I lived in Eastern Oregon for 27 years along the Columbia River. I never thought I'd leave but with the influx of Californians and Oregon implimenting their brand of politics I moved my family to Montana, I never regreted it. Though I still miss Oregon to a degree after 20 years of living in Montana I could never go back to Oregon to live.

I genuinely love home here in Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest in general, but really only for the nature & landscapes. It is so unique that it is truly unmistakable and feels genuinely imaginary and just totally unreal at times. And that is something that sticks with you eternally. But honestly at this point, the only things keeping me here outside of lack of funds to move, is that very nature/landscapes and family. That's it. It's especially politically gone so far outside of what I am comfortable and believe in to something well beyond rationality and honesty that I really hate that about here. It's honestly hurtful and such a gut-punch. I'm what I consider a classically liberal centrist, without actually applying those labels to myself, because no one ever agrees on what the hell any of those even mean anymore. I'd say I truly am a total confusing enigma to most people politically, as I am all over the place with my thoughts, values, beliefs, stances, ideas and opinions there. I have bits and pieces I agree with that collectively come from all over the sociopolitical spectrum. I genuinely couldn't be more of a outcast and misfit in this regard. But overall am definitely what I'd consider a true liberal, being classical, so all about liberties and freedom, as well as a huge nature guy, and true environmentalist. Oregon's policies and government are a insult to true liberal ideals, as well as true environmentalism. Oregon is nothing but a fake poser in those regards and it really shows. I still remember pre-2006 when the mass majority of Oregonians were in fact Oregonians (born and raised), and we socially had our own very unique culture, quirks, social norms and way of living. The native Oregonian way of life was simplistic, nowhere near all the vanity Californians are so famous for, and was slower, laid back, relaxed, and truly neighborly. VERY Private, which is what gave us the reputation as being "cold people" to outsiders who visited. We were not outgoing to people we didn't know. Nothing more than a "hi" or "hello" to them, as we always valued privacy the most. So as neighbors, no one ever involved themselves in each other's lives or business, as that's that family's lives, not ours. A genuine respect of boundaries and privacy. Neighbors would of course be genuinely concerned for each other when they heard, saw or otherwise noticed some behaviors that indicated issues, problems, stress, nervousness, pain, hurt, etc, and at most they might ask a single question like "is everything okay with you and the fam?", but never pried. People kept their distance and gave each other plenty of space to just be themselves and live their lives. Still helpful, still friendly, occasional block parties or invitations to a dinner, but that's it. It was awesome, and to me, is how it's supposed to be. No one got upset about neighbours being too noisy, having parties, doing messy work in their driveways, letting their roof decay, painting peel or yards go unmaintained, because again, that isn't their business or life. No one had any issues with each other. People across the political and social spectrum were always treated the same, kindly, equally and without anything negative. Didn't matter how opposite you may have been, how much you disagreed on things or differed, everyone respected each other and got along perfectly. Idyllic, I suppose you could say. But man was the shift hard, fast and sudden demographically, socially and politically. From 2006 through about 2012, EVERYTHING shifted and changed so much, heavily into the negatives. Now socially you never know what to expect, or how you'll get treated. There's so much more vain, shallow, pretentious folks here, people who have such a emphasis on appearances and "presentability" that they of course, attempt to force onto others around them and in their hoods, or else they get vindictive and petty about it. So on. You don't ever know if you are honest and share a opinion or tell a joke if you'll find yourself a target for neighbors or the people who heard it and their fury, protests or outright attempts to ruin your reputation, or at least any relationships you might have. It's really sad. It's all over the place and you just never know. Crime rates I know are a favorite trope sensationalist folks adore to exaggerate and harp on, but genuinely 2006 through now as equal amounts of born & raised Oregonians moved out in response to all the implants moving in from mainly California, but also Chicago, Miami & NYC, the crime rates skyrocketed here in Oregon through the roof. We went from a expected crime rate with almost exclusively petty crimes, the signature being domestic disputes, property crimes and DUIs, to a way higher than normal for our population crime rate and one of the highest violent and high profile crime rates in the nation per capita. Murders/Homicides and attempted Murders/Homicides, Rapes, Grand Theft Auto, Assault With a Deadly Weapon, Stabbings, Shootings, Violent Carjackings, and Armed Home Invasions all skyrocketed and became ridiculously high. This perfectly follows the massive influx of all those people moving in from elsewhere as Oregonians moved out during that same time period of 06 through now, but it's especially noticeable between 06-12, as that's when the majority of people moved out as all those from elsewhere moved in. Ironically, the state's police departments noticed this in 2006 as well, and quietly began tracking it via logging who they stopped and charged, how severe their crimes were, and where they originally came from, and lo and behold, guess who topped the list as the most frequent as well as the people committing the most high profile crimes? Californians. And who of them dominated? Southern Californians, mainly those from the LA region. Who would have figured? It's almost as if this has been tracked with data and proven for DECADES, and people who live through these experiences are actually telling the truth, meaning, there is no ill will nor prejudice at all, but simple statement of factual reality. But I digress massively.

Both states offer great outdoor activities and attract people the world over. As for “left wing nuts” , I’d say the mayor gets a F for not controlling the Portland area’s homeless problems. Further, it’s best to focus on policies instead of claiming something is too left or too right. That’s just being downright lazy. I drive & ride (bike path) often from a suburb to downtown along the willamette river and can see things improving. Also from the path much more can be seen that is hidden from the street view. For some reason we were a Mecca for drug users and were dealt a blow from the theft/vandalism that often accompanies these things. Seems to me they took a “hands off” approach for way too long. Many businesses have left, but I’m sure new ones will fill the vacuum as things improve.

Seattle is vastly different from Portland as far as climate/weather. Portland gets snow in winter and HOT during summer. Seattle is a temperate rainforest all year long. Seattle has cool summers and warm winters. My house is in Kent (South of Seattle). We had to turn on the heat for maybe a week and a half all winter. And yet AC wasn't needed until August during the day. My electric bill for a house with 4 gaming PCs in Kent, with 3 people working from home, etc... Around $60/month. The convenience of cool climate year round while not having to worry about snow is why Washington is amazing.

Portland was the Shanghai of the west. It used to be a scary place. And now its just as scary with all of the off the rails left wing nuts. (BTW i am left of center myself...just not as crazy as you see in Portland)