I did something almost as crazy as your option #3 last year when I moved from IL, where I had spent my entire life to that point, to the Seattle area. (It was crazy because I had no job here, no prospects for one, and virtually no savings. But I did have a guy, so maybe not as crazy.) Anyway, it was possibly the best decision I've ever made. Risks do sometimes pay off wonderfully. If nothing else, being in a new and uncomfortable environment is always a chance to know yourself better.
As for Seattle itself, it's not the ultimate city, like NYC; in fact it has a very neighborhood-y feel, but it is a place of passion. The city and surrounding areas are full of people who had some crazy idea and went for it. You can find artistic or artisan anything. (This also means that the food and beer is great.) I'm not sure whether the tech industry just provides enough capital to support quirky tastes and strange enterprises or if it's something about the region that draws the right kind of people. Regardless of the reason, the resulting culture is wonderful. It's like, "We don't care where you came from, what you look like, or how weird your passion is. If you love it and do it well, you will find a home here."
Also, are you an outdoorsy kind of person? I live about an hour from Seattle (though I'm there at least once a week), and this is my view when I go to the grocery store:
As for Seattle itself, it's not the ultimate city, like NYC; in fact it has a very neighborhood-y feel, but it is a place of passion. The city and surrounding areas are full of people who had some crazy idea and went for it. You can find artistic or artisan anything. (This also means that the food and beer is great.) I'm not sure whether the tech industry just provides enough capital to support quirky tastes and strange enterprises or if it's something about the region that draws the right kind of people. Regardless of the reason, the resulting culture is wonderful. It's like, "We don't care where you came from, what you look like, or how weird your passion is. If you love it and do it well, you will find a home here."
Also, are you an outdoorsy kind of person? I live about an hour from Seattle (though I'm there at least once a week), and this is my view when I go to the grocery store:
I Seek Life Advice
26/04/2011 02:52:23 AM
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It's Sabotage -Go Balls to the wall,Baby! #3 for you, My friend. *NM*
26/04/2011 03:00:14 AM
- 565 Views
Re: If I went balls to the walls I'd run for the Senate in 2012...
26/04/2011 03:22:43 AM
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The common wisdom in Ireland seems to be we are about to do just that to our senate. *NM*
26/04/2011 01:19:22 PM
- 328 Views
Re: I'd love to abolish the US Senate. It's a big, white, Oligarchical nuisance. *NM*
26/04/2011 11:42:44 PM
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I don't understand why NY is not on your radar if you're ambitious.
26/04/2011 06:10:06 AM
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"the ambitious folk" sounds odd to me.
26/04/2011 06:55:40 PM
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Oh, I know.
26/04/2011 07:04:16 PM
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I'm still not convinced two wrongs make a right.
26/04/2011 07:37:22 PM
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Re: I'm still not convinced two wrongs make a right.
26/04/2011 08:19:38 PM
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Move out west.
26/04/2011 06:21:43 AM
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hey, ca is awesome! also the weather is far, far better than the other 2 pnw states
26/04/2011 06:32:36 AM
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I've visited CA many times, but I only started hating it after I moved to the West Coast
26/04/2011 06:43:24 AM
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oh, ca doesn't make women that way, it's time. i have to interact with them *daily*
26/04/2011 04:38:36 PM
- 798 Views

What's your personality like?
26/04/2011 11:19:59 AM
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Re: That's a great reply - thanks.
26/04/2011 12:03:05 PM
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That's not very nice.
26/04/2011 08:29:11 PM
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Re: Setting:
26/04/2011 08:59:02 PM
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Re: Seattle.
27/04/2011 05:32:23 PM
- 1092 Views
Come to Ireland.
26/04/2011 01:31:55 PM
- 725 Views
Ireland is a great place for writers. *NM*
26/04/2011 04:11:04 PM
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Suicidal, drunk and otherwise self-destructive writers, yes. *NM*
26/04/2011 06:49:55 PM
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The best kind! *NM*
26/04/2011 07:09:06 PM
- 338 Views
$30? I fucking hate you
26/04/2011 03:19:26 PM
- 703 Views
Re: FAR is a beast - but it's so much more satisfying to do it without Becker.
26/04/2011 09:09:11 PM
- 849 Views
take the the risk and go with three *NM*
26/04/2011 05:44:21 PM
- 496 Views
Re: Thanks for the advice. I'm dwelling on'er. *NM*
27/04/2011 12:06:37 AM
- 341 Views
There will likely come a time in your life when you lose some of your choices about taking risk
27/04/2011 05:08:48 PM
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I have to say this has been the MOST enjoyable thread, in a while. whatever happens...
27/04/2011 02:30:05 AM
- 794 Views
There's been a lot of great threads lately!
27/04/2011 07:52:21 PM
- 828 Views