Simple question...would you ever move back, and why or why not? I ask because my recall to active duty will end at some point in 3 years or so, and my DC job will not be waiting. I've never lived in Portland as an adult (all my family is from there, and Mrs. FromWA and I lived in greater Seattle/Bremerton for around 10 years), but I'll basically have a clean slate to look for either a "settle down" area or get a job that keeps me moving (State Dept?). I'm just not sure that the prospects in Portland, combined with where the politics of the city are (and I'm not talking D v. R, I'm talking "bike lanes instead of freeway lanes" and "homeless housing instead of job creation" and, oh yeah ,taxes), make it a top choice to move back to, weather and Blazers or not. For those who've been in greener pastures, would you consider going back?
If I ever managed to settle down, sure. Its a pretty clean and safe area and settling down in LA really doesn't make much sense at all unless you're making millions per year.
I would just like to point out, the key to Portland living of "bikes v freeways" is following the code and working near your home.
I would have a hard time moving back. There are a lot of things about Portland that I love and miss, but as many or more that I don't. Houston metro area is definitely not shangri la, but I know it's not Portland either
hmmm when I lived up there, I lived in Metzger, worked out of my office in the Trammell Crow Bldg across from Washington square..giong into the office was a breeze, but driving all over the city flat out sucked..no way I ever live there again
I looked into it when I interviewed at Genentech Hillsboro but it didn't happen. Not in the near future but I would not rule it out at some point, provided the Blazers board doesn't set up a lynch mob to "welcome" me.
Portland is a unique city in a lot of ways. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it does offer certains aspects to a living environment that is hard to find else where. So it really depends upon one's priorities. If raising a family is high on your list, I think it is a great place to raise a family. If career path is top on your list and you like the NW, I would suggest Seattle. They are trying to create a "Forrest Valley" of technology along the 26 on the westside, but overall the job opportunity and growth is limited compared to other major metropolitan areas. The liberal attitude towards bicycles is what makes Ptd unique, but I don't find it impacts my life much (not a bike rider). Taxes are high, but if you like toys or to spend money, you save a lot of sales tax. Homeless people, a place for homeless youth to go to, liberal attitude of gov't officials is all there, but again if doesn't really impact many people's lives that I know of. I would say the biggest detractor that I find people point to when moving here is the weather. Some people need more sunshine than others. But you have lived in the NW and know what you get with weather in the NW. Always an exciting time to pick where you are going to live next. Have fun with it . . .
Don't mean to hijack your thread Brian, but I recently took a 14 day vacation to go home to the Northwest and I have decided to move back after 8 years in Arizona. Is there any benefit to working in Oregon and living in Washington, or vise versa? I grew up in Canby and lived in North Portland for two years before moving to Arizona, but a lot of my friends and family live in the Vancouver area which I never have been very fond of, but if it would be a significant cost of living and tax difference I would be more open to the idea of living in Vancouver.
You're going to pay the Oregon Income tax in both version of that equation. I'd suggest working in the state you live in.
I don't think I could ever move back. Just too crowded. I realize I'm moving to England where there are mobs of people everywhere, but somehow I don't find it nearly as annoying over there. Or maybe it's because I'm moving to the countryside. If I had to live in a city as big as Portland, I'd choose Portland. Thank goodness I don't.
Well, we know Bobby Medina won't be waiting for you at the airport with a "welcome" sign, but I suppose a group of us might consider doing so.
If you can deal with the commute, there is an economic advantage to living in Washington. In particular, you get the low property tax (or lower rent) in Washington and you cross the boarder to Oregon to do all your shopping to save on the sales tax they have in Washington.
Not sure why Bobby Medina would not welcome me, I don't think I know him from Adam. Funny thing, perspective. Some people say Portland is too big a city. Living in the Bay Area, Portland seems far less crowded. And compared to LA, well, no comparison, it's practically living in the country (and I mean that as a compliment).
I have lived in a lot of places in my adult life, including all four time zones in the Continental US and four different countries in Europe. Everywhere I live just reinforces one simple fact: For me, Portland, Oregon is the greatest place to live on the planet. It's just big enough to have culture, but not so big as to have big city problems. The rain and the winter darkness don't bother me, and the perfect summers are the secret I never tell someone not from the Pacific Northwest. I defy anyone to name another place with the geographic diversity within a few hours of Portland. I'm still stuck in Denver, but I hold on to my home in the Portland area like grim death. Knowing it's there gives me an enormous amount of peace, as I know at a moment's notice, I can pull rip cord on my current life and head back to Nirvana.
I'm not an expat, but I've been here for 12 years after living in Paris, Vegas, Southern Colorado, Flagstaff and L.A. Portland definitely has things I could do without (the shitty job market, the hyper-aggressive street kids and all of the self-congratulatory bullshit over "being green," etc.) but it's got the best mix of culture, size and access to mountains, ocean and high desert I've ever seen. It's hard for me to imagine living anywhere else.
ha naw man. Dont get me wrong, I was a LA boy turned Oregonian. I moved back to Oregon to raise children after the military. Thats been a long time..I choose not to deal with stress and give up some ability to earn. Its a very fair trade in my mind. Several times I have hadte chance to go elsewhere and live a much higher lifestyle..so far I am still here..
