{"data":[{"_meta":{"is_edited":true,"retrieved_2nd_on":1746134909},"all_awardings":[],"approved_at_utc":null,"approved_by":null,"archived":false,"associated_award":null,"author":"whateverhappensnext","author_flair_background_color":null,"author_flair_css_class":null,"author_flair_richtext":[],"author_flair_template_id":null,"author_flair_text":null,"author_flair_text_color":null,"author_flair_type":"text","author_fullname":"t2_5t80vpd6","author_is_blocked":false,"author_patreon_flair":false,"author_premium":false,"awarders":[],"banned_at_utc":null,"banned_by":null,"body":"While West Seattle is changing, I always felt that it represented Seattle as a whole better than most neighborhoods. There's no \"singular\" personality to West Seattle like there is with Cap Hill, Fremont, Ballard etc. We have a bit of everyone here. It's a chill smorgasbord of Seattle folks. Also, there's something about crossing the bridge that gives me a mental separation from the concept of Seattle as a city. I still remember about 15 years ago when the old Seattle Weekly put out an edition focused on West Seattle, titled the West Seattle Weekly. The editorial had statements like, the goal of people in West Seattle is not to have to leave West Seattle. I think, within reason that still stands. \n\nFor orientation, I live next to the Fairmount Elementary school.\n\nI moved to Seattle in 2000, bought the house we live in 2005. The family would struggle to live anywhere else in Seattle now. \n\nI work in the northern part of South Lake Union and either drive, catch the bus or cycle in (ebike as I'm over 50 now). Driving to my work on a Sunday night (no traffic) takes 10-15 mins. Commute to work by car is dependant on the traffic, but ranges between 20 mins to 45 mins depending on the traffic. This doesn't include any accidents that happen which will push you to 1 hour or more if it's a bad accident. Normally it's on the bridge so things get clogged up quickly. Learn the lower bridge route for an option.\n\nIf bussing to work it's 5 mins walk from my house up to 35th or down to California. That will get you downtown in 30-40 mins (traffic dependant) and then I have another 15 min walk.\n\nCycling in takes me about 40 mins, and my average ebike speed is around 16 mph. I'm not in a rush, unless it's raining. Also, they're doing a great job on the bike lanes along the frontage road and downtown.\n\nMy 19 year old was born in Seattle and has lived in West Seattle his whole life. We looked at the public schools and they're nothing to complain about, but we were lucky enough to be able to send him to Tilden, Explorer West and Kennedy (Burien). He played Highline soccer and football, ultimate, a bit of rugby and a few other things. The kids he played with came from all the surrounding schools and other the typical few exceptions they were all awesome kids. Can speak to the current crop.\n\nFrom where we live, the Junction (main drag) is 20 mins walk, Morgan Junction is 10 mins walk. I can bike to Lincoln Park in 5-10 mins, Alki beach in about 10-15 mins. It's a good, walkable area.\n\nIf you want something different you're about a 10 min drive from White Center, 20 min drive from Burien or Georgetown and 30 min drive from South center Mall.\n\nIf you fly a lot for business as I do, you're about 30 mins from the airport. It's so easier to deal with on the Southside of Seattle.\n\nIt's a very laid back neighborhood and many folks have lived in our neighborhood (Fairmount Park) for many years. One of the best places in our neighborhood to see this is at C&P coffee on California. Cam & Pete have run that coffee shop for a couple of decades and it's a hangout rather than just a coffee shop.\n\nPlenty of grocery stores and smaller independent shops, bars and restaurants. The Thriftway grocery store in the Morgan Junction is a little more expensive than QFC or Safeway, but not as expensive as Metropolitan market. I tend to go to Thriftway as they are unionized and treat their staff very well; something I want to encourage.\n\nHappy to answer any other questions you may have. 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