To Portland From Atlanta, Seeking Advice (Beaverton, Beaver: apartment, condominiums, crime)

[glparker4]

After researching places to settle, I have narrowed down my list to Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC. Coming from Atlanta, GA, I would like some advice on the quality of life in Portland.

I don't mind the Portland rainy weather. Although, others on this board make it sound impossible to deal with. I actually hate the heat and humidity of the South.

I desire to relocate to an area that doesn't have gridlock traffic like Atlanta which make everyday miserable. I also seek transit options and an area that is easy to get around in.

I also want to get away from suburban sprawl. The urban development boundary and intelligent planning of Portland is very appealing. Does it make the cost of living as outrageously high as everyone here makes it??

I seek an area that is safe where I can feel comfortable walking around at night. Atlanta has crime everywhere.

I also want an area with friendly people and a sense of community. Portlanders seem friendly but the messages on this board speak otherwise.

Also, is the job market so bad there? I see the unemployment rates are high but I also understand that they are inaccurate due to the tax situation. I am a software developer with 10 years experience.

About Me: I am a 30 year old single, gay male. My political views are moderate (slightly left of center) but I am also self-employed and conservative appearance. I have friends of various political views, religious beliefs, backgrounds, etc. I love the outdoors and especially enjoy hiking.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to your input.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I just came back from a vacation in Atlanta and loved it there. Unless you like spending double for what a house is worth, I'd avoid Portland.

[Journey2LS]

If you are a moderate who enjoys diversity then go to Vancouver. I lived in Atlanta for 2 years and had a better time there than Portland.

[EnricoV]

I think you sound like you'd fit right in to Portland. While the reputation of the town is liberal, that doesn't mean you can't exist. What you can do is pretty much forget about having any candidate you might support be elected, though. So expect liberal idiots to be running the town. I can deal with it, and probably lean a little further left than sounds like you do!

Honestly, I wouldn't recommend Vancouver for you. It has always seemed to me more geared towards families, not a 30-year-old single guy.

Traffic isn't perfect. But if you choose your living-to-work situation wisely, it shouldn't cause great difficulty. You don't want to drive Vancouver-Portland, or Beaverton-Portland. Those are the "gridlock" routes on the best of days, given that there's pretty much one route.

I just checked a city comparison site (who knows what data they use) which indicated that Portland is 16% more expensive than Atlanta to live in. The largest difference being housing. And they don't lie. About the only thing reasonable to buy as a starter home these days, is a condo. There are less expensive houses available, but they're not much to write home about! Part of that is due to the growth boundary. You're not going to find many large housing developments of new houses, unless you're out in the suburbs. Or in Vancouver. What you will find are older homes, or in-fill Condominiums.

Crime isn't non-existant, and of course you can run into trouble anywhere. But most areas are safe to walk around in a night. If you choose the right neighborhood, you will find a real sense of community, more so than in the city as a whole ... though it does have its moments.

[glparker4]

I was aware that housing prices in Portland and Vancouver are significantly higher than Atlanta. That is one side effect of managed growth as opposed to Atlanta's endless suburban sprawl. I believe that even though this makes the cost of living higher, the quality if life is better.

I have already applied through Canadian Immigration as a Federal Skilled Worker and my case is currently being processed. Of course, there is no guarantee that it will be successful and my case is somewhat complicated since I have been self-employed for the past 6 years.

Thanks for the replies!

[goozer]

A "slightly left of center" moderate in Atlanta qualifies as a staunch republican in Portland.

But seriously, I am an Atlanta resident who has always loved Portland. I would move there myself if the right career opportunity presented itself. That said, I would not move there without a job because it is a fairly tough job market to break into, at least in my line of work.

As for hiking and the outdoors, I think Oregon is the best state in the Lower 48 for outdoor activities.

[Twinkletoes2008]

I just moved to Portland from Atlanta. Portland does indeed have all the things you mentioned. I would caution you that housing is much more expensive than Atlanta. I had a 4-br house in Atlanta. My 2-br apartment here costs me more than my monthly house payment did in Atlanta. It is indeed gray much of the time (so far) but the rain is mostly light drizzle and I hear summers are glorious. People get out anyway and do things - something I never would have considered on an Atlanta rainy day. When it is rainy, the coffeehouses are packed, people are out walking their dogs or biking. If you can deal with the housing and rain, then come on over. I LOVE Portland. It is beautiful. People don't care what kind of car you drive or how expensive your shoes are. The people are nice. The food is absolutely fantastic. There's lots to do, lots of pretty parks, and traffic is non-existent, except at 5:00 when it looks just like Atlanta (but rush hour is not four hours long). Visit Portland first to see if you like it. I bet you will.

[Hans64]

GLParker4,
I moved from San Francisco to Portland and would consider myself moderate by Northern Cal - Portland standards. I am gay as well. Portland is very open--you will not feel your sexual identity to be an issue whatsoever--even older residents are extremely accepting. It is a non issue to most. GW Bush cheerleaders (are there any left?) will definitely feel out of place here but honestly I feel Portland's "radical" image is a bit overstated. If you like the outdoors it is great. I surf in the summer and ski in the winter and the grey weather (winter) doesn't bother me. Portland has a very strong youth culture and I think it is a very interesting place for someone your age right now. Portland is very friendly--I have lived in Chicago, Minneapolis, SF and Portland residents are the most casual and friendly BY FAR. The setting of Vancouver BC is beyond compare but I think the city is really being positioned as a place for only the wealthy--San Francisco North. Not for me.

[gypsydoc]

Originally Posted by glparker4

After researching places to settle, I have narrowed down my list to Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC. Coming from Atlanta, GA, I would like some advice on the quality of life in Portland.

I don't mind the Portland rainy weather. Although, others on this board make it sound impossible to deal with. I actually hate the heat and humidity of the South.

I desire to relocate to an area that doesn't have gridlock traffic like Atlanta which make everyday miserable. I also seek transit options and an area that is easy to get around in.

I also want to get away from suburban sprawl. The urban development boundary and intelligent planning of Portland is very appealing. Does it make the cost of living as outrageously high as everyone here makes it??

I seek an area that is safe where I can feel comfortable walking around at night. Atlanta has crime everywhere.

I also want an area with friendly people and a sense of community. Portlanders seem friendly but the messages on this board speak otherwise.

Also, is the job market so bad there? I see the unemployment rates are high but I also understand that they are inaccurate due to the tax situation. I am a software developer with 10 years experience.

About Me: I am a 30 year old single, gay male. My political views are moderate (slightly left of center) but I am also self-employed and conservative appearance. I have friends of various political views, religious beliefs, backgrounds, etc. I love the outdoors and especially enjoy hiking.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to your input.

I used to live in Atlanta and moved out here. I have LOVED my experience here. I hated the traffic... Going shopping for groceries at 1:00 am was one way to avoid the incessant traffic gridlocks... Hated the sprawl... couldn't get to the country when I lived there unless I drove for hours... and then the few "country" roads up to Dahlonega and the "mountains" - I called them "bumps" were bumper to bumper... and there were no parks! Piedmont park was trampled every year and the crowds were thick. The lakes were so dotted with boats that it just made me claustrophobic to watch them.

I lived in Buckhead for awhile and then in Roswell. Enough of that. Yes, from what you write, I think you'd like it here. There are no chiggers, no fireflies (I do miss them), few thunderstorms (I miss them as well) and the classic "rainy nights in Georgia".. - BUT I can be in the country in a few minutes. There are parks everywhere.. not just the "grassy specials" that are prevalent in other parts of the country, but treed parks with plenty of hiking. The gorge is spectacular.. as is being close to the coast and the mountains..

I didn't like the heat and humidity either.. there's only so many clothes you can take off to get comfortable in the heat before you can't be seen in public. In the summer when it's warm (80's or 90's), you can drive to the coast or Mt. Hood for cooler weather.. On the mountain you can walk in snow in July. It has the texture of snow cone ice, but it sure is fun and it's only about an hour to an hour and a half from town.

Don't know about the IT job market, though... If rain doesn't bother you, then by all means, come ahead. It's what keeps everything so green.

Best wishes..

[ohshane]

I moved to Portland from Atlanta as well and the lack of diversity was a HUGE culture shock. If you're coming from actual Atlanta and not a suburb, you'll most likely find being surrounded by nothing but white people a little bit odd.

Portland is so much safer than Atlanta - there are few neighborhoods where one wouldn't feel comfortable walking around at night.

The culture here? It's a giant Little 5.