How long have you lived in Portland? What do you like best about it? Have you ever lived in the Midwest before? Then I can answer your last question...
I've lived in Portland for ten years, and Detroit for the 18 years before that. That's the Midwest too, but I imagine it's a very different region...
Portland is great - it has good public transportation, low crime, lots of green space, environmental consciousness, very good food, and a young, politically aware, progressive population. I don't look forward to leaving it. But the job market sucks, everyone agrees. It's not a matter of if, but where to, I go.
I imagine that it would be a pretty significant social transition, to say the least. But I have to go where the work is. MO might have some opportunities for a civil rights lawyer, I thought...
Okay, you and I seem to have somewhat similar values. I moved to KC five years ago, and aside from finding a few decent restaurants and some far-flung parks, every single thing on your list is utterly and completely gone from KC. You already know about the weather (hot 'n' humid or snowy 'n' chapped everything). Moving here has been the single biggest mistake of my entire life. You will LIVE in your car, unless you manage to find housing close to your work. That car will be broken into. You will lose anything not tied down (and maybe even that) on your porch or house if it's locked, and everything inside if it isn't. They JUST started recycling a few years ago, but no glass. Progressives are considered toxic waste here. You are identified by where you go to church. Gunfire, hate crimes, crappy education, horrible public transportation (and they hate bicyclsts here... they get run over all the time, and the general consensus is "well, what were they thinking? You ride in the road, you get what you deserve."), and one of the worst
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Oh, Lordy, don't let that last reply scare you off. Just as any largish city is wont to have, yes, there are scarier areas of KC than others, and there are also really nice areas, country-ish areas, areas where you DO feel safe, etc. It all depends on where you opt to hang your hat. I can't speak for the job market in the legal arena, as I'm in IT, but I've not seen booming headlines screeching that a million attorneys are out of work, either. I just had to put in a vote for the good things this city has to offer to help balance the other post. ;)
*I* love it here, no holds barred. There's enough diversity for me to feel fairly balanced, and enough of a whole-and-organic-foods-let's-green-up-the-place community that you can plug into if you're so inclined. Yeesh.
I agree with hdsgrl and triadruid because kansas city is improving day by day. I moved here about 5 years ago from los angeles and I don't think I'm leaving this place. I love it here because we're able to live in a nice area, have a big place and have money leftover to do things we want to do. I know first hand that sometimes those three things are impossible in a bigger city. My maid of honor came from la last week and she couldn't believe how much we pay for our 2 bed 2 bath. It gives you freedom. I'm half persian and I REALLY wish there were better persian restaurants here, but aside from that the restaurants here are amazing. There is something for everyone. The midwest is COMPLETELY different when it comes to making friends than the west coast, but of course it takes time everywhere. I love it here. We've lived downtown, westport(eclectic/bar area), north of the river and now kansas. My car has never been broken into, but I also have friends that their car got broken into so much they just left the doors unlocked. I think the
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no ma'am! we moved 2 weeks ago and got married a week ago! craaazy. We live in op,ks and I absolutely love it since we're right off of the highway and barely in op. are you still downtown?
whoa, i thought you were all about livin in the city. you suburbanite, you! i am still in the same place! i love it here... next step is chicago in a few years (i hope)! :)
I moved to Kansas City from Austin and I love it here.. but for all the reasons that probably won't apply to you...haha.
I don't drive and haven't really tested out public transportation a lot, but it *is* better than the buses in Austin. I think Kansas City is fine for progressives, depending on where you "hang your hat" (hehe). Downtown and Westport would probably be fine if you're progressive, on the Kansas side, Johnson county area (where the yuppies live!) not so much. My parents looked at me like I have seven eyes when I asked about curbside recycling at their house. Haha.
I have no idea on job prospects for you..downtown is geared a lot towards the finance industry, which is great for me!
Best of luck on your search! The job market is awful right now all over the place.
My husband is from Seattle and I've lived in Missouri my entire life, KC for the last 10. No, it's not perfect - we don't have a great transit system, although they're working on it and we don't have awesome curbside recycling everywhere but we do have resources for taking them.
We love that we have a nice big house in a nice area of town.. I've never been robbed or had my house or car broken into, just so you know. It doesn't happen to everyone. We have good friends and good jobs making more than we'd make back out west as well as a community we feel comfortable having a family in. Not everyone here is a flag flying Republican and there is a lot of diversity.
If you can visit first, do that. Maybe it's not your cup of tea but you might be surprised.
Authentic-from scratch-Italian food at Il Trullo restaurant in Overland Park, KS. 9056 Metcalf. 913.341.3773 Reservations are recommended for the weekend.. If you hate it here, at least you can say you had a great meal. :)
p.s. I'm the Pastry Chef so you must save room for dessert. I make homemade gelato, biscotti, shortbreads, cakes, tarts, etc.
Also, I would definitely check out St. Louis if you get a chance.
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Portland is great - it has good public transportation, low crime, lots of green space, environmental consciousness, very good food, and a young, politically aware, progressive population. I don't look forward to leaving it. But the job market sucks, everyone agrees. It's not a matter of if, but where to, I go.
I imagine that it would be a pretty significant social transition, to say the least. But I have to go where the work is. MO might have some opportunities for a civil rights lawyer, I thought...
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Thank you for your thoughts... I'll keep researching =\
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*I* love it here, no holds barred. There's enough diversity for me to feel fairly balanced, and enough of a whole-and-organic-foods-let's-green-up-the-place community that you can plug into if you're so inclined. Yeesh.
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I don't drive and haven't really tested out public transportation a lot, but it *is* better than the buses in Austin. I think Kansas City is fine for progressives, depending on where you "hang your hat" (hehe). Downtown and Westport would probably be fine if you're progressive, on the Kansas side, Johnson county area (where the yuppies live!) not so much. My parents looked at me like I have seven eyes when I asked about curbside recycling at their house. Haha.
I have no idea on job prospects for you..downtown is geared a lot towards the finance industry, which is great for me!
Best of luck on your search! The job market is awful right now all over the place.
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My husband is from Seattle and I've lived in Missouri my entire life, KC for the last 10. No, it's not perfect - we don't have a great transit system, although they're working on it and we don't have awesome curbside recycling everywhere but we do have resources for taking them.
We love that we have a nice big house in a nice area of town.. I've never been robbed or had my house or car broken into, just so you know. It doesn't happen to everyone. We have good friends and good jobs making more than we'd make back out west as well as a community we feel comfortable having a family in. Not everyone here is a flag flying Republican and there is a lot of diversity.
If you can visit first, do that. Maybe it's not your cup of tea but you might be surprised.
Just my $.02 :)
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Any suggestions for what to do while I'm in town?
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Authentic-from scratch-Italian food at Il Trullo restaurant in Overland Park, KS. 9056 Metcalf. 913.341.3773 Reservations are recommended for the weekend..
If you hate it here, at least you can say you had a great meal. :)
p.s. I'm the Pastry Chef so you must save room for dessert. I make homemade gelato, biscotti, shortbreads, cakes, tarts, etc.
Also, I would definitely check out St. Louis if you get a chance.
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