There is a lot I could write about Seattle, my hometown, but also one of, if not the, fastest growing cities in the United States right now. Being away from the city for the first nine months of my college career and then coming back over the summer has allowed me to gain a new sense of appreciation for the city that is my home base, but this time also gave me a new perspective on the city’s rapid rate of growth.

These reflections come at a time in my life where I was beginning to think about where I want to live on my own after I graduate from college. As a nagging feeling develops within me to move back to the city that has become intertwined with my DNA, there are the constant news headlines of our city’s affordability crisis. Even the young professionals that are being drawn into our city by the profitable technology industry are having a hard time supporting themselves due to the overall high cost of living.

The topic of “invisible poor” is just as prevalent as the debate over the epidemic of individuals experiencing homelessness when you listen to the conversations being had by the final two mayoral candidates who stood out in a field of 21. I have a fear of becoming the invisible poor if I choose to move back to Seattle after graduation. I fear not being able to find an affordable place to live because my passions do not lie within the bubble of technology where the demand for good workers in high paying jobs is so high.

My passions lie within the realm of helping people, and while there are certainly a great number of people to help, and the city of Seattle has a rich philanthropic infrastructure, I still have to support myself and be able to live a life of decent means.

What gives me confidence though, and what pulls at my heart strings to move back, is that for the most part, Seattle remains in the hands of the long-time locals. After all, the city is growing, not shrinking, or staying steady despite the large quantities of people moving in, so something must be going right to have the retention rates we do.

The people who are cramming our highways and roads with their cars, making commutes longer, are embracing what our region has to offer. Our surroundings of having water, mountains, lush forests, unique neighborhoods (that are not suburbs), the dynamic food scene, a variety of arts, good coffee, all with a healthy serving of spunk is what gives Seattle it’s unique culture. To see the vibrancy of the city, remain very much intact is something that gives me a large dose of hope for the city’s future.

While the skyline may be altered with looming, shining new apartment buildings and numerous cranes pierce the skyline indicating the pending arrival of more to come, on the streets you can look around to observe the newcomers who thrive on the quirky energy the city is fueled by. Techie transplants to the area are setting down new roots in the nature that lies on the doorstep of the city limits, hopefully encouraging those tech savvy millennials to put down their devices for a while.

To be able to come home to a city whose growth is exponential and still feel at home is a wonderful thing. So I say to the newcomers, “Welcome to my home, let me show you around, but please keep a piece of the city reserved for me when I am ready to come back.”