guessing she renting the Kirkland area on Lake Washington or in Redmond by apartment view she showed.
I love rain.
Also I think maybe the high end stores in Seattle exist less because of the high tax? Like in Portland (which is even more casual than portland) there are high luxury stores because of no tax. Not a ton of them but you have Louis Vuitton, etc. even downtown at pioneer square mall. Which surprises me.
Good gravy I didn’t realize how expensive Seattle was
Sweetgreen just open in Seattle! Woohoo
your point about seattle and bellevue made me think of pawnee vs eagleton in parks and rec haha
Born & raised in San Jose, Calif. & now I'm starting to interview for jobs out in Bellevue & Seattle. If I moved there, I wouldn't know anybody. I'd have to make all new friends, find all my fav places....it's a bit overwhelming, but I'm trying not to allow my fear of something new get in the way of what could be super amazing for me.
You'll probably fit right on in just fine. I'm a long time Bay Area resident who grew up in Redwood City and have also lived in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Fremont and Sunnyvale. I've been living in Seattle since early January. Both Seattle and the Bay Area have a lot of accessibility to the great outdoors and nearby mountains, have a large presence in tech, have tons of great restaurants (especially Asian ones) and a laid back vibe overall, plus both regions are surrounded by water. Overall, I do like Seattle and Puget Sound just a bit more because some truly epic alpine hikes and ski/snowboarding trails are less than an hour away from downtown Seattle, plus there's some great wineries not far away at all. Also, there are a good number of suburbs that have their own foodie/brewery/coffee scene going on. Even Tacoma, which has some hood parts is a bit underrated as a foodie destination.
New transplant living in the Laurelhurst area. Loving Magnuson park being so close to us, but was wondering about other parks/beaches around the area. Any chance of a video showing off the best ones/hidden gems?
Madison Park is my favorite, Eastlake has several little parks with lake access, Madrona park. Great idea though I will work on a video!
Couldn't pay me enough to live in Seattle. South Auburn (Lakeland) is just fine, thank you.
We’re getting a Sweet Green soon!
I lived in Bellevue for a little over 5 years and had to relocate to buy a house. I couldn’t afford 1m$ for a 4 bed 2 bath fixer-upper for my family. The culture is definitely a little more pretentious there. Almost feel out of place if you’re not wearing a button-up shirt. The city practically closes down about 11 PM with the exception of a high class joints downtown on the weekends and a couple scattered watering holes on the outskirts. This is probably a good reason why they don’t have as much crime or substance abuse issues, crime is very low, almost unheard of. The city is very clean. Schools are at the top of their class, and offer both Spanish and Mandarin infusion curriculums. The retirement community is heavy out there as-is a strong foreign tech worker population (many H1-B visas). With all that tech worker cash, you’ll see a higher frequency of exotic sports cars. The city has a great selection of mostly Asian fusion eats but over all it’s pretty well rounded. Downtown Bel Square mall has all the top brand offerings you can think of, even a pianist playing on a grand piano. It’s a little bland in artistic expression as money seems to be the primary focus. I wouldn’t think it’s a great place if you’re single, unless you’re super ballin’. Overall a great place to raise a family though.
What are the best places to see exotic cars around the Seattle metro area?
@@georgiadriven You can rent exotic cars from Zadart, and there are a few dealerships in the area that sell Rolls Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, McLaren, and the like. Look them up on maps. That’s all on the Eastside though, not sure about Seattle.
My brother and I did the opposite, we left the Puget Sound region for California 😅
My 30yo son lives in Lynnwood. 1 bedroom apartment with covered parking. $1600 a month. Walk to shop and it's in a good area. 20 minute drive to the city.
He's A northern California native
Just note about the driving especially on I-90 but it also applies to all the other connecting highways, although it is known you drive faster in the left most lane(excluding express lane), a lot of important exits are on the express lane and exits on the right sometimes have 2 exits which means 3/4 lanes are exits. So why am I talking about this? Traffic, If you want to cruise through all the unnecessary traffic because people from 4 lanes are trying to merge, the left most lane that's not the express lane is your best course and not everyone is trying to drive faster on that lane.
I live at rainier beach
And it’s true winter really sucks
The amount of random people moving here has over run the state and ruined the place I once called home. There are now morons left and right wearing northface gear. And la traffic on weekends driving out locals. Now every cool spot feels like Disneyland with trash everywhere. Thx
Moved to Maple Valley about two months before the pandemic started; from Georgia. Currently packing to move out of Washington. #basura
Where too? I have been 39 years and am leaving in a couple months.
Bellevue is my hometown lived there 30 years agree with your statements, Bellevue is way better I avoid seattle at all cost except for sports
As a native- this is a great take. Well done. Born in Ballard- Live in Kirkland. Eastside migration is real.
Totally agree
5:10 the reason people in Seattle and surrounding areas think they're better drivers is mostly because we have constant rain so perhaps slick roads. maybe thats just an opinion, but i've seen some hydroplaning drivers who don't slow down and cause wrecks. you mention the left side of the highway and that can def build up puddles where it doesn't feel so safe to drive "faster" like dry states
It's ok Monica I'm ashamed of Tacoma too 😔😔
I lived in Seattle for 18 years and about a year ago moved back to Phoenix. I can tell you that people in Seattle are mean and cold, compared to people in Phoenix are nicer and friendlier.
You could pick orange county over LA county. Orange county has way less traffic and less people. Orange county is newer with less crime. So before you pick LA at live at. Take a trip down to places like huntington beach or newport beach.