I moved from New York to Seattle. I only lasted a year.

At the beginning of 2024, I decided to leave my life in New York and embark on a new adventure on the west coast of Seattle.

After visiting my mother’s cousin in western Washington in adolescence and given the region which was represented in my beloved “Twilight” franchise, I swore that I would live there one day – and I finally had the opportunity.

In addition, I was in New York for about 10 months after having moved from the United Kingdom and I felt a lack of stability because I could not get a lease-I lacked a record of rental history in the United States to qualify-and therefore I sublet. I needed a change.

I moved to Seattle while waiting to love him, but the reality was very different. A year later, I returned to New York.

I loved my apartment with a view of the water, but public transport lacked

I signed a six -month lease (which I renewed later for eight months) in an apartment in the county of Kitsap, about 15 miles outside Seattle per ferry.

My apartment was simply incredible – he gave the sound Puget, and I could often see sea lions and, if I was really lucky, orcas from my window.

I was located a few steps from the Washington Ferry Terminal, with access to Seattle via a quick ride from $ 30 to $ 2 or a one -hour trip on the largest free ferry.

The time spent on the ferry was nothing to which I was not used to in New York, where he can easily take an hour to go from certain parts of Queens to Brooklyn.

However, the main difference is that there were only eight larger ferries a day, often at odd moments. The fast ferry was very small and had to line up online more than an hour at rush hour if you wanted to hang a seat.

If I had a meeting in Seattle, I would need to report two overtime, and if I wanted to go dinner or an evening, I should take the ferry at 10 p.m. or wait after midnight – which happened.

One evening, I met a friend visiting the outside of the city and, of course, I missed the ferry at 10 p.m. and I had to wait for the ferry at 12:50 am, which brought me home around 2 am

While the ferries felt safe, I was always uncomfortable so late alone.

Public transport was boring but not my main problem with Seattle

I also thought that living in Washington would mean more exploration with long hikes and beach trips.

I had visions of myself frequently venturing into the Olympic National Park, but since I do not have a driver’s license, it was almost impossible without making several buses in a trip that would take almost half a day to finish.

My mother’s cousin still lived in the region, but in spite of herself and her family distant relatively nearby, I rarely saw them, and I had trouble making friends.

Before moving to the west coast, several people warned me of the difficulty for newcomers to make friends – a phenomenon called the “Freeze of Seattle”.

Often, I smiled and questioned people about their day while having a coffee or in a store. Most people were shocked that I even told them and that I ignore myself.

I also tried Bumble Bff and I joined Facebook groups like the Girls of Seattle, but nothing has ever come. I would chat with people and make arrangements to meet me, but they have stopped responding, either the unreliable calendar of Ferry made it impossible to end up in a bar or club evening – the type of exit of many suggested people.

I missed New York’s bustle

Although it can sometimes be overwhelming, I really missed the movements and the excitement of New York.

In Washington, there were times when I went almost a week without leaving the house because I had no one to go out with.

My small town in the County Kitsap was mainly made up of people in the military and retirees, and many places closed at 8 p.m. and the events I wanted to attend Seattle sometimes did not align themselves with the ferry calendar.

On the other hand, when I lived in New York, I would attend media events and I was lying with friends at least three times a week.

The social aspect is what I missed the most.

Thus, in April, a little over a year after having moved for the first time, I returned to New York.

I do not regret my time in Seattle, but New York is at home

The year I spent in Washington does not feel like lost time. I learned a lot about me and those around me.

It helped me realize that I was made for the life of the big city, and I like to be an honorary New York. I really feel alive in this city.