UW,
I currently live in the SEA area, but did not grow up here. One of the reasons that WN is more attractive to me is the varied domiciles. While I love the NW, i dont know if we want to live here forever. Both our families are near a WN base. Plus, we have found that we like to move around every few years, WN gives me the ability to be near bases and live around the country.
Just for the record, I am less concerned with what the company will think about me leaving as I am about how my desicion will affect the people who wrote me letters. I know the company would not think twice about furloughing or cutting pay (as has been illustrated), but friends of mine put their name behind me, I dont want to screw them.