Where to live: miami or portland, OR? (Gresham, Hillsboro: apartment, car insurance)

[daitheflu]

I need to make a decision between living in Miami or Portland. Yes, they are possibly the two most opposite cities in the country, but they are my only options.

Let me give some background.

I am 24 and I have lived in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Honolulu, and San Diego. I am a simple, laid-back, and genuine person striving for health, well-being, and happiness. I prefer nature to urban sprawl. I love living by the ocean, and being outdoors in general (especially on a sunny day). I prefer a BBQ in a park with friends over a night of clubbing.

I have been accepted into a very competitive and rigorous health-related master's program at OHSU and at U of Miami. This program is 2.5 years of continuous, medical residency type commitment/work (aka working/studying my ***** off)

Miami:

Pros:
1) Great school, great reputation.
2) The Jackson healthcare system is a behemoth, and will yield excellent clinical experiences.
3) I am partial to sunny, warm weather.
4) closer to family in Louisiana

Cons:
1) from what I have read on this forum, Miami definitely has some problems: Crime/corruption/dirty/unsafe, etc.
2) cost of living
3) superficial/rude people (yes, this is a hasty generalization but has some truth to it)

Portland

Pros:
1) great school, great reputation
2) I have heard great things about Portland
3) I have a west coast mentality
4) genuine people (also a generalization)
Cons:
1) the weather is dreadful
2) geographically far away from family


I believe that I would succeed in both places. The constant gray/rain of Portland does scare me a little, I have found that I enjoy life more when the sun is out. The crime, superficial people, and high cost of living are concerns with Miami.

Anyways, just looking for some feedback.

Thanks

[argo69]

It sounds like the weather in Portland will not be to your liking and because of the way it is for a majority of the year I would not minimize this factor. Also, if you have children at some point, being far away from family will likely become an issue for you. I'm seeing Miami (problems and all) in the crystal ball because the negatives you cite about Portland seem more critical than the positives...in your particular case.

[nillawafer]

I think Miami too. All the places you have lived before have lots of sun. I think you eventually wouldn't like it here. I've had four family members that had moved here, a long time ago for school at the UofO, from Hawaii. They finished there degrees, but have all moved on to CA and southern states. When I ask if they will come back here they say no they like the lifestyle and weather where they are at too much. I can't blame them for that. I'll soon be following them once I graduate.

You may adapt just fine. Lots of people do and really like it here. It just depends on your likes and dislikes.

I think you might have more fun on your off days from school in Miami though. You could go to the beach to relax or even study there. That sounds really nice actually.

Take care.

[goozer]

I think one factor you should take off the table is proximity to Lousiana. Frankly, it will be a plane ride away from Louisiana regardless of whether you choose Miami or Portland. Sure, you could drive from both, and Miami might be several hundred miles closer, but it is still a LONG drive from Miami and I imagine you would probably end up making a flight of it most times.

Also, you should definitely consider what area you want to work after your schooling. Both schools may have well-respected national programs, but I always think it is easier to find job opportunities closer to where you went to school.

[cdelena]

I live in the Portland area but have spent time in Miami. I really don't like Florida much and do like Portland (IMO the weather is not dreadful) but reading your comments you may be better off in Miami. A visit to each place may be your best guide.

[met1219]

Well, I grew up in Portland and happened to move to Miami for a job. I despise it SO MUCH after living here 10 yrs, that I am moving back to Portland ASAP. I agree with the poster who said you should consider where you want to work once the residency is done. Here, IMHO, are the pros and cons of each city:

Miami Pros:

Great school with excellent teachers
Sunny & Hot
Close to Ocean
Close to Louisiana

Miami Cons:

Party town full of superficial jerks
Low pay/high cost of living
Loud, obnoxious neighbors, even if you pay $1,700-2,000/mo rent
When you complain to said neighbors about their partying loudly so you can't sleep prior to work or school, they tell you to go F*** yourself. Isn't that classy?
Hot and Humid year round
It rains "sideways" here _wind + rain, so no matter what you wear, you are soaked and umbrellas are pointless here
Fire ants, Bufo Toads, venemous snakes in hordes
Mosquitoes and no-see-ums 365 days a year (at least I get bitten daily)
As much rain as Portland, only it is warm and brings mosquitoes with it
Hurricanes getting more intense
Outdoorsy activities like walking 10 steps to your car must be preceded by covering yourself with DEET, which is not something I care to put on my body on a daily basis
Worst drivers on the planet - hence high car insurance rates
No clean, safe, efficient public transit
Poor air quality I don't have to take allergy meds in Portland)
Although culturally diverse, everyone more or less stays within their own group (i.e. Cubans with Cubans, Haitians with Haitians, etc.)

Portland Pros:

Great school with excellent teachers
Higher pay and lower cost of living
Tons of outdoor activities
Friendliest people in the U.S.
No mosquitoes or No-see-ums
Better drivers
Great public transit
Great air quality
Mild weather with change of seasons
No fire ants, Bufo Toads, few venemous snakes in the burbs
It is green year round
Diversity is embraced wholeheartedly

Portland Cons:

If you are a Republican, you won't like all the Liberals
It rains as much as Miami, but rain is cooler
You may have to purchase a trench coat or umbrella
Less opportunities to hear why Castro stole somebody's homeland
No good Cuban Coffee
Farther from Louisiana by a few hrs plane trip

Miami is great for people who like a tropical environment and loud partiers. I thought I would be able to enjoy the ocean here, but at least 50% of the time, I get stung by Jellyfish while standing in chest high water, so I have given up on it here. People have also gotten Staph infections simply from standing in the water here, which means the ocean is really polluted.

My husband and I are outdoorsy, laid back, and love to hang out with friends and BBQ or share a nice meal & bottle of wine. That is impossible here since there are few nice people. I truly despise it here and can't wait to get back to the nice, friendly people in Portland. With gas prices spiking ever higher, the public transit in Portland will be nice for a change.

Just my 2 cents worth...you should really visit both cities and decides afterward. Good luck!

[Jimrob1]

After reading your posts I would have to say, I don't feel either city is where you would be happy. I think you would probably be better off in a climate that more closely resembles where you are from, but Miami doesn't seem the place. I think you would tire of Portland, most likely the weather but Im thinking there would be other reasons, not sure, thats just a gut feeling. Is Miami the only area in Fla that you are able to move to? Miami is a difficult city to adjust to, and becomes more and more Latin American by the year, Its fun to visit but to live there is very difficult and very expensive. Use your instincts on this one, really take a hard and deep look at what you like and what you don't like. Search your deepest thoughts and feelings as to what your comfortable with and more so what your uncomfortable with. I wish you the best of luck.

[Jimrob1]

However when it comes to your schooling, you choose the one that is going to give you the most for the time you are spending at the school. You can dislike either place but if its preparing you for you career, that is what really matters.

[gypsydoc]

The purpose of going to school is to get your education - not necessarily enjoy the surroundings... yeah, I know, but when I went to Chiropractic school... carrying 35 hours per trimester, I could have been in some other universe and wouldn't have noticed... so that being said - go where you'll get the best education, then figure out where you want to live. School years and after school years are very different.

That's my 2 cents...

[53AvidReader]

I know what you're going through right now. I was born in Portland, OR and I love it there. But when it came to my education, I was given a better opportunity out of state. Yes, I voluntarily moved myself to Iowa. And I do have some regrets.

It's difficult moving away from friends and family that you are close to. So I can understand that factor. Also, paying $400 for a round-trip ticket isn't always financially feasible.

Here's what I know. Portland has so many opportunities within an hour drive. You can experience pretty much anything you want - the night life of the city, take a hike up a mountain, or relax by the river with a fishing pole (just don't eat anything that comes out of the Willamette).

PROS:
>The people are friendly, for the most part, and friendships are diverse.
>There is a certain feel of the city. It's like living in a large town, instead of the metropolis it technically is.
>OHSU has an amazing reputation and a beautiful campus with an awe-inspiring view of the city.
>TYPICAL winters never get cooler than 35 degrees, and the temperature stays in the 60s-70s through Spring and Summer, with up to 3 weeks of hotter temperatures. But, there's no humidity and usually a cool breeze.
>Even though it's a city, Portland has a lot of green. Parks and trees are everywhere, and you can always find a place to relax.
>It isn't that noisy of a city. (And I lived off the Interstate with nothing but a brick wall between it and my house).
>Public transportation is simple and cheap. Everything runs until 2am or later, there's a lift that can take you from Downtown up the mountain to OHSU, bicyclists can get around easily, and the MAX transit line offers quick transport from one suburb on the East side of town (Gresham), to a suburb a good hour drive away on the West side of town (Hillsboro). It even takes you to the airport. There is also a trolly running through Downtown by the PSU campus.

CONS:
>It does rain a fair amount every year. If it's not raining, it's usually overcast. Rain instead of snow in the winter, too.
>Unless you look diligently, it can be difficult to find a job. Downtown has many small businesses that hire, but unless you look at that area specifically, you won't see the available options.
>If you live off campus, expect trouble in keeping a decent apartment. Property values are rising due to an influx in Californians. I wouldn't say they are expensive, a good $800 a month will get you a pretty good apartment; the problem is making the income to pay for it. Minimum wage will be $7.95 by the time the year is out, but expenses can be dreadful. (may be cheaper than Miami, though).
>You will be far from friends, and won't be able to talk/see them or family as often as you are used to. Probably more so in Portland than Miami.

In all honesty, I am bias in this. Portland is a laid-back city, with tons of things to do and the weather never gets too warm or too cold. But if you're from a place with humidity, and you like it, you will feel out of place in Portland for the first few months. Wherever you move to, you will have to adapt. I used to live in one of the most relaxed cities in the US, and now I live in "Crapids," Iowa where there is no nightlife unless you're binge drinking on campus, and very little options for the weekends. We end up hiding in the basement for Movie Nights. I am not as active here as I was back home.

And if you want to go to the ocean to swim, it doesn't sound like either place would be for you. The jellyfish will get you in Miami, and the Pacific is too large to be heated to more than 60 degrees during most of the year. But it is a very scenic place that you can enjoy. My uncle has a house right off the beach, and it's only a 2 hour drive from Portland.

This decision is all yours. Even though I love Portland, I wanted a change, and when I visited the campus here in Iowa, I knew I was hooked. I can love the campus and hate the city; so can you. When I graduate, I could end up wherever I want for Grad school. I'm considering Chicago, but, in all honesty, I could go anywhere.

Sorry that this post is long, but I didn't think that a list would cover everything. Good luck with your decision. Just pick whichever place you think you could survive the best. (IMO, I'd pick sour weather over sour people any day).