What I Love Most about the Pacific Northwest.
Almost exactly 5 years ago, I packed up my Rav-4, made a 19 hour long playlist, and drove myself from Denver to Portland. Moving to the Pacific Northwest remains one of my favorite decisions I've ever made. Over the years, people have asked why I decided to move here. It wasn't for a job or for family (though I do have some wonderful family here). To put it simply, it was the place the deepest part of my soul recognized as home.
So, in no particular order, here are some of the reasons I loved and continue to love the Pacific Northwest almost five years later:
The Trees
In the Northwest, you are rarely far from a forest and the forests here are pure magic. The trees are often impossibly tall, draped with moss, and surrounded by ferns. If you feel at home amongst the trees the way I do, you'll love it here.
The Scenery
There are definitely spots in the city with beautiful views, but in this instance, I am referring to what you'll find when you drive a few hours in any direction. Head west to get to the stunning Oregon and Washington coast. Venture East to find the waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, and the deserts of Central Oregon. Go North and you can visit Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Seattle, the North Cascades, and the Olympic Peninsula. Head South to hike the Umpqua National Forest, explore Crater Lake, or visit the Redwoods of Northern California. I've always thought of Portland like the center of wheel. Head any direction and you will land somewhere beautiful.
The Green
Maybe someday, I'll tell the story of why I needed to start over somewhere. For now, I can say my mental health was suffering those last few months I lived in Denver and I felt like I was suffocating. When I got to Oregon, I could breathe again. I felt alive again. That was largely in part because everything around me was alive. There is so much green. Even in the most dried out days of August or the coldest days in January, there are living plants all around. Ferns, moss, trees, and flowers are thriving for most of the year and my mental health needed this constant reminder of life.
The Coffee
This one is simple. I love independently owned coffee shops and the NW does them very well.
The Weather
People seem to either love the weather here or hate it. For some, it's too dark and gloomy. Too wet for too many months. For me, I find the long, rainy, gray days to be comforting. I love low hanging fog and a soft pitter patter on my roof. I love that it's usually not too hot or too cold. While the sun can hide for days at a time here, it always comes back. Year round, but mostly in the summer, we get some of the bluest blue skies and beautiful sunsets. Honestly, the summers sometimes feel too sunny sometimes and I'm usually beyond ready for the rain to return.
The Ocean
Some of my most healing moments have been at the coast and I love living in driving distance of the Pacific Ocean. Year-round, rain or shine, I venture out to the coast and always feel a renewed sense of belonging when I leave.
The People
Portland was once described to me as a place where everyone can have their "own brand of crazy" and it's true! The people in Portland are uniquely themselves and there is something comforting about being openly original. Everyone I have met (both in Portland and beyond) has been incredibly kind, inclusive, and welcoming.
The City
Portland (or any major urban area) isn't perfect. There are very real social, political, and economical issues we are grappling with. Despite those issues, I think Portland is a great place to live. I love all the different neighborhoods, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. I love visiting art galleries, museums, the Saturday Market, or any of the numerous festivals, flea markets, or events happening at any given time. It is a big city, that's not too big. Portland is a busy city, full of creativity, heart, and kind humans.
