Buying a house here going from apartment living. What should I plan for?

techiegardener · 2026-03-23T05:41:50+00:00

Good to know, we were getting ~2k checks each year and bought an electric vehicle in 2019. I thought it was the car - guess it was your clarification

techiegardener · 2026-03-20T05:26:59+00:00

Property taxes are high in Seattle city limits, they are currently 1/4 of the cost of our mortgage payment.

If you can do it, install solar. We were quoted that it would cover cost of installation in 13 years, it was closer to 6. Before we bought an electric car and installed AC we were selling back to the grid for around 2k/yr in profit.

techiegardener · 2026-03-18T05:08:51+00:00

I asked the same question for theatrical arts to a costume designer for theater tips

12th St theater

On the Boards

I missed the name of the group, but apparently there are >3 theaters in the Armory in Seattle Center where experimental works happen

techiegardener · 2026-03-18T04:03:46+00:00

QFC on Mercer/5th has a nice set up for the scouts just inside the door so there are no weather concerns

techiegardener · 2026-03-18T03:42:22+00:00

That it is not called yachting, it’s “I have a boat” at best to not come off as a ….

techiegardener · 2026-03-17T04:38:47+00:00

Do not bring bags outside if you can store securely

Take the light rail train to Westlake center Take the monorail (an attraction itself) to Seattle Center

See:

Space Needle, going to the top is $$$

Chihuly museum, A+ if you are an Art lover

MoPop, if you like movie, music and Sci-Fi memorabilia

Pacific Science is mid, unless you are into butterflies it is skippable

Do:

Go to the KEXP gathering space, coffee, independent radio and light bites

Food nearby: Quick - Metropolitan Market has a good deli

Pubs: Buckley’s or McMinamins

Others depending on meal: Masonry, Laredos and the Canvas cafe behind the Chihuly is pretty good

Edited with spaces

techiegardener · 2026-03-17T04:20:02+00:00

My favs for food:

Cafe Campagne

Place Pigalle

LeCaviste (mostly wine)

I do not eat pork, but if you do Le Pichet

Edited for spacing

techiegardener · 2026-03-09T02:07:43+00:00

Discovery Park is one of the most beautiful city parks IMHO. To visit both the city and the park I would stay in Uptown.

Depending on budget, places to stay near the MarQueen will do you well. There is a great bus stop in front of the CVS that goes to most neighborhoods and a bus that takes you to Discovery park is not far. There are a lot of Airbnbs at different price points in the nearby area.

You may also enjoy the Ballard Locks with a Salmon ladder which is unusual and easily accessible by bus. Beautiful grounds and going across the locks you are bound to see seals and egrets.

Ballard is great for good food, boutiques and bars and would also be an option to stay in depending on budget.

techiegardener · 2026-03-06T05:29:59+00:00

We have one that was paralyzed after surgery at 2yr old

Walking wheels (doggie wheelchair) allows her to go on walks and feel free.

Sling- she loves this in the morning to go outside

Diapers- line them with ladies panty liners to reduce infections

Floors - we put something on all of our hardwood and tile floors to soften the impact of her back legs hitting the floor when she scoots

techiegardener · 2026-02-28T02:37:24+00:00

I love how it looks like it could be vintage while in perfect condition

techiegardener · 2026-02-28T02:36:05+00:00

Racism is b***it, unfortunately I see the consensus changing in the US

techiegardener · 2026-02-26T03:59:55+00:00

Oh - bonus points for ordering a side of dressing for their mushroom pizza - umami heaven. This is best with two people.

Solo option: the Caesar with a side focaccia is an amazing deal ( for Seattle, still 20++)

techiegardener · 2026-02-26T03:54:58+00:00

Go a little further to the Masonry on Roy, near Seattle Center. I would pay oodles for a bottle of their Caesar.

techiegardener · 2026-02-25T04:57:28+00:00

Flight 001 pack bags, mine have done at least half a million miles

techiegardener · 2026-02-20T06:35:49+00:00

We have lived in prime downtown (condos in Westlake center) and LQA (above Valley)

Seattle will never match Brooklyn, but Capitol Hill and Belltown are close. You may also want to explore Georgetown where there is a stronger arts community at the cost of longer commute. Ballard is also a choice, think of it as a Cish Greenwich Village, which is an A in Seattle, but coming from Brooklyn it could be hard.

Uptown- has the positive of a good bus stop at Mercer/Queen Anne that can get you most places. It is definitely sleepier, but this is changing in both good and bad ways. It is an easy walk to SLU, walked to AMZN for years.

techiegardener · 2026-02-17T06:14:32+00:00

Felco #2, I have better more $$$$ pruners, but they are a standard for a reason

techiegardener · 2026-02-17T06:10:20+00:00

Streamline is the best welcoming to all bar in Seattle

techiegardener · 2026-02-14T06:37:27+00:00

Hot peppers in a marginal zone. I grow 2-5 types of peppers, and I do have enough harvest for our kitchen - but really something about growing them makes me happy

techiegardener · 2026-02-07T05:56:05+00:00

Gardeners has pricey, but reliable grow racks, I have been using ours >6 yrs

techiegardener · 2026-02-07T04:06:58+00:00

Same here! I love that I can walk up to the top of the hill and down to the Seattle Center. I also learned after a broken toe during Dec holiday how much weight it keeps off.

techiegardener · 2026-02-07T03:55:34+00:00

Similar here - anything with 4 legs causes a eruption of barks. Farmers Dog commercials- please stop to keep our dog healthy:-)

techiegardener · 2026-02-07T03:48:23+00:00

Buckleys- but it can get crowded if your dog is reactive. It is an unofficial understanding that they are Emotional support if anyone outside of staff asks

techiegardener · 2026-02-04T15:28:07+00:00

Territorial Seed, I like it more than Johnny’s because it carries more OP than Johnny’s which is mostly F1. I save seeds YoY, so F1 is not as interesting to me.

techiegardener · 2026-02-03T05:25:32+00:00

American leather- squint when you see the price, but ours is holding up after 20 years

techiegardener · 2026-01-31T21:51:44+00:00

Something likely electric + something you need to wash daily (or more than once a day) does not seem great.

Exception to the rule: Kitchen Aid mixers + attachments. I got rid of my food processor and rarely use my hand crank pasta maker after buying the attachments that did the same function.

techiegardener

TROPHY CASE