Love It
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5/11/2011
Portland is quite an eclectic, diverse city. It seems to be stigmatized by people as a very liberal place, but in my opinion it reminds me of any big city. You have pockets of liberalism and you have areas that are just normal, everyday people. What's great about Portland is the culture and environment is somewhat comparable to a major metropolis, but the size is smaller and the cost of living lower. The restaurant scene in itself is spectacular, maybe one of the best in the country. The outdoor scene is awesome. There are lots of big parks, the river front is beautiful, and mountains and beaches for hiking only an hour or so away. The scenery on a sunny day makes this potentially the most beautiful place in the country. Also, Portland bucks the trend of flaky West Coast sports fans. Just go to a Trail Blazers game and see for yourself. These might be the most dedicated basketball fans in the country. The pub scene is also great with a wide variety of local breweries. The city takes pride in locally based shops and businesses. People are generally friendly, unique and seem to possess a confident sense of individualism and intelligence. It doesn't come off elitist like it can in places like San Francisco or Seattle. The public transportation system is remarkable and way ahead of some major metro cities (Dallas, L.A., etc.) There are negatives. If you hate rain, you won't like it here. I don't get people that move here and complain about the rain. Do your research. If you want sunshine year round, go to California, Texas, Arizona or Florida. As a former resident of SoCal, I'll take Portland summers over the year round SoCal climate, but that's just me. Also, the economy isn't as strong or diverse as places like Seattle, San Francisco, L.A., etc. It's a little more challenging to find a job here and career opportunities just aren't as numerous as some other places. However, taking all these things into account, this is by far my favorite place that I've lived in. I grew up in the Midwest and spent a few years in SoCal. I'm proud to call Portland Oregon my home.
Adam | ,