I Moved From NYC to Seattle. I Only Lasted One Year.

In early 2024, I decided to leave my life in New York City and embark on a new adventure on the West Coast in Seattle.

After visiting my mom’s cousin in western Washington as a teen and seeing the area that was depicted in my beloved “Twilight” franchise, I vowed I would live there one day — and I finally had the chance.

Plus, I had been in New York for about 10 months after moving from the UK and felt a lack of stability because I couldn’t get a lease — I lacked a record of rental history in the US to qualify — and therefore was subletting. I needed a change.

I moved to Seattle expecting to love it but the reality was very different. A year later, I returned to New York City.

I loved my apartment with a water view, but the public transportation was lacking

I signed a six-month lease (which I later renewed for eight months) on an apartment in Kitsap County, which is about 15 miles outside Seattle by ferry.

My apartment was nothing short of incredible — it overlooked the Puget Sound, and I could often see sea lions and, if I was really lucky, orcas from my window.

I was situated a short walk from the Washington State Ferry terminal, with access to Seattle via a 30-minute $2 fast ferry ride or an hour’s journey on the larger free ferry.

The time spent on the ferry was nothing I wasn’t used to in New York, where it can easily take an hour to get from some parts of Queens to Brooklyn.

However, the major difference is that there were only eight larger ferries a day, often at odd times. The fast ferry was very small and often required waiting in line for upward of an hour at peak times if you wanted to snag a seat.

If I had a meeting in Seattle, I would need to account for an extra two hours, and if I ever wanted to go for dinner or a night out, I would have to catch the 10 p.m. ferry home or wait until after midnight — which did happen.

One evening, I met a friend visiting from out of town and, sure enough, missed the 10 p.m. ferry and had to wait for the 12:50 a.m. ferry, which got me home around 2 a.m.

While the ferries felt safe, I was still uneasy being out so late alone.

The public transportation was annoying but not my main issue with Seattle

I also thought that living in Washington would mean more exploring with long hikes and trips to the beach.

I had visions of myself frequently venturing to the Olympic National Park, but as I don’t have a driver’s license, this was nearly impossible without taking several buses on a journey that would take close to half a day to complete.

My mom’s cousin still lived in the area, but despite having her and other distant family relatively nearby, I would rarely see them, and I found it difficult to make friends.

Before moving to the West Coast, several people warned me about how difficult it can be for newcomers to make friends — a phenomenon called the “Seattle freeze.”

Oftentimes, I would smile and ask people about their day while grabbing a coffee or in a store. Most people were shocked that I even spoke to them and would ignore me.

I also tried Bumble BFF and joined Facebook Groups like Seattle’s Girl Group, but nothing ever came from it. I would chat with people and arrange to meet up, but they either stopped responding or the unreliable ferry schedule made it unfeasible to meet up at a bar or club night — the type of outing a lot of people suggested.

I missed the hustle and bustle of NYC

Although it can be overwhelming at times, I really missed the hecticness and excitement of New York.

In Washington, there were times when I would go almost a week without leaving the house because I had no one to hang out with.

My small Kitsap County town was mainly made up of people in the military and retirees, and many venues closed by 8 p.m. And events I wanted to attend in Seattle sometimes didn’t align with the ferry schedule.

On the other hand, when I lived in NYC, I would attend media events and hang out with friends at least three times a week.

The social aspect is what I missed the most.

So, in April, just over a year after first moving away, I headed back to New York City.

I don’t regret my time in Seattle, but New York is home

The year I spent in Washington doesn’t feel like wasted time. I learned a lot about myself and those around me.

It helped me realize that I was made for big city life, and I love being an honorary New Yorker. I truly feel alive in this city.