Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Weather or not
No, no baby yet.
Today I was enjoying the break from all the rain we've had (including a biblical deluge yesterday afternoon as we were driving back from Jack London square -- cars tossing waves of water over other cars, mini-ponds at the intersections etc.). I sat on a bench out by the cable car turnaround and read my SI and pondered the tourists. The sun felt so good...I'm wondering if I could actually move back to Portland, as Nicola and I have recently discussed. The rain can be discouraging and bothersome and, in the Pacific Northwest, oppressive and depressing. 270 overcast days a year can get to you...although perhaps only if you think about it. It never really bothered me when I lived in Portland for seven years. The rain is something you become accustomed to up there, and it doesn't stop you from doing your normal activities. Maybe it was easier to move there in 1996, when I didn't know squat about the city and even less about the weather there. I recall it being kind of nice the 2 days we were there in March (April?) 1996, before we decided to move there. What a random serious of events led me to Portland, which led me here. Not exactly how I thought things would turn out, but I sure do love how they did turn out.
But now I know the weather there is rainy, and compared to the weather in Alameda -- San Diego-like, 60 and 70s most of the year with more sunny days than not, not a rain drop in site from May to October -- man, that's hard to beat. But on the other other hand, I'm not particularly in favor of really hot weather either, because I'm not, um, built for skimpy clothes. Not that I'd wear something skimpy, but there is safety in layers.
Ultimately, the weather may or may not play a role in an eventual decision to move back to Portland. We do really like it here, and we are just starting to develop a nice core of friends. My job is great. The weather is great. And, of course, the whole reason we are here -- proximity to Ella. I think we're unlikely to seriously consider a move for 10 years or so, when Ella was in high school and getting close to college age. Who knows what will happen between now and then. The Oregon draw is primarily proximity to Nicola's family, and I love Portland for a lot of intangible reasons. Oh, and then there's the housing prices in the Bay Area, to which the word "obscene" doesn't do justice. We are resigned -- and trying to actually be OK -- with renting for the short term and perhaps longer, particularly as we get our finances together.
Any decision is a long way off, but it's interesting to think about.
Today I was enjoying the break from all the rain we've had (including a biblical deluge yesterday afternoon as we were driving back from Jack London square -- cars tossing waves of water over other cars, mini-ponds at the intersections etc.). I sat on a bench out by the cable car turnaround and read my SI and pondered the tourists. The sun felt so good...I'm wondering if I could actually move back to Portland, as Nicola and I have recently discussed. The rain can be discouraging and bothersome and, in the Pacific Northwest, oppressive and depressing. 270 overcast days a year can get to you...although perhaps only if you think about it. It never really bothered me when I lived in Portland for seven years. The rain is something you become accustomed to up there, and it doesn't stop you from doing your normal activities. Maybe it was easier to move there in 1996, when I didn't know squat about the city and even less about the weather there. I recall it being kind of nice the 2 days we were there in March (April?) 1996, before we decided to move there. What a random serious of events led me to Portland, which led me here. Not exactly how I thought things would turn out, but I sure do love how they did turn out.
But now I know the weather there is rainy, and compared to the weather in Alameda -- San Diego-like, 60 and 70s most of the year with more sunny days than not, not a rain drop in site from May to October -- man, that's hard to beat. But on the other other hand, I'm not particularly in favor of really hot weather either, because I'm not, um, built for skimpy clothes. Not that I'd wear something skimpy, but there is safety in layers.
Ultimately, the weather may or may not play a role in an eventual decision to move back to Portland. We do really like it here, and we are just starting to develop a nice core of friends. My job is great. The weather is great. And, of course, the whole reason we are here -- proximity to Ella. I think we're unlikely to seriously consider a move for 10 years or so, when Ella was in high school and getting close to college age. Who knows what will happen between now and then. The Oregon draw is primarily proximity to Nicola's family, and I love Portland for a lot of intangible reasons. Oh, and then there's the housing prices in the Bay Area, to which the word "obscene" doesn't do justice. We are resigned -- and trying to actually be OK -- with renting for the short term and perhaps longer, particularly as we get our finances together.
Any decision is a long way off, but it's interesting to think about.
// posted by Bill @ 8:45 PM 
