Why are few Illinoisians attracted to the Pacific NW? (Chicago: environment, housing)

[Quentin Eistrup]

As a follow-up to the AZ thread...

I'm actually sorta relieved that this is the case, since my chances of encountering them (and their lame-ass Bears gear) in Cascadia are drastically lowered.

But how come?

Is it the fact that much of WA/OR is unaffordable compared to IL relative to housing/shopping? (Didn't stop the people of MN...)

Is it the secularity of Seattle/Portland, in contrast to Chicagoland's faithful?

Or is it just the dearth of snow? XD

[rgb123]

Its the rain.....the last thing most of us crave is more gray skies! That and probably because few people are familiar with that area as it is just so drastically different from here...

people end up in florida, arizona, colorodo, california....because they are more familiar (and sunnier...)

[via chicago]

The main reason most midwesterners cite for moving is weather, so i doubt the pacific NW offers any positive alternative.

Personally, if i were going to move somewhere other than Chicago, it would be rural New Mexico, or Maine.

[mdz]

I would guess weather and the fact that it's also a long, long way away.

[tcs1366]

its funny -- my mohter moved to AZ for the weather ... she gets SADD in the winter
and my sister wants to move to OR for the weather... she loves cloudy, rainy days.
My father also loves the weather of the Pac NW .... all that rain and cloudy days.

[Mr Bigman]

Its always the weather. Can't humans find something else to wurry about than the weather? Jeeze get a life already. weather weather weather.

[ahava]

Originally Posted by Mr Bigman

Its always the weather. Can't humans find something else to wurry about than the weather? Jeeze get a life already. weather weather weather.

Interesting you would say this when your first post on this forum was about Chicago's weather...

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Mr Bigman

Its always the weather. Can't humans find something else to wurry about than the weather? Jeeze get a life already. weather weather weather.

Guess what: weather matters. Don't believe me, move to Barrow AK for a while.

[Tex?Il?]

Although the closest I've been to the Pacific NW is the SF Bay area, I LOVE the landscape around there. There is just so much world class natural wonders so close to major population centers like Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco. The Redwoods, the Coastline, Olympic, the Cascades, are all amazing.

So I'd be attracted to the outdoor opportunities and the general environmental awareness does seem to be greater. Although it seems like some around those places might take it a bit far though.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Quentin Eistrup

As a follow-up to the AZ thread...

I'm actually sorta relieved that this is the case, since my chances of encountering them (and their lame-ass Bears gear) in Cascadia are drastically lowered

For me it would be lack of 4 seasons and horribly gray winters that keeps me away from the Pac NW. The scenery is lovely, but thats about it. If I absolutely HAD to move there, I would end up in Seattle, but would probably still be miserable after a short while.

And if you think the Bears have "lame-ass" gear, Id hate to see what you think of your Mariners and Seahawks gear. PUKE! Call me when the Seahawks and Mariners have 1/10th the history, pride and tradition that the Bears, Cubs, Sox have.