I was skeptical of credit unions for years. I thought they weren't a "real" bank. But after trying and loving a few of them I am definitely a convert. I have had BECU accounts and credit card for about 4 years. You just need to be a resident of Washington to qualify. They gave me a really great rate on the credit card and if I pay a couple days late they don't charge a fee as long as I don't make a habit of it. BECU is all over Seattle and is part of a co-op system that allows you to use other credit unions' services (not just atms, but actual face-to-face banking) all over the country. Additionally, once you are a member, you remain a member until you close your accounts, even if you move out of state! They have online banking thats really easy to use and great customer service. Big name banks are like the Walmart of the financial industry. They're just trying to get all the money they can from their customers. At a credit union , you are a member, not a customer. It seems like a negligible difference but as a result they aren't trying to screw you for every last dime.

I second This American Life, Radiolab & TBTL. A few others that are great: Stuff You Should Know, All Songs Considered, A.V. Talk (from the A.V. Club) and NPR does some great live concerts. All these are free.

I just moved from Seattle to the east coast (for similar reasons to you). My boyfriend and I shipped 34 (!) boxes via the good old US Postal Service. If you don't mind waiting 2 weeks for your stuff to arrive, the rates aren't that bad. We probably paid about $300 for all of it. We insured everything, shipped media rate and wrapped our breakables carefully. Nothing was lost and only 1 picture frame and a couple cd cases were broken.

Sell everything you can part with on Craigslist and use the money to pay for shipping costs. Unless you have lots of cash it's best to part with the replaceable items before a move like that. Travel with the few items you absolutely cannot lose and good luck!

Lush, Westlake Center. Also, lush.com.

A mustache by itself is creepy. I do love a good beard though. Just my personal opinion. I'm sure there are ladies out there who wouldn't mind just a mustache but they are probably few and far between.

Not really. In my experience the bites are smaller, little red dots. They tend to show up in groups or lines all close together. At least for me, the itch was more painful than mosquito bites. I ended up with bed bugs in apartment back in Cambridge, MA about 7 years ago. My stupid roommate brought in a couch in that he found on the street.

-New Zealand. It's only about the size of California but with a population of just over 4 million. A wide variety of well preserved nature - hot springs, beaches, lakes, mountains, etc. It's really easy to get around by car even if you are not familiar with it, as long as you don't mind driving on the left.

-Great Barrier Reef! Gorgeous scenery and wildlife.

-Key West, the color of the water is ridiculously blue.

Maybe its obvious, or at least old fashioned, but coupons can save a lot of money. I buy the Sunday paper almost every week. As long as you stick to things you normally buy anyway and if you can combine them with sales at the store that's even better.

Maybe it's too obvious, but The Room. Escape From New York and The Thing are great, too.

There are a few parking companies in town - Republic, U Park, Diamond, Imperial - that rent parking spaces in lots and garages. Most of them are not going to be less than $100 or so a month.