A letter to Portland

[benefitz]

Dearest Damndest Portlanders,

I <3 you all so damn much. Every damn one of you. And I had no idea how much until I did something stupid and moved away. "But it's for grad school!", I told myself, "you'll be busy and it will be okay." I was wrong. If you love Portland, never move to the area around Phoenix, AZ. That is my recommendation for

Comments

[alex_kaeda]

As soon as I finish school, you're more than welcome to take my 'spot' in Portland. As one of the few here who has lived in a communist/socialist country I am ashamed of how easily Porlanders are talked into renouncing freedom. How quickly you ask Government to solve your problems, and expecting someone else to pay for your failures.

I am ashamed to say "I was born in Portland, I grew up here" when speaking with my international friends, who politely smile when you start talking about portland being quirky and weird, then privately mock you.

Yes, as soon as I'm done with school, I'll be happy to leave. And no, I'm not finishing school here because they're good schools - quite the opposite. I had a much better education in SE Europe. I'm simply finishing here because I'm so close to the end of the degree program.

[smartasspants]

this sounds like an issue with Americans, not Portlanders.

I bet you won't be missed, either.

[cyborganic]

if you're going to Europe, can i go with you? :P

jk. many portlanders annoy the piss out of me and there are a lot of assholes in this community alone, but not enough to make me hate this beautiful city.

ps. if you go to PSU, i feel sorry for you. i hated that place and the education was a joke.

[new_caprica]

If you hate Portland and all the "freedom renouncers" (I mean, seriously?) in it sooo much why do you still bother reading and responding to all the posts here?

I spent some extended time in Europe and a lot of the international friends I made had heard great things about Portland and were excited to hear about it.

[catbus]

Similar situation... I've left the PNW (and the country) for the first time in my life and I realize how dear Portland is to me and it will hold a special place in my heart. :D

[drivelikejehn]

As a Phoenix transplant into this here fair city, I feel you completely.

However, for a quick fix, I suggest heading north. Flagstaff and Jerome may be the closest 1920-ish towns to satisfy those cravings. For now.

[corporatepiracy]

I love, love, love Flagstaff. I won't lie - the three places I've considered moving to post-Portland are Flagstaff, Durango, and Boulder.

[xplo_eristotle]

I lived in Flagstaff for twelve years. I was so eager to leave it that I finally got rid of half of my possessions and hopped a jet here with a suitcase and a bicycle to start a new(ish) life. DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS MAN.

[corporatepiracy]

I'm a lady.

[yourdannybear]

I never understood why Portlanders move to Arizona. It seems like they always regret it. I mean I would never ever live there. EVER. I grew up on the beach in Socal and we were warned MUCHLY about Arizona. Portlanders if you want a foreign experience just move to San Francisco or Berkeley. You still got your vegan eateries and bike riders+ palm trees. Shit, even San Diego would be better than Phoenix.

[benefitz]

The one and only reason I moved was to work with a particular teacher at a particular school.

[rosenthol7]

Funny I couldn't wait to leave the land of enchantment.
Made the mistake of moving back 3 years ago and realized why I left in the first place. SOOO glad to be back in PDX. If I never see some Green Chile concoction again it will be too soon.

[abalone99]

Glad to see someone else bring this up and also not hating on the place they came from. :) I left Texas to go to college here and was SO happy to leave but when I got here I discovered there were good and bad things here and more astoundingly realized there were also some good things with the bad things back home. I realized I can and do appreciate and love both areas. I wish more people could see it that way and find the joy and beauty and fun in wherever they are instead of lamenting about how their current locale is not exactly like their former. The world and this country are full of awesome places that are different and awesome for different reasons.