andrew61

Confessions of a Slacker
2007-08-05 00:00:00 (UTC)

Portland in September?

Possibilities, possibilities… After reading an ad on craigslist this morning, I’m thinking again of a plan that formed in my mind last Tuesday… What to do, what to do?

I’ve had a terrible week psychologically. As my loyal readers already know, my landlady found a buyer for the condo I’ve been renting for the last three years, and the contract was apparently finalized, so last Tuesday she gave me my 30-day notice. I have to be out of my beloved home by the end of August.

I’ve started looking at apartments, but I’m seeing a lot of overpriced crap out there and it looks like it’s going to be harder than I thought to find something that meets my criteria, is in the part of town I want, and large enough and in good shape at what I consider a reasonable price in so short a time. In Chicago, lots of the really good deals hit the market 45-60 days in advance and competition for them is pretty rough, so they get snatched up pretty quickly. There may be the occasional exception, but less than 30 days before moving date is pretty last-minute, and you’re basically looking at a bunch of “leftovers”.

Maybe I’m too picky and spoiled, but I don’t want to be forced into settling for something less than I desire, especially if it means a 12-month commitment (lease). So…

I’m seriously considering putting off the apartment hunt, putting all my stuff in storage at the end of the month, except for a couple suitcases of clothes/toiletries, and taking off to Portland for September.

Portland’s on a short list of cities I’ve thought of maybe relocating to someday, but I’ve never been there so of course I’d have to visit first before making any decisions in that direction. I’ve been planning a visit for several years now and just never got around to it. Maybe now’s my chance.

As it turns out, I’ve got a possible lead on a sublet there for September — I saw an ad on craigslist — a room in a Victorian house where I’d have two roommates. It’s very reasonably priced and certainly much cheaper than a hotel, so I’m very interested.

The house is located around 18th and Hoyt on the northwest side of town. The ad says it’s walking distance to the Pearl district, to downtown, and to Northwest 23rd Street (whatever is over there, I don’t know). Of course, I’d be interested in exploring other parts of town via public transportation, in particular the Hawthorne District in SE Portland, based on someone’s recommendations in reply to one of my online inquiries a few months ago.

I’m thinking this would be ideal for me as I’d actually be “living” there, in a real house, for a month, rather than merely visiting as a tourist for a much briefer time. I’d spend the month exploring town, which should give me a real feel for the city. I’ll have a better idea if Portland is someplace I’d want to relocate to later, maybe in a year or two.

Of course, maybe I’ll like it so much I’ll decide to relocate right away… Who knows?

I’ve decided that if I do this, I won’t fly, I’ll take Amtrak instead so I can see the northwest (Montana, etc.). The trip takes about 46 hours from Chicago, assuming everything is running on time. I’ve always dreamed of taking the train across the country, so maybe now’s my chance.

I’ve priced the sublet rental, the train fare, and the storage fee, and in total it comes out to less than I’m currently paying in rent. Heck, my landlady said she’ll be mailing me my security deposit later this month, and that should pay for the entire trip.

Plus I’d have kitchen privileges in the sublet, so I wouldn’t need to eat every meal out. I’d probably eat one meal out per day, just like I do here in Chicago, and eat in for the rest, so my food budget for the month shouldn’t be any higher than it is now.

I asked a few questions on one of my online message boards where there are a couple of Portlanders. I’ll ask them here, too. If anyone reading this lives in Portland or is very familiar with the town, any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

1. Is 18th and Hoyt a safe enough area (especially since I’ll be on foot)?

2. Any recommendations for good ethnic restaurants (Thai, Indian, etc.) that are moderately priced?

3. Any other recommendations for anything I must see while in town? I anticipate being carless most of the time, but might rent a car for a few days in case I want to take any day trips to the outlying areas and take in some scenery.

4. What is the weather typically like in September? I’d have washer/dryer access at the sublet, so I’m planning on traveling light with minimal amounts of clothing. I’m thinking of a combination of a few summer items (T-shirts, shorts) plus a few heavier (sweatshirts, jeans) plus maybe an unlined denim jacket just in case it gets chilly (I’m comfortable with that plus a sweatshirt all the way down to 40 degrees in Chicago). Should that be sufficient?

My mind’s been racing in anticipation. I’ve been swerving back and forth from excited to scared and excited again.

I’ve never flown by the seat of my pants before when it comes to my housing situation. I’ve never been temporarily “homeless” before, with the exception of three weeks when I was eighteen, shortly after my mom died, when the dump I was living in was trashed and vandalized, I was threatened, and I fled for my safety, staying with an uncle until I could find a new apartment.

Maybe flying by the seat of my pants will be good for me, in a way. My life has typically been much too structured, as an old friend pointed out to me on the phone the other night.




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