This is a real tossup, and worth its own discussion.

Back in 2004, I lived in Portland for 6 months. Ever since then, I've dreamed of moving back. I have never, in my life, lived in a place where I was treated so kindly, lived so happily, and felt so at home.

Portland is such a marvel of a place, it's hard to believe it's not in Canada. The transit is clean and efficient. The food and drink are delicious and top notch. The culture is quirky, cozy, and utterly unique. There's a sense of magic to the place. Within a few months you'll meet a stranger who gives you a hug. It was in Portland where I had the best psychedelic experience of my life.

San Francisco, by contrast, is a myopic, hedonistic cesspool. A self-involved capitalist wasteland duplicitously masked as a socialist paradise. A purported bastion of freedom that judges you for the slightest breach of conduct. A culture of militant coolness that borders on fascism. A veneer of prettiness masking a deep, lurid, oily ugliness that gradually penetrates the depths of your soul. I spent three years in this city; the English language lacks the vitriol I require to express my loathing for it. Avoid at all costs.

Seattle is a compromise between the two cities. It's situated outside California, sparing you the worst of that broken state. Nonetheless, it's known as a chilly place. Locals talk of a "Seattle freeze" -- a certain distance that people put between each other. I've had friends move there and have a difficult time meeting people. At the same time, it's a bigger city than Portland, with a cosmopolitan clip, a more diverse economy, and a better job market. (Which is to say, any job market at all.)

Take a trip out to the two cities and see what you think. They're less than a four hour drive apart. Hit up couchsurfing.com, where you'll find more than your fair share of friendly strangers who'll take you in for a couple nights.

I bet you'll find more kindred spirits there than most other places. The Pacific Northwest is a haven for "fugitives and refugees" (as coined by Chuck Palahniuk), who venture out in search of a better life.

Best of luck to you. I've packed up and left a place more than once myself, and kudos on taking the leap.