The Emerald City: Thoughts on Seattle (journal excerpt)

I've found Seattle to be a good 'in-between' city.  It's some strange cross between a sleepy town, tourist central, and a bustling metropolis.  It certainly shares the west coast's laid back feel, but with a different kind of energy. I like that it hasn't been ruined by people I know.  I came here with no major preconceived notions and most certainly am not expecting to run into anyone I will have ever met before.  I feel like I could really like it here.  Part of me agrees with something my dad told me, he said that all cities are really pretty much the same only the terrain and weather are different, another part of me thinks that cities have completely different feels, despite their apparent similarities.  I guess I'm just having a hard time pinpointing what it is about THIS city in particular that is different.  These things are often hard to put into words.  Seattle doesn't excite my heart like New York did, or take me by surprise like Denver, the only word I can find to describe it is 'comfortable'.  From the moment I arrived here I've just felt at home.  It isn't some strange, menacing or scary place and though I know there are many places and things here to explore, I don't feel an overwhelming need to search them out.  I really enjoy the fact that people here are accepting and 'normal'.  The people here just feel real.  Although, I have found there to be a lack of smiles. Yes, smiles and color are what are missing. Perhaps that's a result of the weather.  Maybe if I just looked harder for them.  Regardless, the air is clean, the people are nice, and it's there's always somewhere inviting and beautiful to rest, take to a deep breath and just be.