As a California transplant to the Pacific Northwest in 2004, I knew approximately two things about the area. One, it rains a lot up here. Two, because it rains a lot, everything is really green. Turns out there were many things I did not know about the Northwest:
1) Hard liquor is really hard to find. The liquor stores up here are run by the State and I, to this day, have not figured out which days and times they are open. I think they might be closed on Tuesdays. People up here have never heard of Beverages and More, nor do people here make a quick run to the liquor store at 1 am on a Saturday. You actually have to plan ahead, which means that I have switched almost exclusively to beer.
2) People drive really slow up here. I understand why they do this because, unlike California and the CHP, Washington State Troopers drive both marked and unmarked cars. Be wary if you see a greyish car. I generally only drive fast in areas where I am unlikely to encounter a police officer, like my driveway.
3) It really does rain a lot up here. While I knew this prior to relocating, I didn't realize that it would mist most of the year. In Cali, I remember pretty nasty storms, but they often didn't linger for long. I think it rained all day today. And part of yesterday, and probably tomorrow. You would think that the meteorologists up here would have an easy job predicting rain but, surprisingly, they often get it wrong.
4) People up here don't use umbrellas. You can easily spot the tourists. I have an umbrella. It is in my garage. I have no current or future plans to use said umbrella, mostly because I would be ostracized by the locals.
5) The official car of the Northwest has to be the Subaru Outback. I think that every other car in some of the trendy neighborhoods is a Subaru. Second place goes to the Honda Element - the only car I know where the inside won't be ruined by the constant drizzle-mist.
6) I've heard that there are tree-huggers up here, but I have never actually seen someone hug a tree. I have, however, had many discussions about composting, gardening, and reducing my carbon footprint. I compost, recycle as much as I send to a landfill, and turn off lights in my house. I'm pretty eco-savvy.
7) Portland wants to be weird. The Pacific Northwest does not want to be like California. Some Californians may believe that everyone would move to Cali if they could afford it, but the Northwest has such a distinctive personality that people here are glad to stay, despite the rain. Or maybe because of it. If you can survive the seasonal affective disorder and high caffeine intake, you've earned the right to call the Northwest home.
I've been here for eight years. Sure, I sometimes get a little down when it has rained for seven days in a row, or when I've gone downtown Portland and it was just a little too weird. But I wouldn't move back to California. I've found a place where I can take my kids on a hike at any given moment. I've found a place where I can see the flowing Columbia River, majestic Mount Hood, and solitary Mount St. Helens at the same moment, and I see them everyday. There is beauty in every direction. But don't tell the Californians - the locals lament that there are already way too many of them up here.
