Is the West Coast the best coast?

As a life long East coaster I have some pretty big biases about how awesome life in EST can be. I think we have some of America’s best food, best sports teams and some pretty awesome places to visit aka Boston, New York, Washington D.C. The East coast is wicked awesome in my opinion, especially the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. However, whenever I meet someone born and raised in the far off distant lands of California, Oregon or Washington I soon hear “the West Coast is the best coast!” Well it’s time to put the West to the test! Here are a few differences or things that have intrigued me so far during my time in the Pacific Northwest!

Number One: The trees are wicked tall!

I’m not joking. Sequoias are massive trees, but it seems that almost every tree throughout Oregon stretches to infinite heights. Taller than most buildings, even the trunks of these trees are far too gigantic to wrap your arms around. Hugging trees is not as easy of a task as I once thought. And it’s not only their height that amazes me, but also how straight they are. Man was not the first to build skyscrapers. These natural marvels beeline right up into the clouds without a curvature of the trunk. My neck ends up feeling sore after an afternoon of looking at trees because it is simply impossible to see the whole of these impressive wonders without craning my neck.

            

Number Two: The actual coast.

Every summer of my childhood, I enjoyed the sandy beaches of Falmouth, Massachusetts. The great Atlantic Ocean humbly ebbed and flowed along the rocky shoreline. The Oregon Coast on the other hand is rough, tumultuous and frigid. The imposing darkness of the forest abruptly stops as it meets the sandy dunes of Cannon Beach, Indian Beach or Seaside. The aged tree trunks and weathered rocks transform into grainy sand dunes that meet the barrage of endless waves. There are no small jetties you can walk onto. There is no small island of inhabitants to stare at off in the distance. There is simply water, endless ocean as far as the eye can see. This image provides my imagination with the ability to see myself as a great explorer making my away across the sea with no vision of land in sight. There is just the horizon. I have to admit, the view is breathtaking and as you watch the sun kiss the waters edge at sunset you feel as if you have seen the edges of the world.

Number Three: Retirement?

They call Portland a place for young people to retire and I am finding that to be true. The pace of life is slower than that of the high energy and go-go-go nature of places such as New York and Boston. Don’t mistake me for saying Portland is lazy. It’s just that there is a different emphasis on time and how a person conducts their life. It almost seems healthier to me. A weekend is not meant for working, but rather enjoying time outdoors, spending days with friends and family and exploring new music and cultural urban hubs. If you send someone an email after 3pm on a Friday do not expect a response until Monday. It may not seem as if Oregonians are getting much done, but don’t be fooled by this easygoing nature. Portland is one of the fastest growing urban centers in the country. New business and industry is constantly arriving. Life in the Silicon Forest is modern, high tech and testing the bounds of how people get stuff done.

           

 I’m still exploring Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. While I’ll always be an East Coast girl, I have to be honest and admit that I’m loving my time here on the West Coast. I won’t admit that West Coast is the best coast just yet, but I will admit that every day is a fun adventure.


*The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views or intents of Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest.