Today was perhaps one of the most beautiful days in Portland ever. Of course, I tell myself this every time it is sunny and in the mid-70s here. Nothing is better than Portland on a sunny day.
I’ve lived in Portland for 16 years. I don’t know that any other place will feel like home to me like Portland does, but lately for me – the bloom has been off the Rose City. Blame the long winter, the pothole obstacle course in my neighborhood, the half-empty condo towers out my window, or Beau Breedlove – but for some reason I’ve been feeling really down on Stumptown.
My day job keeps me in the loop about the financial health of the city, particularly the non-profit sector. Portland is not immune from the economic crisis facing the rest of the nation, and when I hear stories about MLS or the Made in Oregon sign – I worry. I worry that the leadership of Portland is too easily distracted and isn’t taking the economic issues facing the city seriously enough.
Portland has been the kind of town that takes a relatively simple problem, like a place downtown to go to the bathroom – and turns it into something really complex, expensive, “progressive” (and ultimately flawed) and comes up with a cutesy name like The Portland Loo. Portland is a real-estate developer’s paradise. A place you can swoop in with a big bag of shiny money and suddenly be everyone’s best friend. And all of your new best friends think you shit sunshine and have the most brilliant ideas ever. Portland is big on grandiose ideas, but no so big on the pesky little details. Details like the city’s $5.4 billion in long-term debt.
And what is it with all the panhandling and charity mugging downtown? Gah! I just want to walk down the street in peace.
The other day I was ticking off my list of Portland grievances with a friend of mine, and she chastised me for being such a cynic. I really couldn’t argue with her. I’ve become a total Portland Pessimist and a bummer to hang out with at cocktail parties. I’ve even gotten tired of listening to myself complain.
So I’ve made a little project for myself. I’m going to find reasons to fall in love with Portland again, and share my findings here on ourpdx. Today was easy:
The sun! The warmth!
The evenings are getting longer.
The Blazers are in the playoffs and because I’m a season ticket holder – I’m going to the home games.
Yep. It’s good to be a Portlander today.
{ 14 comments }
Gretchen, the real challenge is finding something positive about Portland that local government brought about. It’s still a great city, but it’s no thanks to the people running the place.
Gretchen:
Thanks to you, my new *favorite* phrase is now ’shit sunshine…’
Yeah! Love this post. Here’s something to love…Cherry blossoms at Waterfront Park. Gorgeous
See the cherry blossoms here.
I know exactly where you are coming from. I find myself tweeting or blogging all negatively about what is going on around me, not seeing the good stuff that is there also. Sometimes, we need to step back and try and find the good stuff. Its there, trust me. It may be small, like the magnolia tree blooming down the street, but that little bit of beauty will make my day. Let the negative drama to the wonks. There are plenty of them out there.
Btw, great post.
Excellent post, and one that I bet rings true for a lot of folks lately. Portland definitely seems to suffer from smalltown busybodies with big town aspirations.
For me, I think a diverse, crowded queue at Voodoo Donut at 12:30AM after seeing great live music in a tiny, personal venue, negates much of my cynicism even in the darkest of winter months. That and the waterfront at times reminds me of Paris in early spring believe it or not, just from a few vantage points. I’ll take it.
great post.
My sentiments exactly. Excellent post, Gretchen!
Great post. I totally get where you’re coming from. Lelo’s comment about cherry blossoms links to a post of mine from yesterday. I used to spend a lot of time blogging about local shenanigans and what was wrong with the world in general, etc., but I eventually hit the wall and just got sick of feeling grumpy and negative and discouraged all the time. I still often think I *ought* to comment on things, but I just can’t seem to force myself to do it. So now it’s flowers, when flowers are up. Or fog, if it’s foggy. Anything but the Beau Breedlove show.
I do plan to cheer loudly once the grownups are back in charge here. Ain’t holding my breath on that, though.
Jack: Good point. I am making it my personal mission to find something positive about Portland that local government brought about. And to facilitate this goal – I’m taking suggestions. Anyone?
DJTV: Always happy to help. It’s kind of a tongue twister, though.
Lelo: Great link!
Dieselboi: I’m all for leaving the wonking to the wonks. As my friend pointed out – wonking isn’t my calling.
Metroknow: A sunny springtime day in Portland, when things are blooming, can rival any destination in Europe.
Janet: Oooooh. I love your blog. Let me be one of the first to say welcome to Portland. Do you use Twitter? A lot of the ourpdx authors are on Twitter, as are a great gang of Portlanders. Sign up and follow us – and when you come to Portland – you’ll already have a nice group of people to hang out with.
Neva: Thanks, lady!
Atul: I loved your cherry blossom photos – amazing. I also loved your post and photos of the Vista bridge – totally captured that Portland landmark.
Thanks Gretchen!
I’m janet on twitter: http://twitter.com/janet
Portland’s enduring the same problems, economically, the rest of the country is experiencing. And our politicians and business leaders are out of touch with the reality, but no more (and arguably less) than politicians and business leaders everywhere; stop reading bojack!
Portland’s still a great town, and we’ve got a lot of things going for us; the ones you mention, and in general a very engaged populace (less “bowling alone” here) – I’m optimistic about Portland’s future.
You are absolutely NOT “a bummer to hang out with at cocktail parties.” I laughed so hard at the last cocktail party I saw you at. But then, I always say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, come sit by me.” Or maybe it was Dorothy Parker who said that.
Either way, I look forward to hearing how you manage to fall in love with Portland again. Sometimes I think Portland and I may need couples counseling….Portland should bring you flowers and breakfast in bed, perhaps?
Dave, when the biggest political stories of the year thus far for city leadership have been Adams’ affair, Randy’s sign, the collective soccergasm, and a large freeway bridge project, I doubt that Bojack is the only one who thinks they’re probably 75% distracted by things that really should be non issues (or at least WAY down on the priority list).
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