Things I miss about Portland, seriously

Born and raised in Portland, I sometimes miss it. Not a lot, and not for everything. I have to find charm in certain details, and if I am home for more than a week, I don't miss it anymore.

First, good coffee and the best beer. I know that it's a given, but when you live in Phoenix, it's easy to miss good coffee. I actually go to Starbucks all the time here, and that's so sad. It feels so McDonald's like...but I need espresso. But when I go home, I cannot get enough of the coffeehouses that know how to get it right. Not just the coffee, but the ambiance, the price.
I love just lounging in a coffeehouse... not feeling rushed and people watching. In Phoenix, we have a few that I go to because that's all there is, and I'm a caffeine addict... but the patrons are for the most part tourists. The people don't chat each other up like Portlanders. If they do talk to a stranger, it's to get directions. I like weird music and mix-match tables, some individuality with my coffeehouse. I make do here, but I miss the coffee of Portland. CoffeePeople especially.

But the beer I really miss. Brews that are done right, prepared for beer snobs. Phoenix is home to one decent brewery, and it's fairly good. It's not on a main drag, the wait staff are hippy-like, and food is garlic-y and the beer is good. But it's all we have. In Portland, there is the whole culture of beer, not just a solitary brewery. I love picking a good beer to go with my mood, or the weather. And even after being home for a long while, I never get tired of decent beers.

I miss funky people. People who wear bright colors in natural fibers. With lots of funky jewelry, and buttons that say stuff. People who carry bags of cloth with all their stuff inside. People with liberal opinions and their tendency to lay one one you unsolicited, like they are doing you a favor. People in Portland wear glasses a lot more than Phoenicians, they abstain from hair gel more than they do in Arizona. Portlanders ride bikes and trains, while the people of Phoenix drive big-ass trucks. Phoenix is fake boobs, bleached out hair, fake nails, stripper tans, and expensive pumps. Guys in phoenix wear shirts that emphasize abs and spike gelled up hair. Tattoos accenting the tans. Casual conversations are about nutrition for building muscles and shopping. In Portland, makeup is less common. There are natural hair styles all around, and people talking about everything. Crazy people blend in. Portland is more diverse, people mix. Arizona is more segregated. Portlanders care about issues. Phoenicians care about themselves.

I miss culture. Phoenix is strip malls, mainstream concerts, and sports. I guess there are small productions, but not many. Ethnic events are rare and not marketed to be inclusive. Phoenix is conservative and detached. Everyone is a transport from somewhere else so the connections are non-existent. Portland is Saturday Market, and all kinds of festivals and events, where people from all walks come out. People dance outside. Kids see other people and can appreciate it.

I miss seasons. Granted, in Phoenix we get some chilly days and some rain, and even the occasional monsoon. But no leaves change, no grass smells, no snow days. All we get is nice and warm and blazing hot. We have a few mountains to hike. We have a lot of great malls. We have every chain there is.

I miss my family, for all their drama. My dad and his crazy ideas and ways. My mom for never being able to judge anyone or say a bad thing about anyone. All of my silly cousins who have yet to find their life course. In Phoenix, I have my friends and my fiance. I love them, but compared to Portland, these guys here are not too exciting.

I miss my best friend. I have a lot of great friends here, but none of them sees things the way Lu does. No one has ever laughed with me as much as she has. My fiance is funny, but she is the only one who really gets my sense of humor. I miss that.

What do I not miss? People asking you for change every block. People smelling like urine. People who are aggressive about hitting on you. Ghetto mentality. Abortion protestors. Traffic. Whiny and grumpy people. People with no concept or concern for looking good ever.

I can't say I would move home. I miss it. But that's it. I don't hate my life in Phoenix, just some aspects of the place itself.

All that said, if anyone who reads this shoudl be overwhelmed with a desire to ship me some Portland in a box...the following should be included : MacTarnhan's, Coffee People's Best, tye-dyed underwear, cherries, and Lu!