I've wanted to visit Seattle for years. But up until recently, we've always been suuuuuper broke. Finally, a decade into our careers, we're both in our early thirties. Considering kids, not planning for it, not rushing it. We didn't get to travel in our twenties, but in the last few years, our combined incomes have beaten inflation by a pretty good margin. My wife because she's unwilling to settle and looks for a new job as soon as she feels undervalued. Me because my workplace has been investing in its current staff and doling out regular raises.
I've been telling her for years I want to visit Seattle. So for Christmas, she surprised me with Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins tickets in Seattle. Then she arranged accommodations with this awesome view of the Puget Sound pictured above, a rental car, and lots of things to do. On her own. She just wanted me to pick out a few places I might want to eat. She did like 99% of the work of planning a vacation.
All of this following last year when, for my birthday, I got to buy a car I've been wanting (a manual '97 Honda Prelude) and a new GPU to replace my R9 290.
All of that, and she's the one that chased me. I wasn't even in the dating pool. She approached me. Said I was cute. Asked me to help her move into her new apartment eight years ago.
Now I'm in fucking Seattle because this woman loves me so much she plans out entire vacations and concerts for me. I just sat on the balcony with a cup of coffee before she woke up and cried. She is so good to me.
So I had a 2000 base auto in my college years. I had to sell it because it was breaking all the time and I didn't make the money to keep fixing it. Also, it was my parents' car on paper and they were making me sell it. They wouldn't sell it to me. It took all of eighteen seconds to determine I wanted another Prelude.
Now, I wanted one, but I wasn't about to move on one. But one afternoon, I was driving home and stumbled upon a neighbor who was a two minute walk from my house selling this red Prelude out of his driveway. I knocked on the door and asked some questions. I test drove it and asked what he wanted. After negotiating, I got him down to $2,700.
Turns out, it's got a red top H22A swapped in. Someone paid real good money to make 20 extra horsepower lol Still, it's a ripper. I had to daily it for a little while when the starter in my Civic died. And the old thing took it on the chin and is no worse for wear because of it. Good ol 90s Hondas.
My wife wanted to use the extra money to do some minor house renovations. Instead, because the opportunity just popped out of nowhere, I bought a car lol So after vacation, I do owe her a lot of work on our house.
My brother, you have made it. Congratulations. Now all you gotta do is return it, every day, with interest. I don't think that'll be too hard, somehow π
Thanks for pointing out the typo. Aroma of Tacoma cracked me up. My wife says it smells like "thoughts and prayers of fish." Fortunately for me, I have basically no sense of smell so I don't even notice.
Heads up, in a small alley right across the little the street there at Pike Market, is an Italian joint called Pizza and Pasta Bar- their meatball subs are incredible!
Sounds rad, dude. Go eat dinner at The Pink Door if you can get in (which is right across the street from that second Market sign in the background), or at Lola's if you can't. Reservations are recommended for The Pink Door, but a $40 handshake with the hostess will usually get you seated.
I wanted that Prelude in silver so badly back then. But alas, I never had any real money until many years later.
Italian is her favorite. I managed to get a lunch reservation the day before we leave. There unfortunately weren't any dinner reservations available until October. Thanks for the tip!
Oh man, I miss Pikeβs Market! I lived in Seattle (Shoreline, which is about 15 miles north of downtown) for a few years and worked on 8th and Virginia, right next to the Federal Courthouse.
I'm excited for you! I've been living here for 4ish years now. It took almost ten years of saving, couch surfing, and career advancement before me and my former spouse made it here, but now I'm here. The struggle is for real and it's so incredible when you finally achieve one of those long lasting dreams!