On Sunday, I “moved” to Seattle.
I put move in quotes because right now my apartment is furnished with a queen sized air mattress, a cardboard box for a table and a 12-pack in the fridge.
No TV, no Internet, no furniture.
Fortunately, my downtown Seattle apartment building (pictured to the right) has a resident lounge and rooftop deck, complete with TV, wifi and furniture. I’m spending a lot of time there.
When I’m not out exploring my new ‘hood.
Sunday afternoon and Monday evening were spent walking around the neighborhood.
If you are familiar with the website WalkScore.com — which rates the walkability of neighborhoods — then you’ll appreciate that my apartment has a “Walk Score” of 95. That’s a “Walker’s Paradise” according to the site. To put that in perspective, my house in Gilbert, AZ has a Walk Score of 23 — “Car Dependent.”
I think the only thing keeping the apartment from being a 100 is the fact that the closest school is a whole half a mile away.
What WalkScore shows within 0.25 miles of my address:
- Restaurants – 16
- Coffee Shops – 16 (Eight are within 500 feet of my front door. Welcome to Seattle.)
- Grocery Stores – 7
- Shopping – 16
- Parks – 2
- Book Stores – 4
- Bars – 6
- Entertainment – 6
- Fitness – 6
All that (and more — including my office) all within 440 yards of the place.
WalkScore lists 618 amenities within a one mile radius of my address.
It’s kind of ridiculous. And very cool
I have yet to be unable to find anything I need within a short walk. Well, I do need an ironing board, but that’s pretty low on the priority list.
I’m thinking I don’t even need to bring my car up here. Why pay for city parking, gas, insurance, and monthly car payments when I can walk to anything? And if I need a car or truck, I can get a Zip Car for $10 – $12/hour. There’s a few of their cars scattered about downtown Seattle, including two that reside in my apartment parking garage.
Failing walking or Zip Car’ing, there is always public transportation. My place has a Public Transportation Score of 100.
I’m digging the urban lifestyle. Maybe just because it is so different than living in suburbia. Maybe because it’s new. Maybe I’ll get sick of it at some point.
But I doubt it.
Stay tuned here as I’m sure I’ll be writing more on my urban experience.
You are living the dream my friend…ok, there is that part where you need an umbrella to do it, but still….Seattle is an amazing city as you are discovering. If you feel like getting “off campus” there are some ridiculously awesome neighborhoods that are an easy bus ride (or bike if you get one) away. You can start with some of my favorite restaurants and shops that are in Ballard (it feels like a little village next to your big city) and it has hands down the BEST farmer’s market. The Farmer’s Market is Sunday. Hit Senor Moose on Leary Ave for a most excellent Mexican brunch on the way (Huevos Machaca if you know what’s good for me 🙂
Congrats again on the new opportunity – enjoy every moment!
Awesome info. Thanks Amy!!
Sounds like a pretty cool place to be… I’ll probably have to come for a visit one of these days. 🙂
Any time my friend!
Jay, you’ll want to get a good bike… 15 speed or so… you’ll have a blast your first summer there, exploring all over… Really nice place to be a newcomer to ~~
There are some pretty serious hills here Patrick. 15 speeds may not be enough to haul my 225 out-of-shape pounds up them… 😉
Jay,
If you get lonesome there is always beer and good eats up here in Vancouver – it’s a 2 hr drive. Pick a sunny day and I’ll take you sailing (with beer and eats) 🙂
I am SO going to hold you to that Larry. When I first flew into Seattle I looked out at the sailboats on Puget Sound and said to myself, “Self, you’ve always wanted to learn to sail, here’s your chance!”
Seattle is a great example of a city designed around people and not cars – more cities should follow Seattle’s lead. Sadly the way things are going all we get are endlessly expanding suburbs all over the country.