Reviews & Comments
Vancouver, WA
The gloom will make you literally sick -
3/20/2018Well. I moved here from southern California about 3 years ago (yes, there are a lot like me). I was looking to get away from the constant heat and sun, which I sure as hell did. I was warned by EVERYONE about the rain, which I don't mind at all, but I didn't heed warnings about gloom. The sun comes out less than half the year, and I'm not exaggerating. The lack of vitamin D has really affected my health. I am constantly depressed, my anxiety is extra high, I have permanent fatigue, I get sick a lot...my eyesight has suffered greatly from living here, because it's so dark out all the time, and sungazing is a rare and precious happening.
It's also crowded as s**t here now. I wanted to escape the big city vibe of socal, but it seems everyone and their mother had the same idea. Traffic is terrible, rent and housing prices are skyrocketing, the job market is insanely cutthroat. Also, employers here very often treat workers like garbage. I have been through 10 jobs since moving here. 10 jobs in 3 years!!!! Employers are allowed to treat you like crap without any legal repercussions, plus they're allowed to fire you without reason. The amount of abuse I've dealt with in jobs here has been out of this world.
Of course, the place isn't all bad. It is gorgeous here. Like, really seriously green and beautiful. Great scenery, loads of hiking spots, botanical gardens. It is truly built for the outdoorsy type... If you can find parking and don't mind hiking with a bunch of strangers. The hikers are friendly, they say hello, pretty much everyone here has a dog. Your hike will never be private or quiet, but you might make a friend.
You also have to pay to park pretty much anywhere in the area. Parks, hiking spots, downtown, etc. I would say annually, I spend $200 or so on parking fees.
Washington does boast the highest minimum wage state in the country, so you are guaranteed to make $11.50+, but you are a server or bartender, you will greatly struggle to find work here. Everyone in the area fights tooth and nail for 10-15 hours a week at a restaurant. Most jobs here are part time, to accommodate for the insane influx of people. Too many people, not enough jobs. So while the unemployment rate isn't very high, I would say most people are probably underemployed. Employers keep hours low to avoid giving benefits. Most people I know here have at least 2 or 3 jobs.
The homeless problem is growing, too, with the rapid increase in rent prices. You can't drive more than a mile in the city without seeing at least one person begging for money, food, cigarettes, pot, etc.
We're right next to Portland, which is probably to blame for the traffic, crowding, and homeless epidemic. But it also has its benefits. Powell's is the most impressive bookstore I've ever seen (and probably ever will see) in my life. It's hard not to get lost in there for hours. They really have everything.
There are also quite a few small businesses in Portland, which I appreciate. Portland also has a ton of available jobs, but the commute from Vancouver to Portland can often take 2 hours because of traffic. I find Portland people are also quite full of themselves. Probably because they're depressed from lack of sunlight.
Oh, also. Starting a business here is hard. The increase in cost of living has really emptied people's pockets, and most people can only afford to buy necessities now. If you're trying to sell anything other than cheap food, good luck.
So, in summary:
The good -
High minimum wage, beautiful scenery, plenty of hiking, Portland's culture (if you're willing to bare the traffic to get there), lots of dogs/dog friendly places, healthcare is decent.
The bad-
Crowding, traffic, expensive, no sunshine, people are grumpy all year except in summer, parking is hard to find and when you do find it, it costs to park, the job market is cutthroat, full time jobs are very hard to come by, very hard to garden here without a greenhouse, employers are often abusive or neglectful, self employment/entrepreneurship/starting a business is nearly impossible, the gloom is incredibly depressing, you have to work all the time to afford to live here and you probably won't have time for a social life or recreation.