I was born and raised in Massachusetts, the Worcester area. I went school in Boston. I drove to Seattle on a lark a decade ago. I've been in Ballard now for seven years after three in Queen Anne. Ballard is now home. I miss Chinese food, stone walls, Dickensian mills, George's Coney Island on Southbridge st; and of course many birthdays, anniversaries, and family cookouts. That aside, Glad to be here in Ballard, Whittier Heights exactly (I assume WH is Ballard)
My Ballard Forum » Open Forum
So, where are you from?
(89 posts)-
9
offlineMemberPosted 3 years ago # -
bikerchick
I use to fly into Washington National 2 to 3 times a week. I loved Old Town Virginia. I liked the underground at Christal City especially a store called Latimer's Deli. I have walked all over the DC area. Strange weather at times.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Elliott
offlineMemberGnomie, I grew up very close to you--in Los Altos, which has unfortunately become so hoity toity that I believe you currently need to have a Mercedes and wear a tennis bracelet to even be allowed to enter this town! I met my future husband in high school just after returning from a year spent in Germany with a friend's family. After graduation, we made our way up to Eugene for college as fast as we could and with no intention of ever living in the Bay Area again. After graduating from the U of O, we moved to Portland where our daughters were born, and then to Redmond (now Sammamish). Lived on the Eastside (great schools, proximity to work--but icky in so many regards) for many years, with a 3-year stint in central Pennsylvania because of a job transfer. I met some wonderful friends there, but for some reason, always felt like a fish out of water. After our girls were in college, we decided to say adios to the suburbs and made the move to lovely Ballard. We love living here! It feels just right.
Posted 3 years ago # -
dingogirl
offlineMemberLike DNA Dave,I hail from the big state of Texas. San Antonio is where I grew up. Spent summers floating down hill country rivers and riding horses. When I reached maturity,I realized that Texas was WAY to conservative for me and ended up transferring with a job up here in '89. So,pretty much been up here for half of my life. I like Ballard but, wouldn't mind living on some acreage at some point. The dingoes would like it.
Posted 3 years ago # -
wildernessbarbie
offlineMemberbiopohile87- "I have felt this more strongly through this blog, as it's made me feel a sense of community even if I never see you folks, or may not even know who you are at a store.
I plan on staying for a long time. "
I couldn't agree with you more!
Posted 3 years ago # -
msballard30
offlineMemberAnother Californian here! Born in L.A., grew up in Palm Springs (PSHS '83), and then back to the City of Angels (she says with dripping sarcasm) to UCLA. Lived in Florence, Sienna and Bologna, traveled around Europe and Southeast Asia for two years, moved to Chicago for grad school, Las Vegas for 8 years, Lexington, VA for law school, and then found a position here in Seattle (my husband's alma mater after going to college at UC Santa Cruz).
After spending most of my life sweltering in super hot "dry heat" (think 118-degrees) or gasping for breath during unbelievably hot and humid summers, my first July 4th here was so incredibly glorious - 72 degrees, clear blue skies, no humidity - I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I'm never moving again (she says).
Posted 3 years ago # -
julesage
offlineMembericeberg: BoothBay harbor is amazing! have you heard of the "fishermans island" there? i had the luxury to stay there for 2 weeks a few years back. it was such a cool spot. i think the boat ride was like 5-9 minutes from the bay there at boothbay. so gorgeous! do you know the story on that piece of land?
Posted 3 years ago # -
julesage
offlineMemberatheistgoddess: i would love to talk chicago with you....especially the dirty blues jazz. My fav.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Melissa
offlineMemberMarysville (Wa.)... just 35 minutes north :)
I always vowed I would get out... that I would move to the big city -- and here I am!
Posted 3 years ago # -
ballardmama1979
offlineMemberNorthern CA (Walnut Creek) native moved across the country at age 9 to
Worcester MA in 1988 then to college in
Syracuse, NY starting in 1997 and back to the west coast to
Seattle in 2001 after graduation.
Magnolia then Crown Hill and now Sunset Hill for the past 5 years
We love this city and our neighborhood and now we're raising our own little Seattle native! After nearly 9 years Seattle definitely feels like home to us and we are not likely to leave.Posted 3 years ago # -
ballardmama1979
offlineMember9 - where in Worcester? I went to Holy Name on Granite St but lived south of the city. My (now) husband and I also moved to Seattle kind of on a whim after driving out from Boston too just a year after you did :) I also miss stone walls... the random fences in the foliage along the side of the road...
Posted 3 years ago # -
teigyr
offlineMembermsballard30, the summers here are glorious except for those 2-3 days where it's really hot (for me) and I whine. I whined in Calif too but everyone had a/c there. A/C in the car to a/c in the house, etc.
JP and all the cyclist folk, yeah...I should ride. Things like cars parked on the side then the bike lane btwn the parked cars and the driving cars scare me. The roads seem narrow too. I probably need more of a rain bike than my road bike (the idea of fenders on the Orbea makes me giggle) and more substantial tires than what I have. I don't know why but since I've been here I've taken to running and the bike has dust on it. I used to ride 250+ miles a week and loved it, I don't know what my problem is right now. It's probably the fear of the mud strip up my back :) That is always what got to me when I rode in the rain.
Posted 3 years ago # -
schaatser
offlineMemberIf it's raining hard enough, it will just wash that mud stripe right off. :)
Posted 3 years ago # -
msballard30
offlineMemberTeigyr - you're so right about the A/C. Actually, I was never so cold as when I first moved to Las Vegas since every building is regulated to be about 40-degrees. So after being inside awhile (especially in any of the hotel conference centers) you'd FREEZE and have to go outside to warm up, where the sudden blast of heat was GLORIOUS ... for about four minutes and then it would get so hot your brain would start to melt so you'd go back inside where the cold was DELICIOUS ... until a little while later when you'd get brain freeze and start shaking ... and so it went. It was insane - it might be 100+ degrees outside but you might regret it if you forgot to bring a sweater to walk around the malls, hotels, etc.
Posted 3 years ago # -
DNADave
offlineMemberTeigyr: I just moved from a mountain bike to a more road like bike and have found the tires to be much more stable in the rain than I had expected. Yes, the fenders do look silly, but not brown stripe! :)
This year been a bit odd, but most Winters, I don my rain gear maybe 5 times the whole season. It's really not that bad out there on a bike. Try going out on the Burke Gilman at first and avoid places like 15th and Westlake and you will be fine.
Posted 3 years ago # -
9
offlineMemberBallardmama79: Worcester area, Oxford specifically. It was Oxford High School for me.
Posted 3 years ago # -
ballardmama1979
offlineMember9, what a small world - I grew up in Northbridge! We frequented Buffumville Lake over there :)
Posted 3 years ago # -
BriarRose
offlineMemberWow this thread has given me great understanding of what happened to Seattle during the years I was gone. It also gives me hope that this too will pass.
I am reading a hysterical book titled Generation Debt, Why Now is a Terrible Time to be Young by Anya Kamenetz. It’s a portrait of the end product of the last few generations. Takes me back top that funny thread a while back about the young people working for the maid service.
Posted 3 years ago # -
wally
offlineMembermsballard30: I spent five years in Vegas during middle/high school and still have family there, so I visit often. No truer words were spoken regarding the AC. I remember coming out of the mall once, getting into the hot car, and not wanting to turn on the AC. I love dry heat, so I can last quite a bit longer than 4 minutes. Oddly, as much as I love dry heat, I truly love Seattle and have no plans to move, ever.
IPlod: If you're still following this thread, my dad was stationed at Key West when I was a tot (1.5-3 years old). A bit odd, since he was Air Force and it was a Navy post, so he must have been very lucky. I wish I actually remembered it! My older brothers did get to take advantage of the locale.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Kyle
offlineMemberI was born in Manhattan, even tho we lived across the river in New Jersey... moved soon after to Washington DC for primary school and then up to the Albany/Schenectady/Saratoga Springs area of upstate NY. Went to college at Syracuse U... visited my sis in Seattle after graduation, went home and thought about moving here for 7 years, and finally did in 1987. Been here for 22 years now.
My dad keeps telling me we don't know how good we have it out here. I've traveled quite a bit and though I love seeing anywhere new, it's true - I can't think of another place I'd rather be than here, except in the winter, when I'd rather be in California, Mexico, Florida... you get the idea.
Posted 3 years ago # -
stopthebuzz
offlineMembershallow end, i'm really sorry to hear about your boyfriend. I was in NYC at the time as well and memories from that day were big reason I left.
I grew up in Seattle. I moved to NYC (Brooklyn) to live with family and to help take care of my grandfather my jr year of HS ('92). Did my undergrad in NYC, but came back to Seattle for a few summer school programs at UW. Stayed in NYC until 2002. Moved back to Seattle/Ballard to be close to my parents and to help dad through cancer treatment. I've dropped out of two graduate programs (one at NYU when my dad was ill and then here at UW when i was sick of it) and I'm much happier for it. I love my job and my life and being debt free. :)
I still miss NYC and the cheap flights to Europe, but this is my home.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Jeni
offlineMemberHi PennyGirl, Heb, and Jack Tar...... so many UK expats in Ballard! I was born in Sutton, Surrey but grew up in West Sussex, East Grinstead to be exact. My family is still there.
Posted 3 years ago # -
iceberg
offlineMemberJulesage, Fisherman's Island was owned by the Wilson family when I was growing up(Mrs was my 8th grade language arts teacher). The stone mansion was used as a minster's retreat when I was a kid. Last I remember it was bought and turned into a lodge/retreat for family's. It is a beautiful place in the world. I spent almost 2 months in BBH last summer taking care of my mom.
What took you there?Posted 3 years ago # -
julesage
offlineMemberan awesome guy i was dating and his family one summer. we even flew both of our dogs out there to join in the fun. it was such a beautiful, serene out of this world experience indeed. we traveled well and had alot of fun, fun times. The people in BBH were the most friendly and kind people ever to us. we were even interviewed by the local little tv station doing some special on tourists to BBH. Thanks so kindly for answering my question and the cool information. I would actually love to be able to find work so i could move there for awhile, to BBH.
The beds there and the stone showers were such a TREAT:)
Posted 3 years ago # -
Roadkill
offlineMemberChicago (near / in / and around) 1979-1998
Southern Spain 1999-2001
Rural Illinois 2001-2004
Seattle 2004-presentPosted 3 years ago # -
vanillamilk
offlineMemberBorn and raised in Ballard my entire life. I was born over at ballard community hospital, and I have lived in this town for over eighty years.
Posted 3 years ago # -
BriarRose
offlineMemberWow vanilla you don't look a day over 75.
Posted 3 years ago # -
blackcat91
offlineMemberLike several others here, I'm originally from Santa Barbara, CA... born & raised. I lived in Longview, WA (middle school); Kauai, HI (twice, including part of 10th grade); and Mountain View, CA (right next to Los Altos in Silicon Valley for a job). I've been visiting Ballard for about 13 years & thought about moving here after each trip... just never could because of work, etc. Quite a few of my friends have moved to the PNW over the years, mostly to the Seattle area. After a road trip here this last summer to visit friends in Ballard, I decided it was time to just go for it & make the change. So... I drove back home in record time, put my house on the market, & started packing. I found my house here after an exhausting 2 day trip where I saw probably 20 houses (ouch!), picked a few favorites, flew back to SB, accepted an offer, put in an offer & was on the road with my 2 dogs, cat & parrot within weeks (arrived on 9/11). Most of my family & friends are still in SB so I'm glad it's just a short, 2 1/2 hour direct flight or a day & a half on the road away. I can't put my finger on exactly what I love about Ballard but every time I visited, it just seemed right... and now after all these years it's finally home :)
Also, I love the green here... especially after all the massive fires we had, one of which destroyed the entire neighborhood I grew up in. We got through a fire in the late 70s, just barely, but the "Tea Fire" in November 2008 finally took my dad's home along with the homes of every single neighbor/family friend we'd known since the early 70s.
Posted 3 years ago # -
ElizabethElaine
offlineMemberI was born and raised in (West) Seattle. And when I say Seattle, I mean Seattle, not like when people say they're from Seattle and they're really from Kirkland or something.
Posted 3 years ago #
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