This one is for the fans from the begining....
OK so one of the three people who read this site is giving me guff about a Portland recap. Not sure how to put it all in words but I will try.
I will openly admit that the idea of moving to the other side of the country was Melissa's idea. If you know me at all, you would understand my initial reactions. I was afraid of a bold move like that. We live pretty comfortable in Oklahoma, have jobs, some friends, and own a house. But, I started to think about it, and really I think we have done most of what Oklahoma can offer us. We are bored. We are restless. We are lazy in this city. Melissa was right, we need a change.
I could list all the things we are trying to move away from, but that would be pointless. They are personal reasons, and I can't expect anyone to understand all/any of them.
We started thinking of places we liked that we have visited, and nothing really clicked except for the Pacific Northwest. We had been to Seattle and drove into Canada on our honeymoon. Seattle was beautiful but seems a little "corped" out and ran like an industry city. We decided we would like to visit Portland to see what it was like. As we began doing research everything on paper spelled out this city as being the right place for us. Progressive city, designed to be LIVED IN, and cheaper than most West Coast cities. They also keep the city from sprawling into Suburbia.
We arrived in Portland on a dark, VERY rainy Monday night, "oh crap" I thought. Everyone likes to bring up rain when discussing Portland or Seattle. But that was pretty much the last we saw of rain while we were there. The rest of the week was filled with sunny, or slightly overcast comfortable weather.
We stayed in a nice little Bed and Breakfast in the heart of the NW neighborhood we fell in love with. You could walk to a grocery store, bars, restaurants, pretty much anything within 5-10minutes. Ha, walking. We don't walk in Oklahoma City, we all take cars to drive 20-30 minutes all over this huge, sprawled and I think ugly city.
My meeting with the place I hope to be employed in the future with was the first on Tues. We took the bus up to the hill where Oregon Health Science University is located. It was like driving up a mountain, so beautiful, ferns, trees, wild flowers, open views overlooking the city and Mt. Hood in the background. I looked at Melissa and said, "This could be my drive to work?!?!?!?". The campus seems rather modern, with great modern architecture and artwork everywhere. Everyone was really friendly minus the guy at the Cafeteria when asked to make us a veggie burger(did I mention EVERYWHERE has lots of vegetarian options, that actually taste good?). Anyway, Melissa and I killed time in the computer lab looking for things to do in our free time, and I eventually met with the Educational Communication department. They were great folks, who do great things. They do exactly the same things I do for OUHSC here in OKC. Its a perfect match. So cross your fingers that a position becomes available soon.
Melissa had meetings with 2 private schools in the area. These are amazing schools. One has dorms to house the international students that come from around the world to attend this school! Of course they also have a Snow Board team. Time will tell if those will turn into offers as well. We are still waiting for the public schools to post their positions.
The rest of the time was spent smiling, laughing, and falling head over heals in love with Portland. Everyone is out and about, walking, walking dogs, chatting with strangers, and they do it because that is how the live. It wasn't some Hipster contest, or dog show. It was just people living. I have heard reports that Portland is full of too cool for school hipsters. I don't think I met any of them, and in fact I normally am annoyed by people wherever I go, but I felt this happened a lot less in PDX. And let me tell you, too cool for school hipsters are everywhere in the World. Its who you CHOOSE to hang out with. Melissa and I are getting to an age where, we probably won't be going out "dancing" or binge drinking at "that awesome club where the DJ spins a lot of Interpool". I am almost 30. cry. ok.
But we are young enough to know we want to live in a city like Portland. Vibrant, growing, well designed, full of youth, art, music, good beers, near mountains, near beaches, no Oklahoma summers, and no sales tax.
We want to live in Portland Oregon.
I will openly admit that the idea of moving to the other side of the country was Melissa's idea. If you know me at all, you would understand my initial reactions. I was afraid of a bold move like that. We live pretty comfortable in Oklahoma, have jobs, some friends, and own a house. But, I started to think about it, and really I think we have done most of what Oklahoma can offer us. We are bored. We are restless. We are lazy in this city. Melissa was right, we need a change.
I could list all the things we are trying to move away from, but that would be pointless. They are personal reasons, and I can't expect anyone to understand all/any of them.
We started thinking of places we liked that we have visited, and nothing really clicked except for the Pacific Northwest. We had been to Seattle and drove into Canada on our honeymoon. Seattle was beautiful but seems a little "corped" out and ran like an industry city. We decided we would like to visit Portland to see what it was like. As we began doing research everything on paper spelled out this city as being the right place for us. Progressive city, designed to be LIVED IN, and cheaper than most West Coast cities. They also keep the city from sprawling into Suburbia.
We arrived in Portland on a dark, VERY rainy Monday night, "oh crap" I thought. Everyone likes to bring up rain when discussing Portland or Seattle. But that was pretty much the last we saw of rain while we were there. The rest of the week was filled with sunny, or slightly overcast comfortable weather.
We stayed in a nice little Bed and Breakfast in the heart of the NW neighborhood we fell in love with. You could walk to a grocery store, bars, restaurants, pretty much anything within 5-10minutes. Ha, walking. We don't walk in Oklahoma City, we all take cars to drive 20-30 minutes all over this huge, sprawled and I think ugly city.
My meeting with the place I hope to be employed in the future with was the first on Tues. We took the bus up to the hill where Oregon Health Science University is located. It was like driving up a mountain, so beautiful, ferns, trees, wild flowers, open views overlooking the city and Mt. Hood in the background. I looked at Melissa and said, "This could be my drive to work?!?!?!?". The campus seems rather modern, with great modern architecture and artwork everywhere. Everyone was really friendly minus the guy at the Cafeteria when asked to make us a veggie burger(did I mention EVERYWHERE has lots of vegetarian options, that actually taste good?). Anyway, Melissa and I killed time in the computer lab looking for things to do in our free time, and I eventually met with the Educational Communication department. They were great folks, who do great things. They do exactly the same things I do for OUHSC here in OKC. Its a perfect match. So cross your fingers that a position becomes available soon.
Melissa had meetings with 2 private schools in the area. These are amazing schools. One has dorms to house the international students that come from around the world to attend this school! Of course they also have a Snow Board team. Time will tell if those will turn into offers as well. We are still waiting for the public schools to post their positions.
The rest of the time was spent smiling, laughing, and falling head over heals in love with Portland. Everyone is out and about, walking, walking dogs, chatting with strangers, and they do it because that is how the live. It wasn't some Hipster contest, or dog show. It was just people living. I have heard reports that Portland is full of too cool for school hipsters. I don't think I met any of them, and in fact I normally am annoyed by people wherever I go, but I felt this happened a lot less in PDX. And let me tell you, too cool for school hipsters are everywhere in the World. Its who you CHOOSE to hang out with. Melissa and I are getting to an age where, we probably won't be going out "dancing" or binge drinking at "that awesome club where the DJ spins a lot of Interpool". I am almost 30. cry. ok.
But we are young enough to know we want to live in a city like Portland. Vibrant, growing, well designed, full of youth, art, music, good beers, near mountains, near beaches, no Oklahoma summers, and no sales tax.
We want to live in Portland Oregon.
posted by Brewcaster at
5:50 AM
6 Comments:
Wow, this is the longest post you've made in, like...forever! Nice!
I'm so happy that you guys had a nice trip to Portland! I've always heard great things about that area, and from your description, I can see why.
I, too, had concerns about the city's "too cool for school" quota, so it's good to know that the number of hipsters merely resembles the national average.
Keep us posted as the situation develops.
P.S. I'm going to the coast today...expect photos.
dude,
you know i give you 'guff' only in jest.
i know youre bored here. infact, i know exactly how you feel. this 'city' is a death trap.
im really really happy for you. portland sounds amazing! im hoping the best for the job situations. you guys will land them.
and yeah, that drive to work sure as hell beats the one you got now. ha.
get ready, ill teach you all i know about photography before you move. crrrrash course!
alright, i got the java for our little trek to nompton tonight!
m.
all I can really say is, "ME TOO!!!"
Portland is a great city!
Hope it works out for you two!
Portland's awesome, dude. You'll love it. From my sister's Tulsa-to-Portland move, I will strongly recommend that you sell as much of your stuff as possible before moving. You wanna fit it into as small a truck as possible, since you'll be driving it for like a month and a half.
ah, brian, so many years pass before we speak again. a few years after leaving tulsa, i ended up in PDX for five years. it was glorious. the most beautiful place ive been in the states. and weather is amazing. sure, it rains 8 months out of the years, but the other 4 are beyond perfect (most of the time.) there are always great shows to go to, and everything is open super late. you can get a quality meal after 11pm. now that im in philadelphia, i can see how good i had it in PDX. if you there, tell the city of roses i miss her.
Portland is awesome. I love the Pacific Northwest. I love Brian Brewer!!! Good luck Brian!
jeff
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