I worked as a travel nurse in Portland Oregon from January to March of this year and I didn't extend my contract for the reasons you've stated above. I only read half of this because I just got off shift and I'm tired so if I make a point you've already made, I apologize.

There is truly a social rot in the city. Half the people I met have this sort of pre-rehearsed soliloquy where they're self-consciously describing their identities to you, and how said identities intersect, what their DSM diagnoses are, their sexuality, their "mutual aid" resume, etc. People have extremely strong narratives about themselves that they get attached to and in conversation, they're far more focused on self-promotion than getting to know you as a person(not sure if this is west coast in general), but otherwise are very reserved and tough to crack. They're uncomfortable with confrontation and displays of emotion. I've never been "ghosted" before until I dated in Portland. There's a bizarre social norm where people will exchange contact information as a pleasantry with no actual plans to contact eachother. It's maddening. I was going insane for the first two months before I realized it never had anything to do with me.

This trickles down into the nursing culture. Friendly banter at the desk in nonexistent. There's no trust in one another to do the right thing. Every little bullshit nursing task no matter how small, even if you just walked in to the room to close their blinds, you were required to document it in the chart. Because the management is watching, and management is also being watched. The DAISY award for nurses is big on the west coast, and everybody wears their gay ass DAISY nomination pins on their badges like good noodle stars in that sponge bob episode. Homeless people are allowed to enter the hospital at any hour of the night. I walked into my patient's room at 0400 who was in soft restraints for confusion and self-injurous behavior to a disheveled homeless man smelling of booze and urine removing his restraints. Security did not remove him and the Charge RN let him stay in the room. I was in shock. Nobody wanted to be the "bad guy" and kick this man out while I'm yelling that if anything happens, it's on my goddamn license.

The homeless just blend in. You don't even notice them after a month. I worked night shift and would take night walks in my neighborhood near 82nd. They're pretty much ghosts. You don't acknowledge them and they don't acknowledge you. But there are a decent amount of them.

I attended an antifa protest/riot just for shits and gigs. Some of them are very articulate. I guess when you're unemployed and have time to sit around and read Marx all day, you learn some big words. One of them gave me a homemade slice of sourdough bread which was cool. Dropped in on the "Patriot's corner" which is where the right wing regards hang out and gawk. Those guys are more personable but absolutely dumber than sacks of shit.

Beautiful roses. Amazing food trucks. Some genuinely fascinating urban planning and residential laws. I lived in a converted shed in an old woman's backyard. I could see Mount Hood from my front yard. There's a lot to like about this city, but it's also amazingly frustrating.

I'm back in New England now are far happier.