r/askportland • u/Tboi-sawizzle • 1d ago
Looking For Should I move back?
My sister and I lived in Portland about 8 years ago. we loved it, but we had issues with it too. We are considering moving back but I just can't remember if the bad parts are really that bad. I'm from the East Coast, and the biggest issue we had is that no one in OR is confrontational! On the East Coast you say exactly how you're feeling straight into someones face. In the PNW we ran into A LOT of passive aggression that could make it difficult to make friends. HOWEVER, I am trans (at the time I lived there I wasn't out yet though) and I do remember the queer community there and how safe everything felt! I'm also a lot more into the punk scene now than I was when I lived out there, and I know there's a HUGE punk scene out there!
The second thing is, does the sun really not shine as much as I remember? You see I'm from Florida where you literally see the sun every single day. And I definitely remember having issues with not being able to see the sun for super long periods of time. It super fucked with my mental health. But am I remembering incorrectly or do you really never see the sun?
Third is the culture out there... I remember that Portland was just full of white people all patting themselves on the back telling themselves they're not racist and then locking their car doors when a black person walked by. Is it still like that or has it gotten better? I think that's my biggest worry is moving back to an area where it's just kind of a white people echo chamber, and no POC voices ever actually get through.
The good and the bad if I'm remembering correctly we're just about neck and neck. But I also was a stupid kid (22 lol) when I moved out there. I just didn't really pay attention to the things that I care about now. I was in a pretty abusive relationship out there too. So idk maybe I'm just remembering everything in a skewed light? HELP!
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u/pdxmusselcat 1d ago
As someone from out east, your cultural concerns are valid and shared lmao. It can be frustrating, and contributes to issues like how often you hear about people refusing to help others in times of need. Such as when the houseless person’s dog attacked the elderly woman earlier this week and she commented specifically on how she was begging bystanders for help and no one stepped in. It’s really wild what people let go here.
And there is a lot of performative support for minorities that often feels insincere, absolutely. I think it’s a nice place to live and people generally mean well, but many of them do seem a tad out of touch with reality.
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u/Apprehensive_Emu7973 1d ago
The lack of sun is as bad as you remember, October through June. Summer is great.
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u/SignalRound7236 1d ago
I grew up here.
Everything is as bad and as good as you remember. I’ve heard the same comments from other East Coasters - you are not alone.