How does one get used to rain and gloom (Portland: mortgage, to buy)

[catmartinez3494]

Any tricks to use to help the rainy, cloudy blues if moving to Oregon? I am contemplating it for financial reasons, but am used to sunny So.Cal and wonder how to beat the blues. I tend to be depressive already.

[psichick]

Honestly, there's not a lot of difference money-wise between the two cities, unless you can find a really good paying job here. OR tends to pay lower wages and with the cost of housing going up, the ratio between salary and rent/mortgage is equivalent to SoCal. Cost of living, in general, isn't much cheaper. The basics: food, electricity, housing, cable, utilities in general, etc, are all about the same.

This year was considerably worse for gray...we had 145 days since Oct 2016 of rain. Except those that absolutely love the rain and cool/grayish days, everyone is going crazy.

Since you're more likely to get depressed, I wouldn't suggest moving up to the Portland area. Maybe move to southern Oregon? I hear it's more like SoCal weather. If you have to move, then you need to buy a happy light, maybe 10 (haha), and sit in front of it constantly. You're going to have to get outside a lot too, rain or not. Have a job near a window. Something. Anything.

FYI. I'm originally from SoCal. The lack of sun and the SoCal way of rainy living (aka, don't go outside until it stops), isn't possible here w/o getting SAD, unless you love the gray (I do, so I love it from Oct-May and hate it from June-Sept). There's only 3 months of SoCal weather up in Portland.

[Minervah]

While treatment with the special lights sometimes help people with SAD it doesn't always help everyone. Bear in mind you will be taking a chance moving to this type of climate.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I think you either like the rain or you don't. I doubt that you can condition yourself to enjoy cloudy wet weather.

The people who don't mind the rain tend to be people who get on with their lives. They hike, camp, barbecue, play basketball in the rain. They do all the outdoor stuff that Portland is good for and they do it in the rain.

I suspect that the people who hide indoors so they don't get their hair wet are enjoying life a lot less during rainy weather.

So, no advice for you except that if you do not enjoy rain or you have SAD, Portland is not a good place to move to

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by psichick

Honestly, there's not a lot of difference money-wise between the two cities, unless you can find a really good paying job here. OR tends to pay lower wages and with the cost of housing going up, the ratio between salary and rent/mortgage is equivalent to SoCal. Cost of living, in general, isn't much cheaper. The basics: food, electricity, housing, cable, utilities in general, etc, are all about the same.

This year was considerably worse for gray...we had 145 days since Oct 2016 of rain. Except those that absolutely love the rain and cool/grayish days, everyone is going crazy.

Since you're more likely to get depressed, I wouldn't suggest moving up to the Portland area. Maybe move to southern Oregon? I hear it's more like SoCal weather. If you have to move, then you need to buy a happy light, maybe 10 (haha), and sit in front of it constantly. You're going to have to get outside a lot too, rain or not. Have a job near a window. Something. Anything.

FYI. I'm originally from SoCal. The lack of sun and the SoCal way of rainy living (aka, don't go outside until it stops), isn't possible here w/o getting SAD, unless you love the gray (I do, so I love it from Oct-May and hate it from June-Sept). There's only 3 months of SoCal weather up in Portland.

YES! It's taken me years to adjust but Vitamin D helps and plan on being busy which makes the gloomy days go by faster.

[jamesblazen]

You'll never get used to the dark, dank, cold and depressing days and months in Portland or most of Oregon for that matter. It sucks. It's cheaper for a reason. Not cheap enough for me. I wouldn't live in Portland again for a free mansion.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Congratulations on your one hundredth negative post!

I know it takes a lot of energy to be so bitter about everything!

[psichick]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

I suspect that the people who hide indoors so they don't get their hair wet are enjoying life a lot less during rainy weather.

Unless you're an introverted homebody, then you're good. Cuz that's me and I enjoy life the same...I've just adjusted my hobbies (from golf and outdoor dog agility to gardening, reading, and knitting/crocheting). And yes, I'm just teasing you.

[Surging Chaos]

Oregon is very far north in latitude. Are you willing to put up with darkness by 4:30 in the afternoon during the winter?

If not, consider moving to the Sun Belt that has a similar latitude to that of SoCal.

[Hapa1]

James, why do you hate clouds so much?