Top Ten

“If you're down and confused

And you don't remember who you're talking to

Concentration slips away

Because your baby is so far away

Well there's a rose in a fisted glove

And the eagle flies with the dove

And if you can't be with the one you love, honey

Love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

Don't be angry, don't be sad

Don't sit crying talking good times you've had

Well there's a girl sitting right next to you

And she's just waiting for something to do

Well there's a rose in a fisted glove

And the eagle flies with the dove

And if you can't be with the one you love, honey

Love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

Oh yea oh yea, yea

Lord, love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

Why don't you love?

Turn your heartache right into joy

She's a girl and you're a boy

Did you get it together and make it nice?

When you ain't gonna need anymore advice

Well there's a rose in a fisted glove

And the eagle flies with the dove

Sometimes you can't be with the one you love, honey

Love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

You gotta love the one you're with

You gotta love, oh love

You gotta love, oh love

You gotta love, love the one you're with”

-Crosby, Stills, and Nash

It is hard to write publicly that Seattle wanted you gone and then a year and a half later, you wind up writing that you will be coming back to Seattle, but I have heard Julie sing this Crosby Stills and Nash song every morning for years. “If you can’t love the one you want, love the one you’re with.” In my self imposed exile, there are things I have missed about Seattle. Here are my top ten.

10. Rainier Cherries
If you think I am being frivolous by listing a piece of fruit on this list, then you have never tried a Rainier Cherry. Rainier Cherries are so good that other cherries ought to be embarrassed to call themselves cherries. Grown only in Washington state, there is a small window of time when these little nuggets of perfection are available, but they can be found just about everywhere from grocery stores to roadside vendors.

9. Mountains
Everywhere I have lived, with the exception of Chicago and Melbourne, have been surrounded by mountains. I miss looking at them, especially on a Spring day when the sky is blue and the mountains are still covered with snow. If you like looking at mountains, you can do a lot worse than sweeping views of the Olympics and Cascades.

8. Good Beer
Australians pride themselves on their beer drinking. Unfortunately, the beer sucks. I will admit that I have never seen an Australian drink a Foster’s, but I have seen plenty drink Victoria’s Bitter or Carlton Draught. Both are awful. The Northwest is known for its microbrews and any grocery store can offer more choice and quality than I have seen in a long time. However, my favorite beer in the world is made in Redmond, WA and nothing beats a cold Mac and Jack’s - anytime of the year

7. Red Robin
What the hell is Red Robin doing on this list? Occasionally, I like mediocre food at outrageously low prices. For the last year and a half, taking my family of four out to dinner has set me back $80. I have literally sat in restaurants trying, unsuccessfully, to send telepathic messages to my children. “Don’t order juice. Don’t order juice!” They order juice and I just took $8 out of my wallet and lit it on fire. Going to Red Robin, I can get in and out of there for $35 including a 20% tip for the server. Additionally, I know the minute I walk in the door my kids will be given a coloring book and crayons, the service will be prompt and courteous, and FREE drink refills. I plan on taking the family here and drinking about six or seven sodas in one sitting.

6. Marymoor Summer Concert Series
It might have started out small, but so far I have managed to see Sublime with Rome, Flight of the Conchords, and Slightly Stoopid in my own backyard. Every year, the acts seem to get better and it is a real festival atmosphere - it’s good enough to bring the people from Seattle over to the Eastside. I haven’t seen a concert since Marymoor and I am looking forward to seeing many top notch acts over the coming years.

5. Traffic
By now you might be thinking that I have lost my mind, how can I possibly look forward to Seattle traffic? Well, there are two things I have missed - sensible speed limits and right turns on red. I recently got a speeding ticket for doing 53 kmh in a 50 kmh zone. Americans, imagine getting a ticket for doing 36.5 mph in a 35 zone? It would never happen! I have driven down vast four lane highways doing less than 50 mph. It turns out the US has the second highest speed limits in the world. Sadly, we will probably never beat the Germans in this category, but we’re number two! We’re number two!

4.The Seahawks
Yep, I’m a sucker for punishment. Growing up a Phoenix Suns fan has brought me a lifetime’s worth of sports pain. After the debacle that was Super Bowl XL, there is no reason to think that the Seahawks will end my suffering any time soon and that’s just how I like it.

3. Night Snowboarding/Day Snowboarding
I have had the pleasure of leaving work at 5:30, arriving at Alpental at 6:15, putting plenty of runs in, grabbing a beer, and getting home before 11:00 on a work night. That’s pretty cool.

If I have time on the weekend, there is a plethora of mountains to pick from. Snoqualmie and Steven’s Pass are both less than an hour away. Crystal Mountain and Mount Baker are further, but still doable for a day trip.

2. Affordability
Have I mentioned that Australia is fucking expensive? It is. I stood paralyzed in a gas station recently really wanting a soda, but could not rationalize paying $4.50 for a 16 ounce plastic bottle of Coke Zero. Hello 48 ounces for $1.50! Three times the amount at one third the price. No, I am not moving back to the United States for cheap soda. It’s cheaper everything. Cheaper houses. Cheaper cars. Cheaper gas. Cheaper groceries. Cheaper luxuries. We have been fortunate to make better money than we ever did in the US and I have never felt more broke. A friend of mine once said after living and working in four different OECD countries, in two languages, on three continents for a period of at least seven years each, “America is the only country where it is even possible to get ahead in one generation.” He is right.

1. People
What can I say? I missed my fellow Seattleites. There are too many to name, but I can’t believe I’m going to say this publicly, I miss my mother-in-law. I miss Jenny. I miss friends, co-workers, and Julie’s extended family. I miss the degenrati (except Mike Moroney and Steve Lee- I hate you guys for life, you no-good suck-out artists). See you guys soon.