Seattle or Portland?
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So I finally realized something tonight...
In Dallas we're getting a major thunderstorm right now. By major I mean it's a good one but not tornado level. Anyways! I went out on my porch for the second time since I moved here in November of 2013. I just watched the rain for a few minutes and was sad I didn't have a lawn chair to go sit out IN the rain with. It has to be a lawn char or a step. Nothing else works...(Note to self: buy lawn chair) Anyways, rainstorms are the only times I can make my mind stop racing and just breathe. I can look out and not have thoughts jumping around in my head like someone let a school of toddlers loose. That being said, I've set it as my five-year plan to move to Seattle or Portland. These two cities, per this site have the most rainy days in an average year, each averaging 154 or an average of about 13 days/month. I would THRIVE in this type of environment, and would love it! So my question is...which is better? Seattle I've been to, and LOVED! I've never been to Portland but I've heard it's nice. So my question is basically: where is the IT job market better? I would need to move and have something ready, and I'm not fixed on either spot, but one of the two areas is where I want to be come, say January 2020. I appreciate the help!
Thanks,
A.J. -
I'm hoping @scottalanmiller has an answer to this one.
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Ok, so new info...rainiest cities in the country are here: http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/wettest-cities.php
Rochester and Buffalo sit at 1 and 2, respectively, for the country, at 167 days...Portland is 164 and Seattle 149. Hmm....
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I'm a rain guy too. Just be aware that while they have a lot of rainy days, they get less rain than Syracuse. It's lots of sprinkles, not a lot of rain. The number of rainy days are misleading.
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@ajstringham said:
Ok, so new info...rainiest cities in the country are here: http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/wettest-cities.php
Rochester and Buffalo sit at 1 and 2, respectively, for the country, at 167 days...Portland is 164 and Seattle 149. Hmm....
Oh you beat me figuring that out. I've looked into this before for the same reasons. We are from the rain belt - it's makes us rain people.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@ajstringham said:
Ok, so new info...rainiest cities in the country are here: http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/wettest-cities.php
Rochester and Buffalo sit at 1 and 2, respectively, for the country, at 167 days...Portland is 164 and Seattle 149. Hmm....
Oh you beat me figuring that out. I've looked into this before for the same reasons. We are from the rain belt - it's makes us rain people.
You still haven't answered my question. I want out of NY. So is Seattle or Portland a better option?
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@ajstringham said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@ajstringham said:
Ok, so new info...rainiest cities in the country are here: http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/wettest-cities.php
Rochester and Buffalo sit at 1 and 2, respectively, for the country, at 167 days...Portland is 164 and Seattle 149. Hmm....
Oh you beat me figuring that out. I've looked into this before for the same reasons. We are from the rain belt - it's makes us rain people.
You still haven't answered my question. I want out of NY. So is Seattle or Portland a better option?
Never been to either. Both high on the list of places I would probably like. Seattle is definitely the much larger IT center. Portland is more like Austin in culture.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@ajstringham said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@ajstringham said:
Ok, so new info...rainiest cities in the country are here: http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/wettest-cities.php
Rochester and Buffalo sit at 1 and 2, respectively, for the country, at 167 days...Portland is 164 and Seattle 149. Hmm....
Oh you beat me figuring that out. I've looked into this before for the same reasons. We are from the rain belt - it's makes us rain people.
You still haven't answered my question. I want out of NY. So is Seattle or Portland a better option?
Never been to either. Both high on the list of places I would probably like. Seattle is definitely the much larger IT center. Portland is more like Austin in culture.
I'm looking at it from a job perspective. I was thinking Seattle but was looking for confirmation. Thanks.
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@ajstringham From a purely work perspective, Seattle is the vastly larger IT market, also much more competitive. But don't be fooled, Seattle is primarily a software, not IT, city. IT people often forget what is IT and what are industries that make things IT people use.
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Portland is just like Portlandia, right?
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There's also Vancouver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Vancouver
Edit: If you specialize within your 5-year plan, Boston might be worth looking at. There's (at least currently) a healthy demand for IT folks there. Also keep in mind that as you plan your 5-year plan, things may change, and IT jobs may shift around a bit.
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If you're mostly remote then I would recommend somewhere in-between Seattle and Vancouver on the U.S. side. My aunt's family relocated from Austin to Bellingham and it's absolutely gorgeous up there, and only an hour or so to Seattle.
On a side note all of my family has now left Texas, luckily I'm stubborn.
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@Carnival-Boy said:
Portland is just like Portlandia, right?
Having visited a buddy a good bit who lived there the past 6 years.....actually kinda yeah. Portland is a pretty cool city. Plenty big to support your IT desires AJ, Portland is the "cool" city, Seattle is a touch more "uppity" if that makes any sense. I'd look into Vancouver.
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@alexntg said:
There's also Vancouver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Vancouver
Edit: If you specialize within your 5-year plan, Boston might be worth looking at. There's (at least currently) a healthy demand for IT folks there. Also keep in mind that as you plan your 5-year plan, things may change, and IT jobs may shift around a bit.
I despise the Red Sox almost as much as the Dallas Cowboys. I love New England Clam Chowder but also SERIOUSLY hate the Patriots. Boston would be bad for me...
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@Hubtech Vancouver would require him to get a visa for which he does not qualify.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Hubtech Vancouver would require him to get a visa for which he does not qualify.
I thought Canada was pretty friendly to "skilled professionals" in getting visas, am I all wonky on that?
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If you like rain then I can recommend Wales.
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@Carnival-Boy said:
Portland is just like Portlandia, right?
Very nearly. I need to go visit there again soon.
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@MattKing said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Hubtech Vancouver would require him to get a visa for which he does not qualify.
I thought Canada was pretty friendly to "skilled professionals" in getting visas, am I all wonky on that?
I checked less than a year ago, and Canada was fast-tracking IT immigrants/work visas.
Edit: Yes, group 2171 is still on the list: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-instructions.asp?expand=jobs#jobs
