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[Mercury Morris]

Hello, just to add to another poster's comments on "Seattle Freeze", e.g. the difficulties newcomers to Seattle have trying to develop a social life here is an excellent article which goes into great detail regarding this problem Seattle has-

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2005/0213/cover.html

Many Seattle natives comment on Seattle's "Social Dis-ease" in this article. This article should be required reading for any naive person innocently intending to move to Seattle. They will be far better prepared.

[Chancellor]

[efemmera]

Hi MM,

Thanks so much for posting this article! It is very well written and informative. It also demonstrates that Seattle and Vancouver, BC are culturally very similar. There is a myth in Canada that everyone moves to Vancouver because it is so great, but really, most people move there to escape the winter. If you privately speak with many people who are transplants, they will refer to Vancouver as having the mentality of a giant highschool. It is very easy to meet people but not so easy to make friends due to a clique mentality. I have lived in many different countries and have found native Vancouverites, or those who have lived in Vancouver for a long period (and therefore have socially aclimatized) to be amongst the most self involved people I have ever encountered. But like the article states, they are very pleasant and polite while doing so. I do not regret having lived there, but it is not a city I could live in long term as it is a very lonely experience. I read that Vancouver and Seattle have very high suicide rates and the speculation is that this is weather related, but perhaps it has more to do with lack of supportive social networks? I am certainly not trying to dissuade anyone from moving to Vancouver. Just keep in mind if you experince difficulties making friends that this is a very common experience and not a reflection of you personally.

[Mercury Morris]

Hi Effemera,

Thanks for contributing to this thread. It sounds like you lived in Vancouver for some time. You know, speaking from my own experiences in Vancouver I found the place decidedly different socially speaking from Seattle to be honest, and not at all suffering from "the Seattle freeze" phenomenon. Vancouver folks were much more open and sociable in general.

I guess we all have our own perspectives

In any event I'm moving to Vancouver very soon so I'm sure to find out! On the bright side, friendly folks or not--there is a plethora of great outdoor activities to enjoy in Vancouver or Seattle's surroundings.

[efemmera]

Good luck MM!

There are many attributes to Vancouver. I have very fond memories of my first year there. If you become friends with a native Vancouverite your social life will probably be much brighter. Take care.

[modal_particle]

As a transplant to Seattle from New England, I can just say this: people are nicer, and superficially less guarded, but are actually MORE guarded. The mentality tends to be "I already have great friends, so why should I waste my time trying to make more?" That being said, I've made lots of friends here but you have to FOLLOW UP with native Seattleites, or just make friends with the transplants. It takes more effort. There are a lot of people in this city who moved from elsewhere. It's my favorite place in the world.