I'm a New Yorker who went to Seattle for the first time. Here are 9 things that surprised me.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author, wearing a camera around her neck, stands smiling on a Seattle rooftop with a view of the city behind her.
Business Insider's travel reporter took her first trip to Seattle, and it was full of surprises.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

He didn't want to move away from his friends, so he built them an apartment building. Now, they all own it.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
An aerial view of the Shared Roof residential building.
Shared Roof is a cohousing community in Seattle.

Andrew Storey

I've lived in San Francisco and Austin, and I want to move back to California. Here's what Texas is missing.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Technology
Pavi Theva standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge
Pavi Theva left San Francisco in 2019, but now she wants to move back

Courtesy of Pavi Theva

I moved to Seattle to help me land a job at Amazon. Now I live a 7-minute walk from the office — and it's given me a career edge.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Travel
Sarthak Gupta
Sarthak Gupta

Sarthak Gupta

Howard Schultz is the latest billionaire to ditch the West Coast for Miami

Tech Insider : Business
howard schultz
Howard Schultz, the former Starbucks CEO, is leaving Seattle for Miami.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

I landed a dream job after college, but it was in Seattle, far away from my close-knit family. I felt guilty leaving them behind.

Tech Insider : Business
Sherri Lu in front of LA palm trees
The author debated leaving Los Angeles for Seattle.

Courtesy of Sherri Lu

After 13 years abroad, I thought returning to the US would mean I 'failed.' It turned out to be the best choice for me.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
The writer exploring her new home in the Pacific Northwest.
captiontk pnw

Laura Bronner

I'm the CEO of an AI company based in the US and India. Seattle and Bengaluru have pros and cons — here's how I make it work.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Technology
Left: Siddhant Masson; Right: A tech park in Bengaluru
Masson launched Wokelo AI in 2023.

Courtesy of Wokelo Inc.

Major airports refuse to play a TSA video of Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the government shutdown

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a roundtable discussion in the State Dining Room of the White House on October 08, 2025 in Washington, DC
Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

I decided to retire early in Guatemala. I'm only getting half my pension, but the lower cost of healthcare makes it worth it.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
A man standing in front of Mayan ruins in Guatemala.
Ron Podmore retired early and decided to do so in Guatemala.

Ron Podmore.

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