In less than 48 hours, we're going to be taking a trip to Seattle. This time, we won't be just visiting! No need to pack maps, though – I'll have a bird's eye view of the Seattle journey through my nav system. “2,000 miles to Seattle – the exact distance Less Than Jake would travel!” Plus, we'll have plenty of time to take city tours when we arive. Nobody seems to know when the van will get there. I'll have to pick up a local guide or two to keep us occupied – taking plenty of photos, soaking up plenty of history, checking out the real estate market, enjoying the weather, exploring Seattle entertainment options, seeking great dining experiences, etc. Naturally, we're looking forward to meeting other Seattle folk (Seattlites? Seattloids?). A few of you have already been in touch – quite welcome to our decision to live in Seattle. Our good friend, Randy, just sent this email to us:

The irony, of course, as I mentioned to Chris this afternoon, is that the reason most people living in Seattle are contemptuous of anyone moving from Los Angeles, is that it's exactly the place where they moved from, and once fully entrenched, are futilely attempting to preserve it for themselves, even though they were once the emigrants looking northward for greener turf.
Almost everyone who knows anything about living in the Pacific Northwest HAS to be envious of your move; no exception here. I went to Washington State University and my girlfriend went to the UofW, and I used to visit her often in Seattle and have never lost my love for the city. It's incredible in every way, and if you can deal with the weather, you'll be exceedingly happy there.
It's also a great food town with every international influence in abundance between Seattle and Vancouver. You could spend your life enjoying some of the world's great cuisines with hardly a repeat visit to any one establishment. Seattle is definitely on the map as part of CHILI MY SOUL's expansion plan, so we'll be up there sometime soon I'm sure. In the meantime, if you get any cravings once you settle in, we do ship anywhere.

We're kicking things off on Friday with a West coast road trip. It's gonna take us a few weeks to get settled in Seattle – hopefully not much longer than that. First thing's first: find out why they call Seattle the Emerald city.