The grass is greener on the other side syndrome

I've definitely got a case of the-grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side' syndrome when it comes to city living. I find myself constantly measuring Seattle against the brilliance of Chicago. When am I going to accept that they are totally different cities? I'm still in denial because to admit it would probably make me more bummed than I already feel about this city right now. I'm trying really hard to give it a chance here, I really am.

Maybe it's the actual PEOPLE who live here that make this city not as juicy to live in as Chicago. I have heard of the Seattle freeze, but didn't really notice it as much until I started my job at the end of the summer. I have observed a standoffish quality to them, one of seriousness and lack of warmth and joviality. It's weird. And it's not because they are responding to my attitude because I will smile and say a friendly Hello or try to strike up conversations to get to know others better. They are closed off. It makes me uncomfortable.

I have heard you have to meet people here who aren't from Seattle. Funny enough, even the people I have met NOT from here are the same way. It's like if you live here long enough, you turn into a Seattle pod or something. If that's the way it is here, I have no desire to partake in that transformation of my personality. I'm not sure what to do. I know I haven't been here that long. In the overall scheme of things, the settling down process from moving out of state can take awhile. What I wonder is, what is the acceptable amount of time to give a new place a chance to grow on you and if it doesn't, reconsider where you want to live? I can't STAND moving (I need to be in one spot for awhile), so realize I am very serious when I say this.

Yesterday I pushed myself to check out the area of shops and restaurants in my neighborhood about a mile away from my apartment, something I've procrastinated doing because I would rather check it out with someone than by myself. It was a beautiful day and motivated to find a birthday present for my mom, out I went. I walked around for about 30 minutes and nothing really stood out to me. Sure, there were a few restaurants that smelled good and I'll be curious to try out sometime. But all I could do was get nostalgic about my old Chicago neighborhood. I never got sick of wandering around Lakeview on the weekends. Borders for my books. Bamee for my Thai food cravings. The indie movie theater in the Century Mall on Clark. Starbucks for coffee and some downtime to read, study, or hang out. The farmer's market on Broadway. So much more diversity and liveliness.

When I was about to walk into a thrift store yesterday, a woman on the other side of the door rudely told me they were closed. I apologized and walked away.

Luckily, I had a better experience around the corner at the eclectic Chocolate Cafe. That place was cool and had character. An alternative looking employee (aka lots of tats and piercings), dark colored walls (mauve-ish color I think), canvas paintings on the back wall (probably done by locals, I'm guessing), and a few tables in the same area where you could drink your beverage and enjoy the variety of delectable chocolate options.

Cliche as it sounds, it is SOOO true that you sometimes don't realize how much you love a person or place until it's gone. Hindsight. Ain't it a bitch?!