We were just talking about this a couple nights ago, the day I returned from OSH. Marilyn grew up in Aberdeen, WA, and lived in both Olympia and Seattle for several years. I have only visited, so we have different perspectives on much of it, but we both love vacationing in the PNW.
But despite our somewhat different perspectives, we both truly hate the traffic in Seattle proper. When I was taking my seaplane training last summer, I got more than a taste of it, initially commuting from Olympia (her sis lives there) and later commuting from just east of the University District, to Seattle Seaplanes which is located on the southeast end of Lake Union. The first commute was truly terrible, not so much in time because the traffic moves quickly, but in terms of nerve-wracking. My instructor gave me at least half an hour to wind down from the drive before we started talking seaplanes. The second commute was only about 12 minutes, because I learned some back street shortcuts quickly, so the biggest problem was parking--it's close to non-existent in the area around Seattle Seaplanes.
And we both agreed that as much as we like the PNW, if we were to choose to move there for our joint retirement, it would be farther north, like to Anacortes or one of the smaller towns near there. The really big city environment can be fun to visit, but it's not where we'd like to live.
But whether you'll like a new place or not depends more on attitude than anything. There's an old story in real estate about a Realtor showing a house in the morning to a couple. When the wife asked what the neighborhood was like, the Realtor asked what their old neighborhood was like. The wife said "We're really glad we're moving. It was really unfriendly, our neighbors were unpleasant, shopping was awful" and on and on. The Realtor said, "Oh I'm so sorry, but I think that this neighborhood is very similar." Later that day, he showed the same house to another couple, and that wife asked the same question about the neighborhood. Again the Realtor responded by asking what their old neighborhood was like. The wife said, "Oh, we really hate to leave. We had the nicest neighbors who were all our friends, and it was only a short drive to the nicest shopping anywhere." The Realtor said, "I think you'll find that this neighborhood is every bit as nice as your old one was."
My recommendation, which I make to anyone contemplating a big move: Go visit for a few days, not as a tourist, but as a prospective citizen. Look at neighborhoods within a reasonable commute from your potential job. Drive the commute during commuting hours. Look at the neighborhood shopping. Ask questions at stores and gas stations and other places, of ordinary people about what they like and don't like. Then make your own decision.
Good luck!
Cary