I hear ya. I was stuck in the Everett area for 15 years. Couldn't take it anymore, walked away from my career and brought the family over the mountains. Work hasn't been easy to find but we have no regrets!

I'll say besides a much more conservative friendly normal feeling community/area, the best part has been the absence of rain. We've had like 7 days of rain total this year and the seasonal depression has disappeared.