“Seattle is Marcondo, it’s always raining.”

It's been a year since I last saw Cathy. Back then, she was a graphic designer in Seattle. In August 2023, she made the move to Los Angeles, describing leaving Seattle as "waking up from a three-year-long nightmare."

Sadness played a major role in Cathy's decision to leave. Before coming to Seattle, she was optimistic and outgoing, but in early 2023, she was diagnosed with mild depression. Cathy speculated the city might have infected her with its own gloom.

In fact, Cathy's speculation is backed by evidence. A survey from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Seattleites report more depression than other metropolitan areas.

Hearing that, Cathy burst into laughter, "So typical Seattle." I asked if there are reasons behind these widespread negative emotions, and not surprisingly, her first response was the weather. As a devoted fan of One Hundred Years of Solitude, Cathy always likens Seattle to Macondo, citing their shared gloominess and perpetual rain.

"The everlasting rain" seems to be the enduring symbol of Seattle. However, Seattle is less rainy than one might think.

The real problem is the incessant drizzle. Compared to New York, Seattle has a lower annual precipitation, but more rainy days.

This is intolerable Cathy. She has an Old English Sheepdog with long fur that's a hassle to groom. The endless rain means she either has to keep the dog indoors, which is harmful to its mental health, or give it a bath after every walk. "Dealing with a bathroom full of dog hair every day drives me crazy," she said.

The Old English Sheepdog (Source: Weibo @Why-Not-Here)

Additionally, insufficient daylight is an enemy for outdoor activities and good mood. Seattle residents endure a “darkest period” each winter when it's completely dark by 4:30 pm. Getting off work at 5:30 pm, Cathy had several months of walking her dog in the darkness every day.

Cathy bought the sheepdog after she came to Seattle. I wondered if she hadn't anticipated that natural factors would make dog ownership laborious. She replied with resignation, "I needed a companion to rescue me from Seattle Freeze."

That term is cool and tough like the North Face jacket, serving as Seattleites' iconic fashion piece. It's an instinctive defense when facing strangers. Building friendships with locals and finding joy through socials here is challenging; people rarely extend invitations into their circles.

After so many heavy topics, I couldn't wait to lighten the mood. Cathy mentioned that during her undergrad in LA, the most effective way to alleviate depression was to watch an Angels baseball game (they had Shohei Ohtani, after all) and indulge in fast-food delights. Excitedly, I started looking for fast-food joints near the Mariners' stadium, only to be collapsed.

The T-Mobile Park is nowhere near fast-food spots (Source: X @BrooksGate)

Cathy chuckled mischievously, "Now you know what’s the last straw for me." She swirled her coffee, mimicking the tone of Colonel Gerineldo Márquez from One Hundred Years of Solitude, "Aureliano, it's raining in Seattle!"

I retorted, "Don't be a jackass, Gerineldo. It's natural for it to be raining in August. Or anytime!"