A kind of dull sorrow settled within me on my last day in Seattle. I had never truly gotten fond of the city - always making my opinion heard to newcomers and old that I didn't particularly like it. They in turn would be flabbergasted and I would begin to share my grievances: sub-par public transit, lack of historicity and iconic landmarks, abysmal architectural design practices, a lacking (or probably inaccessible) art scene, lack of cultural diversity, people's lack of want to dress well, and I could go on with my social and urban design tirades.
"But the proximity to the mountains and the scenic water?!" would be their aghast response.
It took me two years to concede that the natural beauty surrounding the city somewhat compensated for an otherwise uninspiring place (this obviously being my opinion).
Yet as I sat on the ferry to Bainbridge Island so as to be able to get a view of the skyline and look at the city from afar I found myself feeling sad for the place I had constantly felt at odds with. For what was I feeling this melancholy?
I will certainly miss a few things about Seattle. The frequently gloomy weather (yes I am one of the few who enjoyed it) for one, going to my favorite bookstore Elliot Bay Books, kayaking on Lake Union on a warm, sunny summers day, going on hikes on the countless trails, walking through neighborhoods like Capitol Hill or Fremont, to name a few. But it is not these tangible artefacts of the city that make me sad.
What makes a city feel like home is intrinsically tied to the strength of the relations you form with the people there. This is why some people love their city even though from an objective standpoint - if one would take into account crime statistics, walkability, pollution levels, traffic congestion, urban design, and so on - it might not be the best city to live in.
And so it is those friendships I nurtured over the years In Seattle that I shall miss. It is the time I spent there, the memories that are now embedded at so many different streets, intersections, and neighborhoods that shall no longer be cued by merely walking past. Perhaps one day I shall meet them again, in some other city, but continue on as if it were just yesterday.
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