Hang in there, it can be hard but ultimately rewarding...especially moving up here. My advice: don't overlook the surrounding 'cities'. I live in Kent, south of Seattle, and adore it! Tukwilla is also a very nice place (between us and Seattle), as is Renton in most areas. And these places tend to be much more affordable than the 'Big City' while giving plenty of commute options, including the Sounder train, for getting into Seattle proper. And the suburbs are a bit more accepting of animals.