Why do I hate Portland (Salem, Beaverton: apartments, houses, transfer to)

[piniw]

I am moving from Portland and can't begin to say how sad I am. I moved here 4 years ago and it took me awhile to get used to the weather, traffic and distance from family. But after about 6 months (you have to give it time) I learned to avoid 217 after 3:00, and realized I preferred the rain over humidity and sub zero temps anyday. It just took time to figure it all out.
Now I love it here with the mountains, beach, SunRiver, need I go on and I have to leave to go back to mosquitos and humidity.-ughh.
I made great friends here who some would be considered natives. They have been like family to me and it didn't take much on my part. Everyone was welcoming and friendly.
The only thing that has ever bothered me here is the political side. They want to tax everything and seem to have no regard for what "real people" want. However, being in the middle politically I always tend to enjoy liberal cities more. So, I won't complain about that too much either.
This has been a great place for my family and I can't imagine anyone not enjoying Portland.
Oh-and we also LOVE the food. So many choices.

[chocobot18]

I understand what you're saying. I'm a native Northwesterner (Tacoma area to be exact) and I went to visit WA DC a few months ago. I was wowed! It was so big and so full of people! After growing up here my whole life, I would be open minded to moving over to the East Coast. I have a few friends from high school who live in New Hampshire and Maryland and they say they will never come back to the PNW.

Interesting how a lot of Portland transplats from the East Coast say the exact opposite.

Originally Posted by Andyp

Ok, so as far as i know, im the first native portlander (beaverton area to be exact) to make a post on this thread. i have lived here my entire life (22 years to be exact) and only have visited 3 different states. (2 of which being on the west coast, cali and washington) and in all honesty i want out. my personal opinion about it is that oregon is very beautiful in nature, however it rains 75-80% of the time and growing up here wasn't the best. Not to say that it was hard, just the very insular attitude is apparent in school as well and its tough to actually make good friends. Don't get me wrong, portland does have its own signatures that you cant find in any other place, however. Even as a native i don't see how anyone would want to come to portland outside of it being clean and less "busy". From my experience, the people are of course very non-personable but polite (insular as everyone is calling it) which really does not make anyone here (portland) stand out. from what i understand, New yorkers are typically frowned upon for being blunt and downright rude to some people... honestly from someone who has grown up with everyone sugar coating everything for me, id rather have someone be upfront for once. I honestly dream one day of visiting or even moving to the east coast, only because things are so stagnant here to the point where it's depressing. there are also other factors such as oregon currently being one of the highest ranking unemployed states. I hope this rant hasn't gone on for too long, just trying to give some perspective, as it is really interesting for me to see what others (especially east-coasters) say about portland. One last thing about delivery... portland at least has some really good restaurants that deserve to be visited... i like delivery/take out as much as the next person, but usually you can find good inexpensive eats here.

[Metlakatla]

I do have to ask this...I'm a native Oregonian, although I've spent more of my life in Alaska than in Oregon. But I keep seeing it mentioned that Oregonians are so polite...what on earth is wrong with being polite?

If I ever go east of the Rockies again it will be only to stop and change planes on my way to Italia, by the way.

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I do have to ask this...I'm a native Oregonian, although I've spent more of my life in Alaska than in Oregon. But I keep seeing it mentioned that Oregonians are so polite...what on earth is wrong with being polite?

If I ever go east of the Rockies again it will be only to stop and change planes on my way to Italia, by the way.

Absolutely nothing! It is very refreshing and pleasant.

Here in MD, there is a distinct politeness line from the outer suburbs of DC to the next town west. Rude around DC metro, polite and helpful just outside. Maybe it is more the big cities? Altho, Portland is considerably larger than the town I live near.

[HonuMan]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I do have to ask this...I'm a native Oregonian, although I've spent more of my life in Alaska than in Oregon. But I keep seeing it mentioned that Oregonians are so polite...what on earth is wrong with being polite?

I think what people are talking about is that they mistakenly believe politeness carries with it the implication of a desire for greater intimacy. Let's say you come from a culture where strangers tend to be rude and "in your face," and when you meet someone who isn't, it probably means that they want to get to know you better. So you come to Portland, and strangers aren't rude here, so you assume they all want to get to know you better--and you're surprised when they reject your advances of friendship. You conclude that Oregonian politeness is fake and superficial--unlike in, say, the Northeast, where you know what people think of you by the way they act toward you. In fact, it isn't fake: it's genuine politeness, but it doesn't carry the promise of anything more. To that extent, it may be superficial, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's just a cultural difference.

Personally, I'd rather have someone be superficially polite to me than honestly belligerent (it's the way I was raised--by my polite New York parents!), so I appreciate the politeness of Portlanders. I'm not sure that Portlanders are any more or less difficult to get to know than people anywhere else. I've lived in New York, Georgia, California, and Oregon, and despite people's cultural differences, I've never had a problem meeting friendly people, and people who enjoy getting together with me from time to time, but I've always had a problem finding people with whom I could form deep and lasting friendships. It takes luck, compatibility, time, and effort, and most people lead very busy lives.

[pacificislander]

Thanks for all of the info jgee! Now, I will definately think twice about moving there! Sounds like you would do great here in Hawaii! Wonderful "real" people with a lot of Aloha! Awesome food of all different cultures, and they deliver! Not to mention Beautiful weather all year round! Thought I might want to move and see the world, but not if its that bad....i think i will stick to home in the islands! Aloha!

[Stoney Mcgee]

Originally Posted by HonuMan

I think what people are talking about is that they mistakenly believe politeness carries with it the implication of a desire for greater intimacy.

Sometimes if a person is too polite its just creepy. Especially if its a grown man. Driving a van. With candy.

[John Shaft]

Originally Posted by Stoney Mcgee

Sometimes if a person is too polite its just creepy. Especially if its a grown man. Driving a van. With candy.

Well, I guess it's time to sell my van. And eat my stash of candy.

[DreamWeavin]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by John Shaft

Well, I guess it's time to sell my van. And eat my stash of candy.

[subsound]

Originally Posted by HonuMan

I think what people are talking about is that they mistakenly believe politeness carries with it the implication of a desire for greater intimacy.

I see that a good bit too, some one sees X book you are reading, or using Y item, or talking about B thing they want to know about. Since they have now opened the conversation they now think they are now a friend. While I enjoy a good conversation, even with a stranger that can evolve into more with time, sometimes I'm just not interested in another person or a great level of intimacy is assumed that I don't appreciate (such as I had some one ask me about bus schedules, then eventually try and invite himself to dinner).

It does seem like people are harder to know in the Pac NW then what I am used to in Denver. After a year in my current position I have only really seen my coworkers at work functions. In Denver we were going out to happy hours, have groups to go to lunches, help out with home stuff (water heater, painting a house, moving). I am not sure how much of it is area or the fact I am at a much larger company (almost 10x).