How are you Handling your first Winter in Portland? (house, live)

[PNWdreamin]

For those of you who are newer to the Porltand area....how are you doing with the winter weather so far? Just curious about what I have to look forward to

[doggiemama]

I've been here since June and doing fine. These past fews days with the snow have been interesting--looks beautiful coming down and on the trees. Funny to see bright green grass underneath when it melts. I'm above 500' so I felt a little trapped in my house until they cleared the streets, but they did clear the streets every morning and my 4 wheel drive did very well getting down the hill. As for being depressed by the weather--nope! Looking forward to warmer days but it's nice to see 4 separate seasons. I think we're going to check out skiing & snowboarding this weekend!

[turquoise1]

I'm actually shocked to see a little snow! I thought it was just a myth. :-) That said, I am thrilled that I don't have to put up with endless days of snowy misery and feet of snow. I'd rather just look at postcards of New England.

[wanderbygrace]

As w/the above poster, i've been here since June, having moved from Ohio (roughly 48" a year of snow). I understand the reasoning for some of the fuss, but I definitely find most of it quite funny. "Oh my goodness, the sky is falling!!"

Until the last few days, I have loved the weather. If I want snow, I will (and have, already!) drive to it.

Unlike vertically-challenged Ohio, I know that when it's clear enough, I get a GRAND view of the amazingly awesome Mt. Hood on my way home each day.

[HonuMan]

When I moved here 14 years ago, people told me that the first two winters would be rough, and then I'd either adjust or move away. They were right. My second winter was one of the rainiest on record (it rained on 90 out of 120 days, and algae was literally growing in the street in front of my house), and I was so depressed that I considered moving south to California. But spring finally came, and I remembered why I moved here. The next few winters were tolerable, and now I actually enjoy them. The toughest part for me, having come from Atlanta, was the late sunrises and early sunsets, but now that's just "normal" to me.

[doggiemama]

Agreed-- the late sunrises and early sunsets are probably my least favorite part. January is already better though.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

The days are getting longer by a few minutes each day!

The best part about summer is the length of the day!

[gma221]

I also moved here in June and started bracing myself in August for the gloom and doom of winter. I was really fearful after reading so many people's negative accounts on this board. It hasn't been bad at all, though. As others have mentioned, the short days are irksome, but it doesn't seem a whole lot gloomier than the Midwest, which is where I moved from. I think if you've always lived in a dry, sunny climate, then Portland's weather might be downright shocking. However, if you've lived in the Midwest or Northeast, then winter here will seem relatively mild, verging on pleasant.

[turquoise1]

Gma, I agree with you. Also, the short days don't bother me at all. I love it at night.

[figmalt]

It's also been a fairly mild winter thus far, so this may not be a terribly good year for establishing a baseline.