Oregon Rainy Season (Portland, Sherwood: house, live in, dangerous)

[wallace]

Hello,

My husband and I currently live in Chicago. We were not raised in Chicago, and our experience since moving there has been that the weather really impacts social interaction during the winter months. People don't go outside and don't see their neighbors for weeks/months at a time. Day-to-day life is really impacted for about 6 months a year.

We have been reading about Portland's rainy season on this forum and elsewhere on the internet, and we are concerned about the same phenomenon. My guess is that whether someone will suffer from SAD and lesser disorders caused by the rain/gray depends on his/her individual makeup (i.e. the same weather will effect two people differently). Our question is slightly different: how does the rain impact the community? Do people stay inside, not see neighbors, etc. for long periods of time? Any insights are appreciated. Thanks.

[oldtintype]

I can't speak for anyone else but we go out just as much in winter. And for people with kids there are tons of indoor parks. We have great book stores and libraries and there's always something to do/places to go, it just might shift more indoors a bit.

[nancy thereader]

I don't think that there is that bitter icy cold that is so demoralizing in the northeast and midwest. Also, no snow

[oldtintype]

Well, when it does snow here no one can function and everything shuts down. So for a few days per year (if that) everyone is pretty much house bound because no one can get out of their driveway (no snow plows) so occasionally it happens but nothing like the NE or midwest. And when it snows here it's really fun because it rarely happens.

[nancy thereader]

Your replies are always so thoughtful & insightful, Oldtintype. I am so glad you are on this forum because you have so many ideas and so much information.

[lilypad]

If you stayed indoors in Portland whenever there was rain, you would get terribly depressed and isolated. It doesn't seem to bother the true Portlanders and Oregonians, they love it! So I tried to do the same, not let it keep me as a shut in. The more inclement weather, snow or ice, I would not venture out, as I don't think they know how to drive in that weather, too dangerous for me anyway. But personally was hard for me year in and year out to deal with so much rain and cloudy weather. I was raised in a place where the sun shined every day (Texas), so came back to it. But there are plenty of places which sell the SAD lights if you find you need them.

[Lillietta]

Your replies are always so thoughtful & insightful, Oldtintype. I am so glad you are on this forum


Most definitely!

[oldtintype]

Thanks! I know I'm probably not always helpful but we all have to have our opinions about stuff!

[sandia66]

Hi~ While it is rainy here, it's overall a very tolerable climate and I think you'll adapt fine. Of all the places I've lived, people here are the least shut-in of any place I've seen- webfoots here just grab the umbrellas and get outside and do pretty much the same stuff we would if it weren't raining. So... come on over!! I think you'll love it and we can always use another puddle stomper~ lol. Bring your winter wear for the coldest snaps and find you a nice Columbia Sportswear hooded rain jacket w/ fleece for keeping dry and staving off the chill on the rest of the drizzly days and you'll be set (as far as the white stuff, here in Sherwood we usually get our snow around Christmas for just a week or two). I've noticed during February, you get alot more clear days during that month so get a bit of a break from the rain- why this is, I'm not sure. I'm a Florida transplant and it took me a little while to adjust to the rain & lack of sunshiny days. I actually did experience sad at first and I found the key was not getting into the mindset of staying indoors when it's rainy and getting outside at least a little bit each day. Hope this helps... if you decide to make the move, I send a pre-emptive welcome!

[nancy thereader]

Thanks! I know I'm probably not always helpful but we all have to have our opinions about stuff!

No, oldtintype. You really are helpful. Perhaps because you are not a native Portlandiner (would that be the term?). You understand what it is like to move to a brand new place. I always enjoy your posts.