The Practical Free Spirit

I had a particularly difficult night of insomnia last night, so I present to you: Amy’s Impressions of Seattle, as told through the filter of sleep deprivation.

1. Everyone is really polite here. Especially drivers.
2. The average road speed is much slower. I am often on roads that don’t have that many cars on them when it is not the middle of the night. I find this strange.
3. Compared to the Bay Area, pretty much everything is cheaper here except for food. Maybe also movies and concerts? I don’t know, I haven’t been to any yet.
4. When you haven’t gotten enough sleep, things seem harder and darker than they really are.
5. I haven’t found my favorite sushi place yet, but I do not consider this to be a hardship.
6. I gave away enough board games that my remaining games fit onto three shelves. I like to look at them.
7. I now own seven throw blankets. Winter is coming.
8. Nala is still not entirely convinced. But I like how many dogs seem to live here.
9. My allergies are terrible here, and it is July. I think of springtime with a small shudder.
10. There are so many writers here. SO MANY.
11. They don’t charge for grocery bags here, so no one brings their reusable bags into stores. It feels strangely backwards to me, and it also takes me more trips to bring my groceries into the apartment. I think I might start using my reusable bags anyway.
12. I can drive ten minutes to dinner and then walk down to the lake right afterwards. This blows my mind.
13. Moving is expensive.
14. My complex has an indoor hot tub. It is a great reason to live here.
15. The lightrail is amazing. It is fast, efficient, cost-effective, temperature-controlled, and weirdly clean. Its only drawback is the limited number of stops.
16. People smoke here. Where I can see them.
17. If you spend a nice day indoors, people will act surprised. People here love being outside. They love being outside regardless of the weather.
18. I learned what glamping is, and I am afraid kayaking will be hard but everyone does it here, and if I learn to kayak I can see otters.
19. I know there must be bad traffic here because everyone tells me there is, but I keep not finding it. Meanwhile, people persist in believing that a 20-minute drive is far. It is baffling but not without its charms.
20. I see something beautiful every day without trying.

My new home.