Chapter 1: Living Life in the Pacific Northwest
- Vinita Bennett
- Nov 20, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 3
It's been almost two months since we left our 13-year residency in Arizona (seven years in Chandler and six years in Scottsdale) for a cooler climate in the Pacific Northwest—specifically, Oregon. Many people wonder why we would move out of the Valley of the Sun to the rainy, gray skies of the Northwest. For us, the rain in Portland is rarely a deluge; it's often just a light mist that comes and goes, which is surprisingly tolerable. Funny to say, we love the smell of rain. Gray and gloomy skies don't affect us as long as we're not facing long, stretching hot and heat; we're just done with that. However, living in Arizona has been an incredible journey. I learned a great deal about American culture, work, and life. However, the time has come for us to move on. I've always dreamed of living in a four-season climate. We love the spectacular nature and diversity that Oregon has to offer.
We considered several potential cities for our next move, such as Denver, Nashville, and Seattle, but none of them felt right. I am a city girl at heart, having been born and raised in a big city—Bangkok, Thailand. Living in a city will always be my first choice. However, as I grew older, I found that I love the feel of city life but prefer being in a more secluded area. Confusing, right? I’ve always been fond of living in a peaceful area while still being close enough to downtown to enjoy a date night and shopping. When we discovered the Southwest Hills of Portland, we fell in love immediately. And let me tell you, the food scene in Portland is truly unbeatable!
Portland is a very cool and hip city, known for having one of the best food scenes in the U.S. I also love the diversity in this town. Like other major cities, it faces a homelessness issue and unfortunately has a reputation due to chaotic events that occurred several years ago. Initially, we were very concerned about this, but we've heard that the city is gradually getting back on track. Funding for the police has been increased, and they have reversed the legislation that legalized hard drug use. We’ve witnessed some improvements and believe that the city will thrive again in a few years—amen to that!
The timing was impeccable, and we were blessed to find the perfect house in an ideal location. We live in the Southwest Hills of Portland, known locally as “The Hills,” surrounded by lush greenery and forests. The location is exceptional, with downtown Portland, the Pearl District, Nob Hill, the Japanese Garden, the Arboretum, Pittock Mansion, or the Oregon Zoo all within a 5-mile radius. Not to mention that our wine club is just 3 minutes away! We frequently use Lyft for a hassle-free date night in downtown. Uber Eats has become a valuable resource as we settle into our new home or on nights when cooking is not a viable option.
We can take advantage of numerous nearby attractions, including Cannon Beach, Columbia River Gorge, Willamette Valley, and the Tillamook, all within a one-hour drive. Additionally, skiing at Mt. Hood is only 1.5 hours away. We are thrilled to experience the full winter season, including the rainy and overcast periods, to identify which month we might need a warm-weather break, possibly in Hawaii or the Caribbean for two weeks next year. Nevertheless, it is clear that we will not need to escape the heat for an extended two-month period anymore. We bid farewell to that.
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