I spent 3 great years in Ft Lewis, and can say that you will absolutely love it if you like the outdoors. You can go from the Pacific, to the Sound, to the mountains in a matter of a few hours.
Here is a goofy but true anecdote.
You might be from the Northwest if...
1. Know the state flower (Mildew)
2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
3. Use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.
4. Know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
5. Know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
6. Feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
7. Stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "WALK"
signal.
8. Consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted,
it is not a real mountain.
9. Can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best,
and Veneto's.
10. Know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye salmon.
11. Know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon,
and Willamette.
12. Consider swimming an indoor sport.
13. Can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai
food
14. In winter, go to work in the dark and come home in the
dark,while only working eight-hour days.
15. Never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
16. Are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by
rain," and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."
17. You cannot wait for a day with "showers and sun breaks."
18. Have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
19. Know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state
of mind.
20. Can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see
through the cloud cover.
21. You notice "the mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and
you can actually see it.
22. Put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but
still wear your hiking boots and parka.
23. Switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the
socks on.
24. Have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
25. Think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
26. Knew immediately that the view out of Frasier's window was
fake.
27. Buy new sunglasses every year, because you can't find the
old ones after such a long time.
28. You measure distance in hours.
29. You often switch from "heat" to "a/c" in the same day.
30. You use a down comforter in the summer.
31. You carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how
to use them.
32. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a
raincoat.
33. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter,
Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer) Deer & Elk season (Fall).
