Interesting place this Washington….I've never lived in a place where I feel like a foreigner. I am a fish out of water here!!! Everything is different here….EVERYTHING. The tree, roads, the way people dress, the terms people use, the time zone, the time the sun rises/sets…..it's all different from the South.
I never thought I had a Southern "twang" until it was pointed out to me..and my daughter. Little Madison was playing on the playground and an older girl said "Mommy, she talks so funny"…her Mom said "it's because she's from the South." Then our pediatrician asked where I was from because she could hear a little "Southern" in my voice. I feel like I talk "normal"…but I do love my "y'all"….my favorite word.
More about Sequim….this little tiny city I never knew existed until my husband informed me of our cross-country transfer. It's a city (not a city…it's a town…..more maybe a large village) of about 6000 people. It's a small city east of Port Angeles (which I had never heard of either until the Twilight movies came out). Here are my observations of Sequim…from a "South Texas" girl…..:
1. There are NO tall buildings here. NONE. There's one old mill that's about 3 stories high…known at the Sequim Skyscraper. That's it.
2. Downtown consists of cute little shops/restaurants…similar to Avondale for my Jax peeps.
3. The average age of everyone in Sequim is 75. It's a retirement city…people come here to live out the rest of their lives. So everywhere you go, it's ALL old people and maybe a few young'ins. The local businesses cater to the retirees, so you see a lot of financial planners, insurance providers, coffee shops, hearing aid stores, etc.
4. Everything in Sequim opens at 10am…and closes by 6pm. There are 2 restaurants I know of that stay open past 9…that's it. Even local gas stations will close early so you are screwed if you want gas late at night. However, we do have Walmart….good 'ol Walmart open 24 hours.
5. The speed limit in town is 25 miles per hour!!!! Yes, 2-5. Then on outer streets the speed limit goes up to 30mph. It's perfect for old people because no one drives fast….you can't. Everyone is going slow.
6. It's GREY here. We can go days and days without seeing the sun. It may pop out for an hour or two in the afternoon, but other than that, it's just grey and wet. It's wet but not from actual rain. It's constantly misting and drizzling here. So everything is soaked and wet but it isn't from actual rain showers.
On the plus side, I have found some wonderful "positives" to living in the Northwest and in a small town. I've met some wonderful people, in the Coast Guard and out. There is a sense of community here…when you run into the same Moms out and about, you get familiar with them and they become friends. Moms with small children tend to go the same places…the library, the parks, etc. I've met so many great people….I'm proud to call them my friends. Madison LOVES her preschool…it's warm, inviting, and the staff is great.
The other thing I have to comment on is my husband. When you move across the country to a small city where you don't really know anyone (except one friend), I had no choice but to really lean on my husband…to cry…to laugh…to vent….for everything. I felt like this move strengthened our family because we did so much more together. The four of us got up every Saturday and said "okay, where are we going today?" and we went out to make memories and have adventures. Whether I felt out of place or not, I had to make this place "home" to my girls. I had to show them how great it is to be here.
Jim and I have made so many memories here and it's only been six months. I can honestly say we've seen more, done more, experienced more here in the Northwest than I have any other place.
So glad you guys are finding the upside of the Northwest. Your pics are always so amazing. Hugs to all of your guys, and I look forward to reading more!!
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