The Seattle Chill

The much talked-about Seattle Chill is a social phenomenon here in the city. It is purported to describe the means by which Seattle-ites comport themselves in their dealings with strangers. Some transplants and visitors to the Seattle I know have commented on this sensation. A lengthy description of the factors contributing to this phenomenon was penned here on Craigslist some time ago.

But I'm not writing now about the phenomenon as it applies to others interacting with me. Instead I'm referring to how the attitude of the place has started to pervade me and affect how I interact with others. Now, I've never really been the biggest social butterfly, but it seems that I've started to adopt some of the "Chill" myself.

This fact became most apparent to me in my recent trip to New York City. I'll illustrate this by counter example. The perception of many people regarding New York is that the denizens of the city are brash, noisy, and rude. I felt that in this environment, I could respond to any slights (if necessary) in kind. It was oddly liberating to know that I could come back at somebody with monosyllabic rejoinder if the situation demanded it, while in Seattle I would never dream of it. Despite this feeling, and perhaps contrary to many peoples' perception of New York, everyone I met or interacted with in the city was remarkably open and friendly.

It's almost as if cities come with their own attitude which imprints itself upon its residents. Naturally, of course, it's the attitudes of the residents themselves which ultimately affect the feel of a city, but sometimes it almost seems like a bit of a chicken-and-egg issue.

All of the preceding was a long-winded way of me saying "Gosh, I need to get over any perception of external limitations on how I should act and open up more." Anyway....