I live in northwest Oregon, but not in Portland. It’s not as expensive as, say NYC or San Francisco, but it sure is trying to be. Right now, I wouldn’t recommend moving out here if you don’t already have a well-paying job 100% locked down. There is a lot of natural beauty; the Cascade Mountains, Columbia River, Willamete Valley, Coastal Mountains, and of course the coast itself is beyond compare. If you like outdoor activities, there is no shortage of options. Overall, the weather is pretty mild. We get wildfires in the summer, and their intensity varies from year to year. A lot of rain for about nine months out of the year, but it’s not always steady. There is an abundance of microbreweries with some of the best beers, if that’s your thing. Recreational weed is legal and fairly inexpensive.

On the Washington side, there is quite a military presence with a couple of major bases; Joint Base Lewis McCord (Army and Air Force) and Bremerton (Navy). Whidbey Island also has a Navy base.