Portland or Tucson. 20 more days to make a decision! (college, to live)
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I wanted to mention to you that my husband, from whom I am separated but we are very good friends, moved to Portland to be near me, which in our case was not objectionable, and he is a sun-lover from the word go; 99 degrees in the shade is his kind of weather. We were considering moving to Tucson ourselves a few years back, but because of water shortage problems there and my aversion to heat, we changed our minds.
My point is, I was sure he would hate Portland, with his love of sunshine and fear of SAD, but he was pleasantly surprised that he enjoys the weather here very much, and doesn't find that the greyness gets him down. The greyness is not constant, after all. There's just greyness and sometimes rain (usually misty) for some part of most days from October to May.
I know this is an awfully difficult decision for you to make, but unless baking in the desert is your cup of tea, I would certainly choose Portland. And not meaning to be a snob, but I would be very repelled by a city of people who "brag" about not liking to read. Then again, it's only 3 years, but it would be a jail sentence to me regardless of the job. Just IMHO.
Whatever you decide, please keep us posted on how it's going for you, and best wishes.
I wanted to mention to you that my husband, from whom I am separated but we are very good friends, moved to Portland to be near me, which in our case was not objectionable, and he is a sun-lover from the word go; 99 degrees in the shade is his kind of weather. We were considering moving to Tucson ourselves a few years back, but because of water shortage problems there and my aversion to heat, we changed our minds.
My point is, I was sure he would hate Portland, with his love of sunshine and fear of SAD, but he was pleasantly surprised that he enjoys the weather here very much, and doesn't find that the greyness gets him down. The greyness is not constant, after all. There's just greyness and sometimes rain (usually misty) for some part of most days from October to May.
I know this is an awfully difficult decision for you to make, but unless baking in the desert is your cup of tea, I would certainly choose Portland. And not meaning to be a snob, but I would be very repelled by a city of people who "brag" about not liking to read. Then again, it's only 3 years, but it would be a jail sentence to me regardless of the job. Just IMHO.
Whatever you decide, please keep us posted on how it's going for you, and best wishes.
Thanks anne! That was really nice of you to share! So I guess you were in the same situation...kind of....where you and your husband are still friends? Or did you split up after moving to Portland? I will need to PM you to figure out how you ever managed that...lol...being friends with an ex is tough...lots of hurt feelings.
8 months of dreariness is quite a bit to handle. I did however find it pretty refreshing when I was up there interviewing.
And I think that 3 years would not be too much of a "jail sentence" for me. The added prospect of career progression also makes me want to consider Tucson more. I could hop up to PDX or Seattle a few times a year if I wanted to, I think.
Portland and Seattle have always been on my radar and if I move after three years in Tucson (if I move there..lol), I think I will look to the PNW for further training. I could also picture myself liking SD...pretty mild weather with some lush features also. But that is for future decisions/threads.
Has anyone had to make a decision like this with so many variables? Career, exs/relationships, geography, weather, etc. ? Anyone moved out of Portland and regretted it, only to high tail it back to the lush land that is Oregon? I think anne and Ryant are Portland fans...lol
Thanks again for all the advice/perspecitves. But I am keeping in mind a really important quote:
"Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth." ~Mary Schmich
I will need to PM you to figure out how you ever managed that...lol...being friends with an ex is tough...lots of hurt feelings.
It's not, just have to be cool. You can't spill your heart out every time.
I moved from Portland once. I thought maybe DC would be a neat experience too as I'd never been there. I was wrong, I was wrong about Chicago too. On the way back out here I stopped my to see my ex wife(of 10 years living together). We went out shopping and spent the day together as if nothing ever happend.. it was nice.
No love PHXtoPDX? Do you think you would have felt differently if you lived in Tucson rather than PHX? I was thinking about the whole SAD issue also. I am fairly worried about that....but also worried about the heat in Tucson.
I will be inside the hospital working most of the time, so I feel as though the weather is not too big of a deal for the most part....perhaps I could handle the extremes. But like the above poster, maybe sun all the time is a better transition than cloudy and dreary all the time. It would be nice to work all day, come out to a nice warm setting sun and go home to BBQ. In Portland I see myself getting out of work and bundling up to sit in front of the fire (which would be nice also).
I did live 5 of those 23 years in Tucson. Some things I liked a LOT better than Phoenix. I found the people to be much friendlier than in PHX, for instance. Being a smaller city, it was also considerably more laid back. It the one part of the state that actually leans liberal (I'd say it is like the Austin of AZ). It seemed like the mom & pop stores and hole in the wall restaurants hadn't been mostly driven out by big chains yet either. There are still some very unique establishments that I find myself wishing I could go back to once in a while.
That being said, the general culture in the state as a whole just wasn't a good match for me. Too much suburban sprawl, and general "keeping up with the joneses" materialism. I found it difficult to find people with a more "live and let live" attitude. I also got very tired of the heat and constant sunshine after a while. It is honestly like being in an oven for 6+ months out of the year. Yeah, as they say, "it is a dry heat," but it is still not my cup of tea.
In southern/central AZ during the summer months, you'll find yourself going from the A/C in your home to the A/C in your car to the A/C at your destination on a regular basis. Not an ideal way to live, but in my experience, it doesn't have the same emotional impact that SAD does. It isn't just the gray skies that does it. It is the combination of those, plus the damp, cold, and extremely short days. You may not realize it, but Portland is further north than Minneapolis. The days get SHORT here in the winter! Not something to be taking lightly, considering it will affect about half your year.
Anyway, I hope this gives you a better insight into my perspective. I think 3 years is a short time, and you'd be better served using the time to reach your career goals. If, as you say, they will be easier to attain in Tucson, then head there, even if it is ultimately just a pit stop on the way to your ideal city.
Your experience with people is 90%+ a function of who you are and how you treat them.
With the right attitude you can make friends in both cities or with the wrong attitude you can never make friends.
With good careers being such an "endangered species" in this country I would give this factor a huge amount of weight in your analysis.
You're correct to a point. I have lived all over the country(including Portland) and while people in Portland are polite and friendly out in public, it is not an easy place to make friends.
And it is true because too many people have the same experience.
Thanks so much! Please don't restrain yourself. Tell me about your experience moving with someone to the PNW. I will also PM you if you don't want to share the story in the forum. My ex doesn't like the possibility of me moving to PDX, but I have to look out for my career and not let her decide where I go to residency. It is a city of 2 million people. I doubt I will run into her. I am already slowly working her out of my system and I have 4 more months before moving (but have to make up my mind soon to "rank" job offers. I hope to get over her by then and move on with my life and look out for my own.
Portland sounds incredibly attractive to me due to the exact reasons you mentioned above: bigger, younger, more upscale, and more educated populace. But unfortunately I have to look out for my career also.
I've had many times in my life where I had to make the decision on where to move with many conflicting variables like you are. Some moves worked out better than others... I think the key (with 20/20 hindsight!) is that you need to clarify your intention first. What do you want? Why are you moving? Get a priority list ranked most important to least and then look at all the data and opinions you've amassed. It may fall into place to reveal a clear choice. I've had some regrets about moving to PDX, but the primary reasons I decided to are still very true and because of that the downsides are okay. I often write about how I struggle with SAD though - it is difficult, my choice was between here and a few very undesirable choices. If you believe you may have a tendency to have SAD, it's okay to move here but take it very seriously and strike preemptively with extra outdoor exercise and light therapy starting after the autumnal equinox. Don't wait for it to kick your ass or along about late October you'll discover yourself nonfunctional.
About the ex situation, best not for me to open that file but I'll just say it is not a positive in moving to a new city. Not at all - especially if you are still hurting over it. People who were once close often move in similar social circles, like similar stores, and enjoy the same type of neighborhoods and you may find in this huge city you might run into her more than you think you will. In a city of 2 million the odds are not 1 in 2 million that you'll encounter her. But only you can know how much that matters compares to all the other factors you are considering. Good luck!
I've had many times in my life where I had to make the decision on where to move with many conflicting variables like you are. Some moves worked out better than others... I think the key (with 20/20 hindsight!) is that you need to clarify your intention first. What do you want? Why are you moving? Get a priority list ranked most important to least and then look at all the data and opinions you've amassed. It may fall into place to reveal a clear choice. I've had some regrets about moving to PDX, but the primary reasons I decided to are still very true and because of that the downsides are okay. I often write about how I struggle with SAD though - it is difficult, my choice was between here and a few very undesirable choices. If you believe you may have a tendency to have SAD, it's okay to move here but take it very seriously and strike preemptively with extra outdoor exercise and light therapy starting after the autumnal equinox. Don't wait for it to kick your ass or along about late October you'll discover yourself nonfunctional.
About the ex situation, best not for me to open that file but I'll just say it is not a positive in moving to a new city. Not at all - especially if you are still hurting over it. People who were once close often move in similar social circles, like similar stores, and enjoy the same type of neighborhoods and you may find in this huge city you might run into her more than you think you will. In a city of 2 million the odds are not 1 in 2 million that you'll encounter her. But only you can know how much that matters compares to all the other factors you are considering. Good luck!
Thanks for the thoughts mate. I have been making many charts. The reason I would be moving to PDX would be for a residency program. I really liked Providence Portland hospital. Anyone been there? Have any experiences?
If I moved to TUS, I would be also moving for residency/training program. It is a little better than the one in PDX and will open more doors for me in the future. However, I think that TUS doesn't offer as many cultural opportunities.
With my above mentioned schedule of just a day off a week, I think I might have to opt for the not as progressed TUS over PDX. I saw lots of places that I could hang out in TUS. But as mentioned, I think PDX has more places/museums/etc. to hang out in.
I was thinking that the city was 2 million people and was thinking that I probably wouldn't run into her. Where would I run into her? I am going to be working at Providence and she will be working at Legacy Emanuel. If I do end up in PDX, I will be not only working my residency but also will be doing some research at OHSU. With U of A in Tucson, I could do my residency and laboratory research at the same institution!!
Anyone else have any thoughts? I really do appreciate it as I have about 10 more days to decide!!!
you are moving for residency not for a career. I think most answers here are towards someone making a full career move. In ur case u r still a student this is a graduate program, yes even residency or fellowship.
When u r ready to settle down afterwards, it would be more appropriate to have this thread.
oh and if u want my opinion where to finish ur training: u of A. It's a great school. No matter where it's located!!
But portland by far the better city. But you are looking to become an excellent doctor. Vacation in portland, then move here and share ur excellent training from u of A when done. Sound good?
you are moving for residency not for a career. I think most answers here are towards someone making a full career move. In ur case u r still a student this is a graduate program, yes even residency or fellowship.
When u r ready to settle down afterwards, it would be more appropriate to have this thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by isjjj1
oh and if u want my opinion where to finish ur training: u of A. It's a great school. No matter where it's located!!
But portland by far the better city. But you are looking to become an excellent doctor. Vacation in portland, then move here and share ur excellent training from u of A when done. Sound good?
Thanks for the opinions isjjj1. I don't think the thread is a joke. I know that I mentioned I will be doing my residency and it isn't necessarily a "career move" but a lot of people tend to settle down wherever they are doing their residency. I will be going to either Tucson or Portland with an open mind but not sure if either place will be somewhere I want to live forever...or settle down at least. I need to experience the places before I can choose to settle down....hence residency training.
Yes, I think PDX is a better city too. That is why I am having such a hard decision to make. I am not sure if I will feel like 3 years is a long time...what are your thoughts? Anyone?
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