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For me personally, it is always about what you are acclimated to. I have lived in places for considerable lengths of time with extreme temperatures in the local environment. In Texas, without air conditioning, where it is over 100 degrees for weeks on end to living in NYC during extreme winter conditions. Now I have lived in Portland for 10 years where it rains frequently and the summers are relatively short. Interestingly, in all of these differing climates children have played outside fine and the local community thrives. But in opposite climates that one is not acclimated to, parents and teachers have said, Oh, no children cannot play outside when it is hot, or children cannot play outside when it is snowing and cold, or children cannot play outside when it raining....Yet, in all of these environments children have played outside in seemingly extreme climates or weather.

My point that I am trying to make is that it is a matter of perspective. When a community is dealing with snow for weeks or months out of the year then the city and local community is adequately prepared. To expect Portlanders to have the same level of preparation as those who live on the upper East Coast is ridiculous and I would guess is not fiscally sound since we have such storms so infrequently. Besides Portland is a beautiful, progressive, and fantastic city. And just try to convince someone in another state to walk without umbrellas in the rain or let their children play out in the rain...

It is all about acclimation. If you are not happy with how Portland operates, then go back to the East Coast....

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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