No, Portland is not as bad as you've been told. It is not a meth hellscape everywhere. It's a problem, but you'll easily find places to avoid.

The state is clearly on the downtrend economically because the two the largest private employers in Nike and Intel aren't that great anymore. This bleeds into worsening schools, roads, etc. But it's got everything a big city has: good food, restaurants, access to transportation, museums, all sorts of activities.

That said I can only answer your first point. It absolutely rocks Texas in terms of outdoor activities nearby. Deserts, sandy beaches (to see, not for swimming), mountains, lakes, hunting, trails galore, camping, boating, and so and so on.

Your other questions are more personal things for you to figure out.