Portland "unhappiest city" (Medford, Green: sex offenders, homes, unemployment rate)

[Foreverking]

yeah, You are correct, you can get tired to too much sun. However, being warn out of too much sun, and getting depressed over 25 years of grey are 2 different things. Living in the Phoenix area has its ups and downs. The downs are the lack of rivers locally, the ups are things like being able to bike ride since September nearly every day.

Right now the novelty of the new area is affecting how you feel, give it 2 years.

Yep the road rage issue is nearly non existent. Thats because liberals are more mellow and easy going.

[DreamWeavin]

Now, now--let's not be negative
I've lived in other areas since leaving Mobile and just knew they weren't rght for me. So I don't think I love it here because it's new to me. True it is different from my hometown and much different than the other states I've lived since leaving there; but I l love it. Felt an immediate love for the area.
Maybe I'm weird but I love the weather here--love it!!

Originally Posted by Foreverking

yeah, You are correct, you can get tired to too much sun. However, being warn out of too much sun, and getting depressed over 25 years of grey are 2 different things. Living in the Phoenix area has its ups and downs. The downs are the lack of rivers locally, the ups are things like being able to bike ride since September nearly every day.

Right now the novelty of the new area is affecting how you feel, give it 2 years.
Yep the road rage issue is nearly non existent. Thats because liberals are more mellow and easy going.

[JakeDog]

Portland has a ton going for it, but it does seem (as a person who grew up there and now lives is SoCal) to have a larger number of shy, dishevled, and lower energy people compared to other parts of the country. I think that is likely weather related. Portland's high meth use also likely impacts a survey like this.

[PhxNative09]

Regarding sunny days being "better" - I've lived in Phoenix for far too many years, and while there are some days (dec-feb) when you walk outside and it feels great, the heat for 2/3 of the year is terribly depressing and makes you sluggish and not ever want to leave the house. I would prefer dreary weather to stifling heat.

Also, when I got in my car after it had been outside for a few hours, in FEBRUARY, and the steering wheel was hot to the touch and I had to run the AC, I almost cried.

Grass is always greener... so keep moving to the next field!

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by PhxNative09

Regarding sunny days being "better" - I've lived in Phoenix for far too many years, and while there are some days (dec-feb) when you walk outside and it feels great, the heat for 2/3 of the year is terribly depressing and makes you sluggish and not ever want to leave the house. I would prefer dreary weather to stifling heat.

Also, when I got in my car after it had been outside for a few hours, in FEBRUARY, and the steering wheel was hot to the touch and I had to run the AC, I almost cried.

Grass is always greener... so keep moving to the next field!

we have only had one warm day over 85, the rest of the month was about 72 degrees. Its cloudy today, such a bummer. Oh well after today, 9 days of sunny 71 degree weather according to the 10 day forcast.

Funny how these forums always turn into a weather debate.

[PhxNative09]

I suppose it's all a matter of perception. I focus on the hot days because I hate them, just like many on this forum only focus on the overcast/cloudy days in the PNW because that's what bothers them.

Without the weather, what would we discuss? Meaningful topics??

[Brandon26pdx]

Weather is a big deal to most people. Whether you're rich or poor, male or female, old or young, it's an inescapable aspect that you cannot control wherever you choose to live.

[Studiobill]

Guess what natural disasters kill more people than tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods?
Heat.

[FVWinters]

What applies to Portland in terms of weather applies to the entire west coast north of about Monterrey. It generally gets worse (if you don't like rain and gloom) as you go farther north. Why didn't Seattle make the top 10?
As for the rest of the criteria, I am suspicious of any methodology that does little more than take numbers off a sheet of paper as this study apparently did. There are so many subtleties that make a place pleasant or depressing one simply can't get from statistics. There is a backstory behind every criterion Business Week used in their ranking. I've noticed in this thread, some aspects of Portland that endear some enrage others. I think that's true of practically everywhere.
A place that is stimulating or depressing; friendly or hostile; vibrant or stagnant has almost as much to do with the individual and his or her perception as its location and character.

[backdrifter]

I'm glad Portland was the unhappiest city on this list. Now the kind of people who actually put faith in these sort of articles WON'T be coming to Oregon. What a great ploy!