Is there a "Portland Freeze" (Eugene: 2009, university)

[pirate_lafitte]

I think there is an "anywhere" Freeze. I wouldn't doubt that the "freeze" as a social term and social behavior exists in the PNW. With that said, that isn't the only place.

[subsound]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I think there is an "anywhere" Freeze. I wouldn't doubt that the "freeze" as a social term and social behavior exists in the PNW. With that said, that isn't the only place.

Yeah, I do kind of wonder what the exact definition of "Freeze" is. It could be marketing fluff like Synergy and Thinking Outside the Box.

[Minervah]

I think it depends upon where you live and what your social status is. Every year I see block parties in my neighborhood and beyond run by families who live on the block. There are some really strong neighborhood groups that have fixed up their neighborhoods really well. An example is the big sunflower painted on the intersection of 32 and Yamhill (or is it 34th?) anyway each year people come together to spruce up the sunflower by painting it. Anyone can participate for only a dollar which goes towards the materials used. There is usually some sort of party to follow.
These people have worked together to help each other fix up houses, plant flowers and make the place look great. I would guess that other neighborhoods do the same thing.
Most people in my building are friendly. I am kitty sitting for a neighbor this week and my neighbor reciprocates when I go out of town. It's usually the younger people hang together and likewise the older but it's nice to have a variety of ages living together.
When I was younger living here I felt pretty lonely for a long time until I finally clicked with a group of people with whom I became good friends. It takes time and depends upon what one's interests are. I do hesitate often to make new friends because I have lost so many due to their job losses and inability to keep up with the cost of living if they had jobs. So they move to where they can do better.
The most common scenario is those Californians and New Yorkers who come here thinking everything is so cheap in comparison to where they are from. Then they find that cheap is a relative thing when jobs are scarce and pay so little. After a year they are gone.
Maybe that's why people here are not so quick to welcome newcomers as good friends. It's sad to see them go. So maybe the "freeze" is just caution.

[findingmesomeday]

I think you get back what you put in. When I lived in Portland in the mid 1980's the area was economically depressed and hadn't yet been discovered by Californians (and the rest of the country). At that point, Portland (compared to Seattle) was pretty insular. The question I would often get, when meeting new people was "where did you go to high school?" When my answer marked me as a transplant, I wasn't frozen out, per se, but treated courteously, but as an outsider. When I started dating my husband, an Oregonian, my status noticeably changed.

We left Portland because he felt constrained there--he thought there was more to the world than Oregon. Unfortunately, he's not been able to find anywhere, whatever happiness he seems to be seeking. We moved out of Portland and he was unhappy with where we were. We moved back up to Seattle (both job transfers--mine--that I negotiated) and he wasn't as happy as he thought he'd be in Seattle. We moved to the East Coast, where he thought he'd make the big career time and didn't like the DC area. So we moved to New England and now he hates Massachusetts. I went to school here and it's funny to hear him tell me that I'm accepted here because I went to college here, but he's an outsider who will never be accepted. But he will deny the existence of a Portland Freeze.

He's desperate to return home. I can understand that, after so many years away. But Portland freeze--real or imagined--notwithstanding---I don't think what he's searching for is going to miraculously materialize should we move.

All that said however, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Pacific NW and would jump at the opportunity to move back.

There is most definitely a New England version of the "freeze". As a previous poster suggested, visit the Massachusetts/Boston boards. However, I feel very well connected and accepted here in town---because I've made the effort. I had the same response many years ago when I lived in Portland.

[Minervah]

When I lived in Portland in the mid 1980's the area was economically depressed and hadn't yet been discovered by Californians (and the rest of the country).

Actually I moved here in 1978 from Chicago and there was strong resentment against any transplant who took a job "away from an Oregonian" as I was so roughly told I had done. But every "native" I met disliked Californians more than anyone. I heard the same thing now as I do today from my "native" friends; the Californians moved here and upped the cost of living and the housing prices.

I definitely agree about the insular comment.

[Bluesbabe]

Originally Posted by findingmesomeday

I think you get back what you put in. When I lived in Portland in the mid 1980's the area was economically depressed and hadn't yet been discovered by Californians (and the rest of the country). At that point, Portland (compared to Seattle) was pretty insular. The question I would often get, when meeting new people was "where did you go to high school?" When my answer marked me as a transplant, I wasn't frozen out, per se, but treated courteously, but as an outsider. When I started dating my husband, an Oregonian, my status noticeably changed.

We left Portland because he felt constrained there--he thought there was more to the world than Oregon. Unfortunately, he's not been able to find anywhere, whatever happiness he seems to be seeking. We moved out of Portland and he was unhappy with where we were. We moved back up to Seattle (both job transfers--mine--that I negotiated) and he wasn't as happy as he thought he'd be in Seattle. We moved to the East Coast, where he thought he'd make the big career time and didn't like the DC area. So we moved to New England and now he hates Massachusetts. I went to school here and it's funny to hear him tell me that I'm accepted here because I went to college here, but he's an outsider who will never be accepted. But he will deny the existence of a Portland Freeze.

He's desperate to return home. I can understand that, after so many years away. But Portland freeze--real or imagined--notwithstanding---I don't think what he's searching for is going to miraculously materialize should we move.

All that said however, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Pacific NW and would jump at the opportunity to move back.

There is most definitely a New England version of the "freeze". As a previous poster suggested, visit the Massachusetts/Boston boards. However, I feel very well connected and accepted here in town---because I've made the effort. I had the same response many years ago when I lived in Portland.

Sounds like he's got "the gypsy" spirit in him. Maybe he lived as such in a prior life.

[Bluesbabe]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Actually I moved here in 1978 from Chicago and there was strong resentment against any transplant who took a job "away from an Oregonian" as I was so roughly told I had done. But every "native" I met disliked Californians more than anyone. I heard the same thing now as I do today from my "native" friends; the Californians moved here and upped the cost of living and the housing prices.

I definitely agree about the insular comment.

When Yahoo! relocated to Hillsboro (from California), they transplanted up most of their workers. I've often wondered if they ever received criticism for it? I do think that is how it's usually done in situations like those, tho'.

[subsound]

I've been reading a book called "Future Shock" and it has included these problems encountered first in the 60's. I wonder if it's accelerating now that populations are more mobile or decreasing because of fuel and economic crisis.

[Minervah]

Toffler's catch phrase was "too much change in too short a period of time". Seems to be prophetic for these times. That's a book I will have to re-read.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Actually I moved here in 1978 from Chicago and there was strong resentment against any transplant who took a job "away from an Oregonian" as I was so roughly told I had done. But every "native" I met disliked Californians more than anyone. I heard the same thing now as I do today from my "native" friends; the Californians moved here and upped the cost of living and the housing prices.

I definitely agree about the insular comment.

It's funny you mention that because I have a friend from Oregon who told me about Oregon. When she was living there, she mentioned Tom McCall and his "plea" for out-of-staters:"We want you to visit our State of Excitement often. Come again and again. But for heaven's sake, don't move here to live. Or if you do have to move in to live, don't tell any of your neighbors where you are going."
I find it disheartening to a certain extent. My perspective is "Why can't I move here? What if I WANT to be here and live here?"

I think this goes across all parts of the USA. I think some locals will "freeze out" people from other states because they don't want people moving to their state. In some cases I think this makes it hard for some newcomers to assimilate to the state culture if they wanted to do so.