What drew me to the Pacific Northwest

In her comment to my entry on the Portland snowstorm, Marlaine asked what drew me to the Pacific Northwest. Here a few things:

1. The weather. No kidding ... I love cold and rainy weather. The best I've ever felt in my life was on my trip to England and Scotland back in the 1980s. My body and my psyche just seem to thrive on overcast skies, cool temps, and misty, drizzly rain. Last summer, I swore that it would be my last time to endure the 98-degree heat and humidity on the Gulf Coast. Little did I know what was going to happen to make that come true, though.

2. Powell's City of Books. Whenever I ordered books from Powell's online, I'd envision the bookstore employees pulling my books from the shelves to send them to me. Now I've been there in person. Pretty cool. I think I'm in heaven.

3. Individualism. I'd been hearing how Portland consciousness was one of respecting and even reveling in diversity and the right of each person to express their uniqueness. I've even heard it called a city of "refugees". A true pioneering spirit, which contrary to the beliefs of my Southern Protestant forebears, has nothing to do with puritanism, judgmental attitudes, and suffering. When I read that 25% of Pacific Northwest residents do not identify with any particular religion, I knew it was the place for me. Now, I consider myself a spiritual person, and I support everyone's right to religious freedom. The First Amendment to the Constitution is one of the great gifts of the U.S. to humanity, in my opinion. However, living in the Deep South, I did find it oppressive to live in an environment where the majority of the people belong to one particular religion and that religion dominates everything in the culture, often in a non-thinking, rigid way. I expect I'll have a lot more to say about this subject, because it's something I've given a lot of thought to. Still am, as I observe myself reacting to and interacting with Portland.

4. People kept telling me to "go to Portland".  When I'd mention to friends and acquaintances that I was thinking about relocating to a place that was more progressive and open-minded, I kept hearing, "you need to check out Portland." My plan was to visit the Northwest this year, and then if it fit me, to move there in the next year or so. As often happens with plans, they changed. So here I am.

Comments

[marlaine]

have you been to powell's yet?
well i hope portland is a wonderful place for you.....for now :)
what more could one ask for?
xo
thanks for taking the time to explain!

[Kitty]

I've been to one of Powell's satellite stores (in the suburbs) but not the big store downtown yet. And yep ... I'm taking it step by step, no expectation or requirement that Portland will be "it' for the rest of my life. I'm letting the place reveal itself and observing what it brings out in me. It's so different from any place I've ever been (and I'm so different because of what's happened the last few months), so I don't have any basis on which to build expectations, even if I wanted to. I must say I'm rather curious to see what develops for me here.:)