What's up with the haters? This is a GREAT place t
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4/23/2011
I moved to Portland from the Midwest about six years ago and have never looked back. This city offers a wide range of opportunities regardless of your background and what stage of life you are in. The haters who are complaining about not meeting people and running into the wrong crowd simply don't know where to look. I mean, of course you're going to be freaked out if you hang out in some parts of Southeast Portland 24/7, but there is more to Portland than just hippies and potheads. Every city has its drawbacks.
Looking to start a family or move a young family elsewhere? The suburbs are very affluent, the school systems there are great, and the neighborhoods are very safe and comfortable. You are an hour from the coast and an hour from the mountains, so there are many options on what to do on the weekends.
Young and/or single? The city life is great for a mid-sized major city like Portland. From the Pearl District to the Hawthorne District and everywhere in between, the city offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, clubs, and meeting places. The Waterfront is vibrant on spring and summer weekends. Just today I was at the Beer and Wine festival there and it was a great day, 75 and sunny in April and a great environment all around.
Looking to retire? This is one of the most peaceful places in the country. Many neighborhoods in Portland and in the neighboring suburbs provide ideal environments for retirement. Peaceful areas to live, a plethora of golf courses, and again very close proximity to the coast.
Compared to other major cities, the crime here is very very low. Yeah there are homeless people and bums on street corners but they're annoying at best, not criminals. The crime rate here is nowhere close to many other major cities.
Also, the weather could be better, as it is cloudy and rainy throughout the winter. But it does not snow here as often as it does in say the Midwest or East Coast. Plus, the Oregon summers are GORGEOUS and there is no shortage of things to do here in the spring/summer.
There's a reason that many publications list Portland as one of the best places to live. The ONLY negatives that I can think of that can drive someone to move away are 1) the dreary weather in the winter and 2) the lack of a big city feel. If that's your shtick, then so be it. But I don't think that should be enough to shy away from everything Portland has to offer.
Amar | Aloha, OR