@DialMforMara Yeah, like... this can happen anywhere, it's true, but I feel like most other places (even if they have other problems, some of which can be worse for you depending on who you are) have this critical mass of socially comfortable people who can facilitate new arrivals / anxious people getting friends.

Whereas in the Pacific Northwest it seems like, if you didn't grow up or at least go to school here, you'd best have existing friends from elsewhere move to the area, because finding Your People is going to take a Very Long Time.