A new version of the same old question

[urbpan]

What am I going to miss, when (if) I move to Portland from Boston? Bonus points for not saying anything about cold or snow or sports since I hate those things.

(cross-posted to Damnportlanders)

Comments

[hhw]

(relatively) cheap airfares to more places

if you partake, Burdick's chocolate shop (I am addicted to their shaved chocolate for making hot chocolate and so have to arrange for restocking once or twice a year)

I disagree with donnad on the absence of spring -- it's my favorite season, and Portland has lots of it, often from February into June. Fall, however, is more subtle here than in New England.

Going to the beach in the summer is different here; it's almost never as hot as it can be on the east coast. The water is almost always much colder -- too cold for me to be comfortable going all the way in -- with large, sometimes dangerous waves. and there's usually a strong breeze. I love visiting the Pacific coast, but it's really not the same as going to a beach in MA, and I do miss being able to do that a couple of times a summer.

If there's more higher ed in your future, Boston certainly has many more options than Portland does.

Being proud of your state for supporting equal rights (e.g. marriage)

chipmunks, cardinals, blue jays

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

i do not go into the atlantic in new england.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Chipmunks cardinals bluejays...

But there are stellers jays, and some kinds of ground squirrels right?

[hhw]

I have never seen any ground squirrels in the Portland metro area, although they might be here -- perhaps at higher elevations in Forest Park.

Yes to Stellar Jays and Scrub Jays also. I don't see the Stellars in my particular neighborhood; they prefer a higher density of conifers, it seems.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

you make up for the lack of squirrels with your ENORMOUS slugs. :)

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Oh, good point! I do have an unusual appreciation for slugs!

[hhw]

also, a friend of mine has taken some fantastic wildlife photos around the region; here's a gallery from a NWR about half an hour north of Portland:
http://racphoto.com/Parks/WA/Ridgefield/Ridgefield.html

and there are some OR/WA chipmunk and squirrel photos here:
http://racphoto.com/Mammals/Mammals.html

and some critters -- including bugs! -- in his backyard:
http://racphoto.com/Parks/OR/Portland/Backyard/Backyard.html