Day 206: Will Seattle ever be my home?

In honor of its primary area code, I’m going to write about my thoughts on Seattle to date for Day 206. I’ve lived here for close to two years now, and there are plenty of thoughts and feelings I still need to resolve.
The Northwest Remembers, but…
I don’t think Portland will ever cease to be my home, but I do feel a regional affinity with that of Seattle. If Seattle is Winterfell, Portland’s perhaps more like Greywater Watch or one of the other major Northern houses. (Definitely NOT The Dreadfort — that’s more of a … Spokane thing.)
It’s strange dwelling in the truest center of the region. In Portland, the resentment towards Seattle is strong and often cited — perhaps as a form of parochial fervor.
In other words, perhaps I can’t call this place home because another place will always make the call for me…
A city of recent migrants
I … don’t know many people who have been in Seattle for more than five years. The city has grown substantially, boasting terrific job growth, progressive ideals, a comparatively low crime rate, and … sushi.
Many of my friends are recent transplants like myself, and we get along quite well. Most of the people who’ve been here longer, well, appear to show symptoms of a phenomenon known as “The Seattle Freeze.”
What’s weird is this is how I’ve generally grown up in the Northwest. I’m not used to talking to people in bars or other presumed social gatherings. Unless that trust has been earned through word of mouth, cold introductions don’t work around here.
Brace yourself for a long antisocial year.
Staying might not be up to me
There’s this growing feeling that I’m slowly being pushed out to the suburbs. While I can afford to live in most places in Seattle, I prefer areas where I’m constantly reminded of the ephemerality of my fortunate state. Not too long ago, I had to live in the least-expensive places out of necessity.
My rent jumped by 12% this year. Previously, I was told my loft had a market value of over $400 more than what I paid. Am I willfully on the wrong side of the wave of gentrification? What about those who have far less agency than I do?
Seattle’s a magical place, indeed, but there’s something happening here that you’d only notice if you encountered it head-on. If I ever call it home, I’d have to dig my roots deep enough to withstand the ebb and flow.
— Lee
