Three years and counting

Before we moved here to Seattle, I was told that it generally takes 3 to 5 years to completely acclimate to a new place, to genuinely feel at home. Having now been here for just over 3 years, I think I'm beginning to understand what that means.

As Ed and I were saying the other day, the rhythm and substance of general chit-chatting is quite different here than in the middle-of-the-country, although I'm far from certain I can articulate how. What I know is that when we first got here, I continually felt as though I was talking at cross-purposes to everyone I met. Now, not so much.

I've heard more than one instance recently of someone's friend who joined them here in Seattle, but just could not adapt to the Pacific Northwest's way of doing things and approach to life. Overall, the first rule of getting along up here is "don't be a dick." Beyond that, there's a strong presumption toward approaching things on the most rational basis possible. If something makes no rational sense, it''s not going to be very popular up here.

One thing I've noticed -- over and over again -- is how much people in the PNW tend to appreciate the celebratory aspect of living. Life should not simply be endured or just gotten through. Rather, life should be celebrated, as often and in as many different ways as possible. Again, I couldn't tell you why, but I do know it's an approach to life that I can certainly endorse. If nothing else, it's definitely more fun this way.

After 3 years, things that were once unutterably strange have become our new normal, and notions that once were fairly reasonable -- like driving 40-some miles one way to get to work -- are now simply bizarre. I'm far more likely to walk someplace than drive, if only because finding parking in the city is never the easiest prospect, and walking is FAR better for me.

Seattle and its environs have in no way lost their ability to astonish us, though. This past Sunday, Ed and I went walking in the richer, northern section of Capitol Hill. While it's only a little over a mile from our part of Capitol Hill, Millionaire's Row with its major-league mansions is a world we will never truly inhabit.

Then to discover that just a bit north of that -- still less than 2 miles from the apartment -- is a little pocket park, with an overlook view of acres and acres of parkland at Interlaken and the Arboretum, Lake Washington, the University of Washington AND the Cascades; well, I suspect I will continue to be gobsmacked by my new home on a semi-regular basis. I can certainly hope so, at any rate.

Ed and I have agreed, on many occasions, that moving here was one of the best things we've ever done. If I have any say in the matter, it's where we'll stay.