I swapped houses with a stranger to see if I'd like living in Seattle. One month in, I got my answer.

After 18 years of living in San Francisco, I was earnestly starting to regard moving.

I loved the existence I had built there, but taking the next stage — akin purchasing my own home alongside a pace — felt out of attain for me. However, I was fearful I would regret leaving the location I had called residence for so many years.

When thinking of places I'd akin to live, Seattle immediately came to mind. I figured the city would recommendation akin energy and occupation opportunities as San Francisco, and I loved its proximity to striking natural beauty.

Plus, I'd visited the West Coast city many times and had a fine companion who lived there, so it seemed akin a logical move. But alternatively of taking the jump immediately, I decided to test out living in the city for a duration to create certain it was the correct fit for me.

Through HomeExchange, a phase that allows users to swap homes alongside group from about the world, I traded my Noe Valley condo for a home alongside a pace in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle for the duration of July.

I got to cognition Seattle as a local alternatively of a tourist

Although I'd visited Seattle many times complete the years, this was my archetypal chance to test mundane existence there alongside my dog, Pepper — not fair cognition the city as a tourist.

I worked remotely, went grocery shopping, and checked out the Ballard Farmers Market on Sundays. Pepper and I explored distinct parks on dawn walks and went to local breweries in the evenings.

I really prioritized spending period in Ballard, since that was the neighborhood I was most curious in perchance calling home. I loved that the residential parts were filled alongside single-family homes on tree-lined streets, but the location was additionally walkable to a historic center filled alongside shops, restaurants, and bars.

It felt akin it could be the ideal blend of having a residence alongside a pace in a residential neighborhood, during motionless having the city existence and walkability I loved in San Francisco.

However, staying for a duration additionally allowed me to cognition several of the ache points I'd agreement alongside as a local.

For example, although I established Ballard incredibly walkable, formerly I remaining the neighborhood, Seattle as a entire felt much additional dispersed out and suburban than San Francisco. I established myself driving and sitting in traffic additional than I'm used to.

One night, I was welcomed to go to my friend's home for dinner. What I idea would be a quick, 30-minute run turned into a 55-minute headache in rush-hour traffic. In this moment, I realized moving about the city would necessitate additional preparedness than I initially expected.

Having Pepper alongside me additionally gave me insights into dog regulations that I never would have noticed on vacation. Although Seattle is a extremely dog-friendly city, I established there are additional restrictions about h2o admission and off-leash areas than I always would have known concerning as a tourist.

I'm used to letting Pepper run off-leash in the dirt at Fort Funston in San Francisco, but I established that most sandy beaches in Seattle don't authorize dogs. Luckily, she was motionless capable to sunbathe and people-watch from the pace of the home we were staying in.

The home toggle helped me fig out what I desire from a imperishable home

Having person remain in my residence gave me understanding into what she loved concerning it, and it made me value what I already had.

The female I traded homes alongside mentioned that many of my neighbors greeted her and that group were affable on her regular dog walks in Noe Valley. I wasn't amazed that she felt this way. After all, the community in my neighborhood is one of my favorite things concerning San Francisco.

Spending period distant gave me clarity on what I value in the residence I already have, and several viewpoint on what I desire in my next home.

A duration in Seattle made it apparent that the city is not my place. It additionally confirmed that I wanted several things that are out of attain for me in San Francisco since of the disbursal of housing, akin a home alongside a yard.

Ideally, I'd akin to discover a location that combines the finest parts of the two cities: affordability, a walkable neighborhood alongside a awareness of community, and natural beauty. I additionally realized that avoiding dense traffic and crowds may average looking beyond important cities.

Thankfully, selling homes was a comparatively low-cost, low-risk way to test a important existence decision akin moving. Before making an costly move, I was capable to refine my catalog of what I desire in my next home, and what I don't.

For now, I'm motionless searching for my new city, but my imagination of what the next division volition appearance akin is much clearer.