Comments on: extreeeme olympia washington http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/ reading the city, documenting public space, narrating place Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:52:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: epersonae http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/#comment-902 epersonae Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:16:37 +0000 http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/#comment-902 "Olympia feels a bit detached" -- a big part of that sense of detachment comes from the physical isolation from the rest of the Puget Sound megalopolis. The military bases and Nisqually Delta keep Lakewood and Lacey's sprawls from meeting up in the middle, and that makes Olympia feel even farther away than it really is. In terms of driving distance, Portland is nearly as close as Seattle (partially because driving south is so much faster), and didn't seem to be hit in quite the same way by the dot-com madness. Portland seemed to keep its quirkiness as Seattle went glossy. And not being in any of the stereotypical Oly groups can make it tricky to feel at home here. I've lived in Olympia for four years, and only just now is it starting to feel home-like. “Olympia feels a bit detached” — a big part of that sense of detachment comes from the physical isolation from the rest of the Puget Sound megalopolis. The military bases and Nisqually Delta keep Lakewood and Lacey’s sprawls from meeting up in the middle, and that makes Olympia feel even farther away than it really is.

In terms of driving distance, Portland is nearly as close as Seattle (partially because driving south is so much faster), and didn’t seem to be hit in quite the same way by the dot-com madness. Portland seemed to keep its quirkiness as Seattle went glossy.

And not being in any of the stereotypical Oly groups can make it tricky to feel at home here. I’ve lived in Olympia for four years, and only just now is it starting to feel home-like.

]]> By: Jade http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/#comment-901 Jade Sat, 23 Sep 2006 22:46:10 +0000 http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/#comment-901 This is a nice analysis of Olympia. Olympia certainly doesn't consider itself part of the Everett-Seattle-Tacoma megalopolis, but neither is it accurate to say there is an inferiority complex. Most Olympians don't seem to consider Seattle our larger counterpart. On the contrary. Most Olympians seem to have either a disinterest in or a strong distaste for Seattle. This sentiment is relatively new- I would say it developed in the last 5-10 years. I don't know what this is about. Personally, I lived in Seattle for six months in 2002/2003 and I think its a great city. I think the attitude may have developed due to the drastic changes that took place in Seattle in the 90's, creating a sort of old Seattle/new Seattle dichotomy. Perhaps Olympians resent its new glossiness. I don't know. Portland, on the other hand, is a different story. It seems to be regarded as a paradise on earth by Olympia. For more Olympia commentary, please check out my blog http://www.whatthistownneeds.blogspot.com This is a nice analysis of Olympia.
Olympia certainly doesn’t consider itself part of the Everett-Seattle-Tacoma megalopolis, but neither is it accurate to say there is an inferiority complex. Most Olympians don’t seem to consider Seattle our larger counterpart. On the contrary. Most Olympians seem to have either a disinterest in or a strong distaste for Seattle.
This sentiment is relatively new- I would say it developed in the last 5-10 years. I don’t know what this is about. Personally, I lived in Seattle for six months in 2002/2003 and I think its a great city. I think the attitude may have developed due to the drastic changes that took place in Seattle in the 90’s, creating a sort of old Seattle/new Seattle dichotomy. Perhaps Olympians resent its new glossiness. I don’t know.
Portland, on the other hand, is a different story. It seems to be regarded as a paradise on earth by Olympia.
For more Olympia commentary, please check out my blog http://www.whatthistownneeds.blogspot.com

]]> By: Rtoes http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/#comment-900 Rtoes Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:11:32 +0000 http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/#comment-900 The scientific term for the "townie hippies" you refer to is "old-growth greeners". The scientific term for the “townie hippies” you refer to is “old-growth greeners”.

]]> By: exmanhater http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/#comment-889 exmanhater Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:59:40 +0000 http://www.urbanarchives.org/wordpress/2006/09/19/extreeeeme-olympia-washington/#comment-889 I will now refer to my apartment's "walk-up nature" on a daily basis. Because it sounds so swanky when put that way. I will now refer to my apartment’s “walk-up nature” on a daily basis. Because it sounds so swanky when put that way.

]]>