have you noticed a repetitive theme here?
I had a temp job once in the Seattle area.I was glad to leave.
Six months straight without ever seeing the sun is not a natural way to live.
Bainbridge is a great option if his job is right downtown. Most tech jobs are on the other side of Lake Washington.
And…breathe. It went well, but I’m not sure the position itself is a direct fit. They might have something open at the end of the summer that would be an even better fit, so cross your fingers.
Yeah, that’s one of the things I’m pretty concerned about. I like sun, and when it’s dreary out, I tend to feel a bit down.
Yeah, he’ll be right downtown.
Fingers crossed for you, Munch.
The 3 months of summer are gorgeous, 80 degrees, low humidity, clear skies, incredible scenery. The other 9 months are grey and mostly wet with very light drizzle. Less rainfall in inches than NYC, but 220+ days of rain a year vs 90+ days. So plan to have a winter vacation to Hawaii every year to stay sane.
People don’t use umbrellas because it never rains that hard. The slugs are disgustingly gigantic, so watch where you step, and don’t go barefoot in the grass.
I love everything about the Greater Seattle area…lived there for ten plus years, and only moved back to the northeast to care for elderly parents. Things I love:
- the phenomenal natural beauty and easy access to wilderness
- fabulous gourmet grocery stores – oh, and there’s a good grocery on Bainbridge, too.
- ferries! I used to ride the ferries just for fun
- whale watching!
- rarely too hot, rarely too cold
- it’s only overcast and rainy in winterfall, winter, and winterspring. Summer tends to be warm and dry
- great restaurants
- distinct and interesting neighborhoods
- lots of Asian culture, groceries, and taiko drumming groups
- lots of great breakfast places (I love going out for breakfast
- Mt. Rainier, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Rainier
- great mycological society
- decent museums
Dang…I’m so homesick for Seattle…
Though I will admit that the traffic sucks.
This is no exaggeration. Not only is it constant gray and drizzle all winter, but during winter you go to work in the dark, and you go home from work in the dark. In Portland we only get 7 hours of daylight in late December, Seattle will get less than that.
But hey, the upside is the only natural disasters you have to worry about is possible earthquakes and active volcanoes. No floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, mudslides, brush fires or snowbirds 
In case anyone was interested in an update: I, Mr. Jackal, and Jackal Jr. head out Friday morning to stay in a cottage on Bainbridge Island. We’ll see if we like living there for a week. If we really like it, we could be house hunting later in the week.
Good luck!
But please remember that during a week in August you will be seeing an illusion …not the “real” Seattle.
The rest of the year varies—it is sometimes wet and grey. And then it is wetter and greyer. And then it becomes a little less wet but nonstop grey to the point that is affects your moods.
All somewhat true but than again there really isn’t anywhere else in the US I would honestly want to live. The natural setting up here is just awesome if you go for that kind of thing. Honestly I have never felt the weather is an hindrance to do anything. The ‘rain’ although technically wet isn’t rain like the rest of the country gets (November and part of December it does rain a bit more). That mist is fine, you just go out in it and enjoy the day. I could see with some personalities the gray might be oppressive but you just plan a day to eastern Washington, or you go to San Diego for a week, mid winter (which is what my family is planning over Christmas break).
As to the OP, you will like Bainbridge I think. Depending where you are on the island. Technically you will be part of Kitsap County (where I live) but you will be closer to King County (where Seattle is). You can get to shopping, etc in Kitsap by car but will have to take the ferry to hit the Seattle side. I live in Kitsap, south of where you are and take the ferry into downtown Seattle myself. Once you get settled drop me a line and I will be happy to tell you the few good restaurants on the Kitsap side. That is the downside of the Kitsap side compared to the King County side – not the weather in my opinion!
Good luck though and yes I do think chappachula is correct that you will be deceived by the August/September weather a bit, but it is fantastic here in the 70’s when the rest of the country is burning up.
Clockwork Jackal, the forecast for your visit this weekend is AWE.SOME - low 80s and lotsa sun - you will fall in love with the ferries. Don’t be fooled - WSF (Washington State Ferries) is a PITA and a source of never ending drama. I, too, live in Kitsap County (Port Orchard) and take the southern run (Vashon/Southworth/Fauntleroy) daily. Overall, it’s really, IMHO, the best commute available (someone else is driving, gorgeous scenery, and your only traffic jams consist of the occasional tug boat, or like last Friday, stopping to watch a pod of 30ish transient orcas swim by - not a frequent sight, but a mind-blower nonetheless!). But when things go sideways, you’re screwed. UNLESS, you live on Bainbridge - not to rant, and I won’t, but that Ferry Run is the Favored Child of the WSF, so if you move there, you will likely never experience any problems 
I agree overall with other locals’ posts - it is gray a large portion of the year, but it’s why it’s also so gorgeously green. I’m just soaking up all this current solar delightfulness and storing away to recall during the deepest darks of January
The poster who commented on the one flake of snow phenom is correct. And that also holds true for rain. For as much as it rains around here, people REALLY do not drive well in it and tend to freak out a lot. Our traffic is horrible. Not to dissuade you - you will easily fall in love with the area - I recommend that you do take the ferry from BI to Seattle and walk to hub’s office to get a feel for what his commute will be like. I walk up from Pier 50 every day, it’s about a 15-20 min walk from the docks to 5th Ave and the downtown business district. He’ll get good exercise Also, check out Pike Place Market, and for the love of all things fun, Ride The Ducks! You’ll get a great tour of the City and it is just FUN! Get your tix at Westlake Mall
Let us know how your trip goes!
Hakuna, I live in Port Orchard, and we are ALWAYS talking about the need for yummy eateries on Kitsap - what know you about yummy eats? Silver City Brewery in Silverdale is decent, but that’s about all I got.
woo hoo-another person from port orchard! I was going to suggest Silver City. I am not a fan of Hales Brewery up there though. The Airport Diner in Bremerton has the best damn fish n chips I have had (get the halibut ones). Moondogs downtown Port Orchard can be good but just as often can be bad. But when they are good they have a good burger and often good music on the weekends. I think it is called Simons near Fred Meyers and they have consistent Vietnamese food. Tommy C’s is good to average pub fare. I hear that there are new owners of the Lighthouse but I haven’t tried it yet. Note that all those places are just okay, but nothing really outstanding. I did try the new Bremerton Bar n Grill a couple of weeks ago and it was decent. Anthony’s is always good but a bit pricey, but I like the Gig Harbor location better. Good pizza place is Tony’s up in Bremerton.
Other than that, I got nothing! Food on the Kitsap side is not its draw. At least good fine cuisine. Good pub type restaurants there are a few and they are not consistent.
I take the Southworth boat too and I agree 100% with your assessment of the ferry system. But it is better than driving that is for sure. We should grab a beer sometime!
Hey Hakuna! I’m on the 7:55am to Vashon then take the Water Taxi to downtown - then on the 6:10ish from Vashon home - wouldn’t it be a hoot if we know each other, and DON’T KNOW IT! LOL Yeah, a beer in the galley sounds great - tho I’ll have a vino and a pretzel. Which runs are you on?
Simon’s is consistently yummy - Silver City, the few times we’ve gone has been good, too - we’re Papa Murphy’s pizza peeps - for mexican, El Pueblito’s over by Safeway has been consistently tasty. We’ve eaten at the italian place, Cosmo’s, and it was fine, just pricey. Will have to give the Lighthouse a try. For our potentially new neighbor, Clockwork Jackal, we’ll have to get some recommendations for BI, though there are some delish places to dine in Poulsbo, too. Our tried and true is the Pancake House for breakfast! And I am always hearing good things about the Airport Diner, so that’s now on the To Try list. Love Anthony’s - agreed on the pricey.
Sorry everyone - we South Kitsappers are desperate for good food close to home - it’s hard to find out in the sticks.
I am on the 6:10 in the morning and typically the 4:20 direct boat home, home by 5:00…yeah I suck. Occasionally I am on the passenger boat home at 5:30 or 6:30 but those are rare nights if I can help it. Forgot that is the added plus is you can have a beer on the ferries, but it is like having a beer at the baseball game, you pay dearly for it. But it is an option.
Yes, you do indeed suck - that is an awesome schedule And true, pricey beer & pretzels on the ferry home = priceless – I think they serve champagne & caviar on the Bainbridge run!! LOL
PS - Most Awesome to meet a fellow Port Orcharder doper! Very cool!
Hey, wait, I thought I saw summer out there in the first week in August! Did it come back or something? I have had family in the Seattle area (currently Issaquah) for my whole life, though only recently do I have a cousin who lives in Seattle proper. But I was visiting for a few days at the beginning of the month and it was all sunny and stuff. I was actually kind of hoping it wouldn’t be just for a change from where I live; I like sun, but I hadn’t seen a cloudy day in weeks. However, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Rainier so clearly, ever. I could see the top and everything.
Were I to move on from where I am in Idaho I’d head to either the Portland or Seattle areas. I love where I am and have no plans to leave but I’ve always liked that part of the country.
When I got up this morning the thermometer on my North patio read 49°F. The rest of the country can have their heat waves, hurricanes, droughts, etc. ad finitum. As a transplant from Southern Illinois for nigh on to 45 years, I love it here! (Here is just outside of Seattle in the little outpost of Bellevue.)
And we have the San Juan Islands (172 named islands at the latest count). The only places comparable are the Greek Agean islands, and the Scotch Hebrides. And as far as I’m concerned, the weather is lousy in both those locations.
Forgot to mention Foxworthy’s analysis of Seattle weather.
"They have four seasons, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter, and Road Construction. Dead accurate, that.
Well, we fly out tomorrow. I honestly have NO IDEA what kind of criteria I should use in deciding if I want to live there or not. It’s like I’m the first time in love, asking “How do I know?”
I’m just afraid that I’ll go out there, and have no strong reaction either way.
Sigh. 