Well, today is my last day at AREA203 Marketing, and it is a little bittersweet. It has been a pleasure working with so many talented individuals, and I will miss my colleagues a great deal. With that said, I cannot begin to describe the energy that is building toward my new position as Social Media Channel Manager at Microsoft/Bing (on loan from Ally Marketing) in Seattle. When I was presented with this great opportunity, I knew I had discovered something special.
I have held a long fascination with the city of Seattle. I am sure a major part of that intrigue comes from my love of Seattle’s music scene in the late 80′s and early 90′s. It may be a bit cliché, but I can’t deny that influence. Bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Mudhoney had a major impact on me as I was coming of age musically and just learning to play guitar during those years. The so-called “Grunge” music scene was so rooted in Seattle’s culture, it is impossible to deny the impact (BTW, I hate to label music genres, but what else do you say?).
Which West Coast City Fits Me Best?
It has always been my intention to some day make a move to the West Coast, and the time is finally here! I have often wondered which city on the West Coast would be the best fit for me. After visiting L.A. a few years ago, I knew that it was not the place for me. No offense to L.A. or its residents. I had a good time there, but I never felt comfortable in my own skin. So, that left San Diego, Northern CA, Portland, and Seattle. Although, I believe I could live a happy life in any of those locations, I knew just from a few days in Seattle, that I had found my new home. At that point, it was just a matter of when.
My first trip to Seattle came just last June for SearchEngineLand’s SMX Advanced conference. After just two days, I knew I had found the place to lay my roots. Seattle fits me like a glove, and now I realize it is much more than just the music that has always attracted me to the city. I love the diversity and laid-back attitude of Seattle’s residents. I love great coffee, wine, and beer, not to mention fresh seafood.
A Quick Turnaround
The last month has been a whirlwind of planning, packing, and high anxiety. I must give most of the credit to my lovely wife for the most of this work. I would never have been able to pull off all of this work without her. To Shannon: I thank you very much, and I hope you love Seattle as much as I do. I know you will. Your Pisces soul will love the abundance of water surrounding the city and all the things that make it special to me. I cannot wait to show you the city I fell in love with just over a month ago.
Cheers! Peace out Chattanooga. See you in Seattle.Tweet
