Life in NorthWest

[bravelude]

Figured this to be a better place to post.  How's life like up here like in Seattle, Portland, or Washington as a whole?  Does the weather vary too much from city to city or is it notoriously wet and gloomy more often then not?

What about jobs, commute, communities and life in general?  Been to Seattle a few times and a younger sibling might go school here.