Salem Motivation

10) I'll just commute to Salem

Sure, in the grand scheme of things Salem is not that far from Portland, but trust us, the commute is a little much from here to there. Think traffic, weather, and general work-life balance: Is that hour or more of commuting worth it in the long run?

How much OPB can you really listen to? 

Portland Confusion

9) Maine's not that far from New York

A common mistake, this: Portland, Maine and Portland, Ore., are often confused. But here's the thing: they are on opposite sides of the country. So before you pack your bag, double check the map and make sure you're heading to the right one. Those black dots on that map are pretty far away from each other.

Cheap Rent

8) I was there five years ago and rent was really cheap

Five years is a looooong time. You could get a college degree in that amount of time, people! Think about how much you may have changed in those years.

A city is just like a person, changing daily. Even if the rent was cheap those five years ago, a lot of renters have moved in since then and prices may not be what you expect. 

Olympic Apartments photo credit by born1945 under a CC BY 2.0

Bikes! Bikes! Bikes!

7) I'll open a bike shop there

A bike shop! Nobody's thought of that! After all, there are thousands of bikers in Portland, and they all need to repair their bikes at some stage, right?

But here's the thing, future bike shop owner: bike shops are as abundant here as coffee shops (and we have a lot of those, too).

If you're hell bent on opening a bike shop then you'd better make yours stand out somehow. 

Bike Wall photo credits to Mr Michael Phams under a CC BY-SA 2.0

As cool as Brooklyn

6) I need to live someplace as cool as Brooklyn but cheaper

Brooklyn is a hipster haven. Portland is a hipster haven. And sure, Portland may be cheaper than Brooklyn in some respects, but remember, Portland is a small city and Brooklyn is a big borough.

Prices may not be the only differences you find. 

Brooklyn Beacon 'tribue in light' credits to jason jenkins under a CC BY-SA 2.0

Follow Your Heart ?

5) My girlfriend is moving there, so I guess I'll go too

Not to be a pessimist, but moving across the country for your new love is not always the best of plans. There is always a chance that you and your lover may not always stay lovers, especially when you haul ass across the country for him/her, and if you do end up losing your beloved, Portland would become the city where your heart got stomped on.

Do you really want that?

Photo credit:  Guiseppe Milo under a CC BY-ND 2.0

Tea Party ?

4) It will be a great place to start a new Tea Party chapter

In case you weren't aware of it, Portland is a pretty liberal city. We're talking about a seriously blue city, as far as voting goes. While the city embraces weirdness, most of its population would draw the line at the hard-right tea party movement.  

Tea parties, however, are always welcome. 

Tea Party Flag, credits to futureatlas.com under a CC BY-SA 2.0

Rain Rain Go Away

3) It probably doesn't rain as much as they say

Look. We're not kidding about the rain. We're talking about about 40 inches a year. It will rain, it will rain almost daily, and you will be wet. And don't try combatting the deluge with an umbrella - this is a city of rain jackets and resilience. 

Rain, credits to Moyan Brenn under a CC BY-ND 2.0

Pacific Relations

2) People will be excited to hear I'm from California

California, Oregon, and Washington are like silbings who are bound together but really get on each other's nerves. Oregonians don't like Californians, Californians don't like Oregonians, and the populations of the two states only agree on their mutual dislike for Washingtonians. State pride is all well and good but no one will care.

You are in Portland now. Become one of us! 

Excited, credits to Tim Parkinson under a CC BY-ND 2.0

Job Market

1) I'll just find a job when I get there

Portland is awesome in so many ways, but not always so awesome on the job front. Unemployment hovers at just over 6 percent and is even a smidge below the national average, but jobs can still take time to come by.

Come prepared to schlep around on the job search (probably in the rain) and don't expect to land a gig as designer-in-chief right off the bat. 

the IT job market right now. what i'm up against credits to Phil Campbell under a <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/clanlife/>Phil Campbell</a> under a <a data-cke-saved-href=" https:="" creativecommons.org="" licenses="" by="" 2.0="" legalcode"="" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6;">CC BY 2.0

Enjoy your stay

Whatever the reason you've come here, give yourself a pat on the back. You've made it to the best city in the United States!

Now you're a Portlander - get ready to drink gallons of great coffee, invest in a decent raincoat and you'll fit right in. Now don't forget to start grumbling about all the 'outsiders' moving to Portland . . .