Activities on rainy days?? (Portland, Eugene: schools, college, live in)

[ladybuggk]

I live in southern california. The rainy days are very low in number. When it rains, we mostly stay in. Occasionally the kids will run around in it but with the intention of coming in and drying off soon after.

What do the kids do in Oregon when it rains? Since there's so much more rain there, I would imagine that it's just a different way of looking at rainy days. What is the perspective? Do kids just go out and play in the rain with the proper gear (that obviously Oregon families are prepared with)? Do hikers take hikes in the rain and walkers take walks, etc? Do people work on their gardens in the rain? Do most just ignore it and go in with life as usual? Or do families end up just planning on spending a lot more time indoors?

This might sound like a really silly, stupid question to some, but I'm serious about it. How do people in Oregon respond to the rain since it's such a part of everyday life?

Thanks so much for your responses.

[juggler]

Many people continue to do their usual activities during western Oregon winters. Hikers, bikers and walkers continue to operate in the rain, though not in the numbers you see during the summer. One thing to realize however, is that the "rain" here is usually very light, more of a heavy drizzle; nothing compared to the heavy duty gully washers you no doubt experienced in southern CA and I experienced in TX.

[malachai23]

I grew up in Portland and I never paid any attention to the rain. In fact, the first time I bought an umbrella was after I graduated from college and had to walk to job interviews (and not arrive looking like a drowned rat).

I never knew that there were people in other places that made plans around the weather until I moved out of state. It still cracks me up when people where I live now (Ohio) cancel their plans when the weatherman calls for rain. Too funny. It's just rain!!

[Silverfall]

Kids play in the rain. People take walks in the rain, ride bikes in the rain, hike in the rain. In fact I think some of the coolest hiking is in the spring when it rains because the waterfalls are gushing.

You get a really good coat with a hood and you do what your normally do. People who like Oregon learn to embrace the rain.

[mamh]

I garden in the rain, just bought some new rain gear to wear on bad days in the garden ..
Its like the others said its business as usual...
Love it..

[mamh]

Me again, I drive by several schools and they have big covered area's with tables ect so the kids can be outside when it rains..
Come visit us on rainy day and see what we do you'll enjoy it....

[Hawk J]

Sometimes i go fishin'. My boat has a canopy. When it's cold i might wear my chest waders, or hip waders & Columbia fowl weather jacket. Feltsoled boots or Wolverine boots, good socks keep my feeties warm...

I have a handwarmer & a catalytic heater.

I cut firewood too.



when in doubt
catch u a trout

or a biggun lunker bass

[Oregonbeachlover]

I laughed when I read these posts. When we moved to the coast, I realized I had an umbrella which I have never used. Growing up in California, when it rained, we wore shoe covers, hats, umbrellas, gloves, etc. Here, I just throw on the hood of my jacket and embrace it. It is rarely too cold to not be outside. Now, in the valley, my least favorite thing, which I never did learn to deal with, was the freezing rain. Other than that, it is business as usual.

[ladybuggk]

Oregonbeachlover, when you refer to the valley, what area is that specifically?

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by ladybuggk

Oregonbeachlover, when you refer to the valley, what area is that specifically?

She is referring from Portland to Eugene. That is the Willamette Valley area and we get ice storms typically once a year. We stay inside for those.