Oh wow that's a bummer! We recently visited Seattle for a few days and loved it. I actually had a nice convo in line for a donut place which was definitely unusual haha

Yes, I've heard the condescending "transplants" term a lot. I get why people are afraid of outsiders ruining their cities, but it's just inevitable that people are going to move there. I mean, when I left AR we were having our own influx of transplants (although they're usually called Yankees back home lol) and I have no idea why people would want to live there! But it's easy to see why people would be drawn to places like Portland and Seattle.

Seeing all the BLM and pride flags in almost every business or home was pretty cool, though. They're good people just not very social. Hell, I'm that way most of the time lol

I don't have any answers for you but I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time! No heat in a MO winter? Yikes! I lived in NW Arkansas for 26 years, those winters can be brutal. I'm glad you made it, though. I'm not sure if it's easier outside of the Midwest. I moved 4 years ago to the PNW and I like it better but I have no friends, just my sister and bf and live with parents. 4 years being unemployed and hardly ever leaving the house due to fear of covid...it gets depressing sometimes for sure! I feel like there could be more opportunities to make friends here just bc I grew up in a small town and when there's nothing to do, how do you meet people you know? But it's been 4 years and I still don't have any new friends so...I sometimes think I stick out as obviously not being from this area and that can make it harder to connect, almost like we're speaking different languages at times. People up here are a lot more aloof. Not in a rude way, but they just seem less interested in talking to strangers and perhaps more guarded? I just think after you leave high school it gets harder and harder to make friends.

I literally just went there yesterday!