Portland

I've been away from work for a week, visiting Portland, Oregon for the first time. The purpose for the visit was to assess if Portland is a place for future relocation. I had narrowed it down to three cities: San Francisco, New York, and Portland. Portland's major advantage over the two other cities is that the real estate market is considerably cheaper, making Portland a real contender for relocation. I have heard many great things about Portland, many of which I consider to be true after my visit to the city. Portland has a great public transportation system, making it easy to get around the city without the need of a vehicle. For example, I took just one train directly from the airport to the city center. Public transportation is free within the city center. Portland is very walkable, and many of it's inhabitants commute by bicycle as there are may bike paths throughout the city. Portland is a vibrant city with many restaurants, bars, micro breweries, art galleries, and shopping. There's also wonderful public space, like Washington park and the riverfront. People pride themselves on being green and progressive. Portland remains a possibility for me.