Questions from an East Coast visitor

I just visited Seattle for the first time last week and am contemplating moving there. I have some questions.

1. What do you guys do in the winter months when it’s dark for so long? This was something I couldn’t really wrap my head around. My friend told me it’s dark for like 16 hours a day. Overcast in the winter is fine. I’m used to that. But the darkness seems soul crushing. Comments from transplants would be really helpful here.

2. How do you guys get around? I stayed in downtown and had a rental car and I had a really hard time finding parking when I went to visit Fremont, Ballard and Capitol Hill. The buses and trams are beholden to traffic and Lime bikes are fun but I can’t imagine using them when it’s raining.

3. Is there pressure to do all your favorite outdoor activities in the summer because the shoulder seasons are short? The city has an unbeatable outdoor culture but I couldn’t help but feel like it’s only pleasant to be outdoors between June and September. I could be wrong though.

4. Is it easy to have weeknight activities in different parts of the city? For instance, if you live in Ballard and work a 9-5, is it feasible to go to Capitol Hill for a few hours after work and then go home? I felt like the traffic might be prohibitive but since I was on vacation I couldn’t get a good sense of how my routine would be.

Thanks all.