The Great Northwest Part I
5 Comments
August 12, 2009
For a while now The Man and I been talking about moving to a place far away called Not Orange County. We’re not too picky as to where we want to live, but some main non negotiable points would be: no snow, no midwest, no big hair, no marrying your cousin, no alligator meat, and no humidity.
In our mission to find the perfect place to raise a family, build community, and lay down our roots (no pressure or anything), we decided to take a little trip up to the great Northwest where it rains a lot, but rain produces an amazing amount of beauty, so it’s totally forgivable. Plus, I never have to do my hair or take off my sweatpants when it’s raining. BINGO.
Our first stop was Portland.
We rode bikes. Because that’s what you do in Portland. Except no one told me that I would be too dressed up in this city. Even in my jeans and sweater I felt like a movie star. People in Portland are…to put it nicely, very casual.
We wandered into this amazing shop where they had chickens made of plastic bags. I wanted it. But Pat wouldn’t buy it for me. He said something about us having too many plastic bag chickens.
He was right. Dammit.
We rode the bus a lot. And I’m down with the bus riding because it means I got to people watch some freaky ass people.
And our hotel was where Rococo came to die, but in a good way.
So much good in fact, that I never wanted to leave this couch. But eventually I did, because someone, somewhere was eating bacon. And in that moment I realized that I too needed to be eating bacon.
Oh, and I also had a beer. It’s good for the baby, no?
All in all, Portland is a good place to score some weed, get a hemp skirt, and dodge street activists with clip boards. We loved the city, but can’t really imagine ourselves living there. Too bad really, because I was looking foward to dreadlocking my hair.
Incredible. Looking forward to part 2.
by Ty on August 12, 2009
Good to know… where you going next?
by Caley on August 13, 2009
They have beer in Portland? I’m so moving there if I ever decide to … go there.
I’m sure you’ll be looking at Seattle, too. What about one of those little towns outside of SF like Petaluma or Sonoma? What about San Clemente, which is not Not Orange County, but it’s much less OC than those other parts, or a little town in SD county like Leucadia? I’m saying it would be a shame to let you go. You are one of the OC’s greatest natural resources.
by dgm on August 13, 2009
SF is sooo ‘spensive (I always say that word like I’m Ricky Ricardo…don’t ask), BUT, DGM is right, there are lots of little towns around worth looking at. Just depends on what you want to do for a job – everyone’s hurtin’, which doesn’t help the ‘spensive part.
by Bellacantare on August 14, 2009
Being a native Oregonian, I have to say that you did a pretty good job of concisely summing up Portland; especially your comment about clothes (and anything else) made out of hemp, and the activists walking around with clip boards making you feel guilty for not loving swallows native to the Oregon coast enough. And your observation about you being way more dressed than everyone else made sense. Definitely depends on the area of Portland you’re in. And, um, did you actually stay in one of the most fabulous places I’ve ever experienced? The Nines?! So jealous. I’ve been there a couple of times but only for appetizers and looking around pretending that I’m an actual guest. That place has the best design anywhere. Glad you guys were able to experience it. And hopefully you had good weather – the summers are amazing there. But the rest of the time…..gray, gray and more gray. With rain thrown in. One more thing: I loved the way you put it when you said you guys are looking for a place called “not Orange County.” Clever, as always.
by Michelle on August 19, 2009
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