The Seattle Freeze and Bellingham Curse

Here's what I gather:  A person has to have prerequisites to have friends in this area:

1:  Must have college degree
2:  Must be at least Avi level 1 certified
3:  Must have at least 3 years experience climbing
4:  Must have maximum physical fitness to not slow down the group
5:  Must be able to hold a one hour conversation without silence or stuttering
6:  Must own a home by the age of 30
7:  Must be married before 35 years of age.

Shall I continue?
8:  Born to a rich family who can pay for their college and then by them a $400,000 condo while they pursue college and can hook up with any girl they wanted.

You sound more awkwardly social than most but I assume that you don't have a college degree based on #1 above so you probably aren't an electrical engineer...

From your own list:
1. Check, college degree done.
2. Check, avi 1 cert, 2x with firsthand avi experience too.
3. I only have 2 years of climbing experience and the last couple of months have been riddled with soccer related injuries.
4. Sometimes I'm the fastest in the group but that's not common because I don't like to go out solo...
5. Nada, can't hold a conversation for the life of me unless I'm boring someone to death with a detailed explanation of suck/squish/bang/blow.
6. I don't own my own home but I have a down payment in the bank and just bought a new car. I'd rather be more mobile and able to move back to Europe if I wanted to.
7. I have 3 years left to hit that mark.
8. Seriously? My parents helped me get through school but my first year I was paying $150/mo in rent and $50 in food.

So I've got 2 of your 8 but in another year I should be able to get some friends once I finish my climbing apprenticeship. There are a couple of items on the list that I'll never get to so I won't worry about them. There are a couple that I can improve so I'll try to move them up my list of priorities (fitness > beer?).

I think that if you haven't kissed anyone by 30 then you really do have some social issues that aren't location specific but maybe it's a good sign that you should focus more time on what you are passionate about. Get out in the mountains, educate yourself on the dangers of the NW snowpack, spend more time cragging or climbing at the gym. If that doesn't do it then try what one of my friends does: compliment every attractive woman walking by on whatever stands out the most, great shoes, giant purses, purple eyelashes, whatever they're showing off. Prepare to get slapped, maybe get some false leads on dates, take one home, get kissed. At least you'll have some good stories to get you through the hour of conversation that way.

If you chose your logon name as a slang term that makes fun of people born with Aspergers then yes, you suck as a person. But don't take my word for it, I only qualify for the first 7 criteria.

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Seattle%20Freeze

I think this is what the OP is getting at. I would like to see a trip report from him/her. This is an interesting thread for a first time posting on ski/board touring website.

Take heart Aspieski, even the Edmonds 'Temperature Taker Dude' managed to find a place for himself here.

I love it!

1:  Must have college degree
2:  Must be at least Avi level 1 certified
3:  Must have at least 3 years experience climbing
4:  Must have maximum physical fitness to not slow down the group
5:  Must be able to hold a one hour conversation without silence or stuttering
6:  Must own a home by the age of 30
7:  Must be married before 35 years of age.

I keep saying to MY kids, IF you stay focused and work hard, these things are ALL attainable.

(everything but the condo )

I have always blamed my lack of friends on my impatient, self-centered, socially tactless attitude.  Apparently it has been someone else's fault this whole time.

Actually, I have met great people almost everytime I have used the partners wanted section.  Some have turned into friends and regular partners.  I only feel limited in the depth and breadth of my ski relationships due to my own issues.  My own personality being the most important but also affected by wife, kid, and house.

My perspective on "the list"

1) My wife and virtually all of my friends have degrees while I do not - fail
2) Avi 1 certified - pass
3) Technically I pass this one but much of my experience is indoor or sport and my outdoor trad climbing has been spread over time with no more than 4 to 5 times in any single year.  As a dedicated climber? - fail
4) I don't want to wait for you but you better not ditch me either - fail
(actually I find this to be mostly a nonissue in the BC, route choice and slope angle might be a better qualification)
5) Friends don't keep yammering when you want them to shut up - fail
6) ? - fail
7) Assuming we are talking marriage, not girlfriend/kiss, I missed by 2 years - fail

8 ) No-one I know - fail


If you are trying to join the Inner Circle, you probably should not be seen skiing with me

Aspie - Thanks for posting this, I enjoyed it for purely entertainment reasons.  On the serious side, Seattle is more impersonal than it used to be.  I find the BC community to be different than the area as a whole because the people seem more open and welcoming to anyone regardless of background or ability.  If you are serious about making ski friends I can highly recommend the partners wanted section.  Placing your own post will probably get the best results.