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I've been here for 3 years now and the issue is, consistency. You can ask next door neighbors how they like it here, and probably they will have different opinions. I'm not too interested in the rain this much, now I mean this much by this often. I have lived in southern Missouri, same amount per year, but more in one day or three days then one week here. This place IS beautiful though, 2nd only to Alaska that I've found. Mountains, trees, flowers, wildlife, rivers, ocean, GREEN. I often hike in the gorge, definately look into it, but if its raining, theres no one out there, like no ones used to the rain. 2008 did have a long summer though into October and November it was still nice, and now its Jan. 09. I just got back from newport where it was 65 and gorgeous, very unseasonal, but no one in the water. In fact, I've rarely seen anyone in the ocean at the beach, summer or not. Which begs, how fun is an ocean we don't get into. Back in Portland, 48 and windy. The weather is an issue if you are used to it being nice everyday, or at least most of the time. I've also lived in Tucson and western Nebraska, lots of sun, so I'm not in love but have maintained well and get out more then a lot of the locals. I'm saying if you are going to have rain, it needs to be warm, if its cold, then less frequent. Also, the people I see downtown or anywhere outside when it rains are just in a hurry to get indoors. Downtown is right by the Willamette river which you don't swim in, too contaminated, sounds great, right next to the busiest part of town. I mean I love the IDEA of Portland but the actuality of it is you struggle through 8 months to get to 4 months, with occasional breaks. Only place where I've heard scattered sunspots as a weather term. Jobs are what you hear, but you have to know someone I guess. The current economic situation doesnt help anyone and all businesses are looking to get through. I had no problem getting a job here when I arrived, but I knew the GM. I was recently laid off by a small business and am not getting even a call back although I have plenty of experience and credibility in my field. The scene here is almost fake, like money but no ambition and plans only to make the most money with the least amount of work.No heart unless it fills pocketbooks fast. So alot of times you work hard for someone just taking advantage of you. I know this might be everywhere, but here I just see many more two-faced people then anywhere. This is very difficult if you have a genuine care for the well-being of others as I do, I have a two year old and I can't see myself raising her here. Also, I recycle, but I did before I moved here and Portland is supposedly the greenest city they say, because....... theres not trash on the streets, wrong, theres not pollution in the rivers, wrong, because they are making an effort to get better, yes. I commend them for that but its like thanking someone for shutting the door when they leave, shouldn't this be expected. Music scene is highly deceptive, bands play here, on their way to Seattle but I mean who is FROM Portland. No one! There are many underground garage bands, basement bands and artists including myself but that doesnt make the music scene here flourish. The northwest is about the landscape, The Oregon Trail, volcanos, and rain. The artists that are from here, stay here, and are loved locally, but no one outside the Northwest has heard of them. Getting into some shows are like getting Super Bowl tickets at the 50 yard line. Theres bands playing every night, and next week and last week, same songs or borrowed from other artists. I'm not ragging, just being brutally honest.You are safe here, White Non-Hispanic (75.5%), which doesn't guarantee safety but as long as you aren't looking for trouble you won't find it. Example, ride the Max from Gresham to the Zoo, where in many other cities you might be worried by the co-passengers, here, everyones just happy to be out of the rain. The Max is almost the best public transportation there is anywhere, outside of New Yorks subways, and they are constantly looking to improve. Everywhere there is crime, but this is a Kansas suburb compared to St. Louis, Memphis, K.C., New Orleans, D.C., etc. Of course all those are considered midwest to eastern cities. The attitude out west is much more laid back. California, although only next door, completely different animal. There are amazing areas of agriculture around, Hood River, Dundee Hills Wine. I worked with a chef who got almost everything organic from within 100 miles, from meat to fish, to fruits and veggies. Alot of restaurants label items from where they got them, Draper Valley Chicken, Carlton Farms Pork but if you aren't familiar, doesn't mean anything. That being said, I feel people here have to tell you how good they are, but if you are that good, do you have to say anything? Or does it just show? For all these reasons, I am looking to relocate, somewhere closer to the rest of my family, midwest, and somewhere more sunny. I've narrowed it down to a couple areas based on my travels and past places I have actually lived. I'm not saying don't come here, I'm saying visit for 3 months, 2 in the winter and 1 in the summer, because thats what its like. If it was up to me, I'd have a house in Arizona or Florida in the Winter and one in Alaska or Oregon in the summer, perfect set up, and be a pilot with my own plane. Anyways, don't just take my advice with a grain of salt, I didn't write this to be negative or positive, just to give you my honest opinion.
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