How do you survive Portland fall/winter/spring? (live, safe)

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by Tammy Rock

Just reading all the comments on nw rain and wishing my only complaint was rain. Living in milwaukee wi and just experienced the worst winter in my lifetime 90 plus inches of snow it was a white hell!!!!!!! My ultimate goal is to move to portland, asheville or mabye az. Portland is at the top of my list. After living 30 years in the midwest with brutal snot freezing temps, a little or alot of rain will be a relief compared to this winter crap we midwesterners endure every year.'
all of you...consider yourself lucky.

No place is perfect. The amount of snow was an unusual occurence this year. The midwest has 4 distinct seasons. One being winter. Its cold for a period, not continuelly "snot freezing'' for great lengths of time. I happen to like the snow, and dont mind the cold. I also didnt mind the rain, just the length of rainy season.

[roneb]

Originally Posted by nanannie

No place is perfect. The amount of snow was an unusual occurence this year. The midwest has 4 distinct seasons. One being winter. Its cold for a period, not continuelly "snot freezing'' for great lengths of time. I happen to like the snow, and dont mind the cold. I also didnt mind the rain, just the length of rainy season.

Thank you for the common sense! Again I have to ask the rest of you, what's wrong with snow? Winter is a fantastic, beautiful season. Get out and enjoy it! I truly wish Portland had a real winter instead of the drab gray wetness for months. Yes there are sun breaks, but they are far too infrequent!

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by tiffela74

my mom just moved from Portland to Bend, and she claims winters in Bend have more snow, but feel warmer because its a "dry cold" Eh??? I asked her how water frozen into snow/ice can be dry, and she says "Portland is more soggy wet that seeps into my bones, and Bend is more snow, than clear skies" humm...im not sure, but i guess if it makes sense to her and shes happier there, thats what it comes down to.
Tiff

It's definitely drier on this side of the Cascades, and with the dryness the cold doesn't seem so intense. There is a limit to this, of course, but 20 degrees and snowing here feels warmer to me than 35 degrees, raining and with a sharp Gorge wind. Also, the cloud cover on this side isn't usually down at the ground level - there is air and sky between you and the clouds, which makes it feel less... oppressive, I guess. Obviously, I have SAD issues and the move was right for me. But I do miss Portland's much longer growing season, better grocery stores, fun downtown and widespread green. Not enough to move back, but enough to visit occasionally.

[roneb]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

It's definitely drier on this side of the Cascades, and with the dryness the cold doesn't seem so intense. There is a limit to this, of course, but 20 degrees and snowing here feels warmer to me than 35 degrees, raining and with a sharp Gorge wind. Also, the cloud cover on this side isn't usually down at the ground level - there is air and sky between you and the clouds, which makes it feel less... oppressive, I guess. Obviously, I have SAD issues and the move was right for me. But I do miss Portland's much longer growing season, better grocery stores, fun downtown and widespread green. Not enough to move back, but enough to visit occasionally.

You've pretty much nailed the reasons why someplace COLDER in the winter can be a lot more enjoyable of an experience than Portland's "mild" winters.

[used2Bsunshine]

Wow! Thank you all so much for these replies to my complaints! I feel better knowing all the company I have, and many of the suggestions are going to be helpful.
SeeBee - I'd love to meet you when you bring over a casserole - do you do vegetarian? I am not working since i got here, that's a problem, but also the result of a problem brought on by the climate and stress. I have lifetime rheumatoid arthritis, which I managed for decades, until now.
I go to a pool twice weekly for aerobics, walk when my body will allow, do my volunteer things, visit my mother in the nursing home, read. My husband and I have gone to the coast several times - most recently to the excellent wine and jazz at Rockaway Beach.
EnricoV - I never said there is nothing to volunteer for - what I have experienced is little to no response/follow-up on my offers to help out. Interestingly, even Rotary Club and Newcomers are apparently too busy to respond.
The ideas for clubs such as sailing, cycling, skiing don't work for me but I'm sure would be great for younger healthier folks.
I would like to try the light box this fall.
We go to the Saturday Market, art festivals, etc - those things that are springing up as the weather warms, but in the gray months it is harder to find outings.
Looks like I just need to plan more trips to Tucson and Sacramento to see family in the winter, and enjoy the heck out of summer.

[oldtintype]

Have you tried the library or Oregon Humane Society? Or being a docent at the history or art museums? If you like kids OMSI has great volunteer programs as well.

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by used2Bsunshine

Wow! Thank you all so much for these replies to my complaints! I feel better knowing all the company I have, and many of the suggestions are going to be helpful.
SeeBee - I'd love to meet you when you bring over a casserole - do you do vegetarian? I am not working since i got here, that's a problem, but also the result of a problem brought on by the climate and stress. I have lifetime rheumatoid arthritis, which I managed for decades, until now.
I go to a pool twice weekly for aerobics, walk when my body will allow, do my volunteer things, visit my mother in the nursing home, read. My husband and I have gone to the coast several times - most recently to the excellent wine and jazz at Rockaway Beach.
EnricoV - I never said there is nothing to volunteer for - what I have experienced is little to no response/follow-up on my offers to help out. Interestingly, even Rotary Club and Newcomers are apparently too busy to respond.
I would like to try the light box this fall.
We go to the Saturday Market, art festivals, etc - those things that are springing up as the weather warms, but in the gray months it is harder to find outings.
Looks like I just need to plan more trips to Tucson and Sacramento to see family in the winter, and enjoy the heck out of summer.

Saw this post yesterday, but you plum scared me with this: "...when you bring over a casserole" - I couldn't put a casserole together if I had to!!! I was talking about eating somebody else's casserole...LOL BTW, yes, I am a vegetarian (actually, an 'intermittent' vegan).

I know what you mean about not getting responses from making business contacts. Ever since I moved to Oregon, I've found that to be the case in all types of businesses, volunteer or not. No call backs. It's not very professional, but that's just the way it is here.

Oregon Humane volunteering is great - I did it last year. I actually need to sign up for another 'refresher course' which they offer the beginning of every month, I believe.

I don't know how you manage your arthritis during the winter. Hope you can find something to help you with that.

Planning getaways to Tucson and Sacramento - good ideas to break up the winter. Summer in Oregon is beyond compare, IMO, and it sounds like you are taking full advantage of it!

[MelodyK]

Since it does rain several months out of the year, do you find yourself inside more or do you say "the heck with it" and just go outside anyway.

The rain can get me down too but I know that it is what makes Oregon beautiful. I would think that I would stay in for the first week or so and then go crazy and just go out, regardless.

What do you Oregonians do?

[oldtintype]

Go out! I think the only ones who stay home are probably the ones who complain the most There's lots to do even when there's bad weather, particularly because it's rarely terrible weather (super hard rain, freezing, etc), it's just drizzly.

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by oldtintype

Go out! I think the only ones who stay home are probably the ones who complain the most There's lots to do even when there's bad weather, particularly because it's rarely terrible weather (super hard rain, freezing, etc), it's just drizzly.

Amen to that! Works for me !!! The OP is very active, and RH compounds the issue of the weather "just being drizzly" ~ hope someone can come up with an answer for that very debilitating condition!