Re:'Youth Magnet' Cities Hit Midlife Crisis
by wallflower on Monday May 18, 2009 @08:41AM
(#614849)
One year ago, I visited Portland with the intention of scouting it out for a relocation. I had fallen in love with the city before even stepping foot in it - from blogs, travel articles, Chuck Palahniuk's excellent quirky guide/book to his hometown, stories from friends.
Portland is one of the friendliest vibes cities I can recall. Walking through the Alberta arts district, you literally can walk into impromptu parties in strangers' backyards. I enjoy riding bicycles and Portland's bike culture isn't just bike culture - it's culture. There, it is disturbingly normal to not just ride a bike but a high-wheeled double bike contraption. The food scene is top-notch - I had one of my best Latin meals at Nuestra Cocina. There is live music playing every day of the week. The tech scene is crazy - lots of interesting people doing stuff (I even met the guy who does all of the BART web stuff - he doesn't live in SF, go figure)
I never made it to the Pearl District (the hip/trendy part of town and where I thought I'd rent). I did make it to the extraordinary Powells Book Store on the edge of the Pearl, but I felt more at home in Alberta and elsewhere.
The negatives I noticed. The job market (in May 2008) was such that I probably would only have a tech job if I could convince my current employer to let me work remote (which would have required an all-in type of negotiation - e.g. ask and if I didn't get it - go anyway otherwise credibility destroyed)
Agh the weather - it really does drizzle a lot there. And it's cold.
I can understand the draw of Portland. As an author once said, "everyone in Portland has three lives." They're a waitress, a mother, a watercolor artist. No matter how unique you feel you are, you'll feel at home in Portland - it allows people to live their multiple lives. Yes, you can do that anywhere but Portland is a catalyst.
I resisted it and am finding that you can make the best of where you currently are - from friends to being involved in your local tech community to volunteering to beyond.
Portland is one of the friendliest vibes cities I can recall. Walking through the Alberta arts district, you literally can walk into impromptu parties in strangers' backyards. I enjoy riding bicycles and Portland's bike culture isn't just bike culture - it's culture. There, it is disturbingly normal to not just ride a bike but a high-wheeled double bike contraption. The food scene is top-notch - I had one of my best Latin meals at Nuestra Cocina. There is live music playing every day of the week. The tech scene is crazy - lots of interesting people doing stuff (I even met the guy who does all of the BART web stuff - he doesn't live in SF, go figure)
I never made it to the Pearl District (the hip/trendy part of town and where I thought I'd rent). I did make it to the extraordinary Powells Book Store on the edge of the Pearl, but I felt more at home in Alberta and elsewhere.
The negatives I noticed. The job market (in May 2008) was such that I probably would only have a tech job if I could convince my current employer to let me work remote (which would have required an all-in type of negotiation - e.g. ask and if I didn't get it - go anyway otherwise credibility destroyed)
Agh the weather - it really does drizzle a lot there. And it's cold.
I can understand the draw of Portland. As an author once said, "everyone in Portland has three lives." They're a waitress, a mother, a watercolor artist. No matter how unique you feel you are, you'll feel at home in Portland - it allows people to live their multiple lives. Yes, you can do that anywhere but Portland is a catalyst.
I resisted it and am finding that you can make the best of where you currently are - from friends to being involved in your local tech community to volunteering to beyond.
high-wheeled double bike: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleyblodgett/2442644672/