Portland

Portland is not the place for me. I talked to someone today who actually took offense to this. I would laugh if I thought it was funny. This made me like Portland even less. Maybe he was angry because He felt like I was judging him. I just don’t identify with the personality of this city. I was basically talking about how Portland has more of a personality than I first thought. When I moved here in 04 I was going to college and was here with many other people not from Portland. I love what the city has to offer but these past few months I have had to do some house hunting and in the process of looking for new roommates my eyes were opened to a new part of Portland. The Vegan only, must love cats and 420 Portland. The I am fine living paycheck to paycheck as long as I am in a zen mode Portland. I was lucky enough to land some awesome roommates but in the process found that this city is not me.

I will forever treasure what Portland has taught me. The top two things being yoga is an amazing tool for relaxation and it is ok to be different just own it.
I love what Portland has to offer outdoors with an ocean and mountain nearby and tons of hiking. I love that there are a ton of places that are not corporate. That being said I don’t hate corporate as I feel many do here. I feel like there is an urge to protest anything that’s not unique. I am also tired of the starving artist mentality. I have big dreams for my life. I want to do things and am in no way satisfied with just getting by. I feel like I am judged for that as well.

What I have listed are complete generalizations. And I do think there are people here that don’t fit it to that group but I also think there are many that do.
I look at cities as dates. You date the city to see if its somewhere that you live. Does the city have things that touch your soul? Things that daily resonate with you? If so it is a city you want to date. And what is funny if someone talks bas about your date you will defend him or her. I ran into another person who I talked to about my feelings of this city and I think they too took offense. Because they have dated this place and felt like they identify with the heartbeat of it.
Long story short I have found that this city is more like a guy who rides his bike everywhere, makes just enough to live, does yoga, hikes, has a dog, wears lightweight relaxing pants and loves to recycle. The city I want to date wears a suit, makes more than enough to get by and is driven, passionate, eats meat and believes in being the provider for a family.

Again this is how I see the city. Someone may hate my future date and I am ok with that because each person you date brings out different qualities within you. And through that process you find out what characteristics or traits you care most about. What you would like to be in the forefront of everyday of your life.