looking to move to Portland from Denver

[Tesaje]

Up in the mountains, we had parents with us giving us all the don't be stupid cautions - no other way to get there, after all. And we went up there when we wanted without concern for temperature. Storms were another matter (that don't be stupid part) but there were times when we got caught in a sudden storm too. Like all mountain ventures, being prepared and smart is what counts and thats what my parents were teaching us. We had -5 down in the front range populated areas too. I can remember walking a mile to grade school in -20. That was cold!

One of my brothers took his little kids on all sorts of camping and backpacking ventures too in all kinds of weather. They were fine and grew up to love that sort of thing. Did we whine sometimes? Of course, all kids do. But my mother tended to our needs and made stupid whining not pay off. She knew the difference.

[MtnSurfer]

Teaje,

Wow. I was going to say you were probably one of those rare kids I see walking to school in the snow when the temps are hoovering around zero. But doing it in -20 degrees is pretty crazy cold. Thats a good story for the grandchildren. Just tell me you weren't doing it with shorts. LOL... None of the kids could call you a sissy;-P

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Teaje,

Wow. I was going to say you were probably one of those rare kids I see walking to school in the snow when the temps are hoovering around zero. But doing it in -20 degrees is pretty crazy cold. Thats a good story for the grandchildren. Just tell me you weren't doing it with shorts. LOL... None of the kids could call you a sissy;-P

Definitely not in shorts. My mother dressed me in 2 pairs of my brother's pants and tights under my dress and I got into trouble for that because girls were forbidden to wear pants. My mother lit into the school for that bit of idiocy. It was the 60's. It was cold but you just took it. Doesn't happen often but about 15 years ago, I was visiting in -19 in Boulder. But I had a down parka. Don't kids in Minnesota do that every winter?

[Katiana]

One of my brothers took his little kids on all sorts of camping and backpacking ventures too in all kinds of weather. They were fine and grew up to love that sort of thing. Did we whine sometimes? Of course, all kids do. But my mother tended to our needs and made stupid whining not pay off. She knew the difference.

Yes, kids whine about everything! I raised two, here in CO. Frankly, they hardly ever needed to even wear boots to school b/c the snow comes in big dumps (if at all) with weeks of warm, sunny dry weather in between. Even to walk to the bus stop, they hardly ever "booted up". We took them skiing from the time they were about 3, outdoor ice skating in the mtns, you name it. Didn't have much more whining than at Water World in mid-July!

Back to topic, I don't know much about Portland. Was there once, in March. Lived in Illinois at the time. The fruit trees were all in bloom and it was a sight for sore eyes as Ill was still in the dead of winter.

[the_koolkat]

I have been comparing Portland and Denver allot. I like the sounds of both places and in a few months I will live in one of them. I find it funny how they compare. In many ways very much alike. Except...Portland is to low and gets to little sun and Denver is to high and get to much sun !!!

[Wish26]

I think one of the big things for me is that even though Portland is a growing area, the Pacific Northwest has been much smarter about anticipating growth and planning for it responsibly. Denver got completely blindsided by the mass exodus from CA and other states. They never had a plan to deal with the population growth. So, the effects of urban sprawl has been much worse.