Portland - Where Young People Go to Retire

[vanillacourage]

news.yahoo.com/portland-really-where-young-people-retire-220127333.html

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland may not be "a city where young people go to retire," but it's the place they go to be underemployed, a new study found.

A famous quip by Fred Armisen on the television show "Portlandia" led Portland State University researchers to investigate the reality behind the comment. The quirky IFC network series pokes fun at the Oregon city's many eccentricities.

The researchers' review found that Portland is a magnet for the young and college educated from across the country, even though a disproportionate share of them are working part-time or holding jobs that don't require a degree.

In short, young college grads are moving here, and staying, because they like the city's amenities and culture, not because they're chasing jobs. Their participation in the labor force tracks with other cities, but they make 84 cents on the dollar when compared to the average of the 50 largest metropolitan areas, the research found.

"You put all of that together, and it suggests that young people are coming here and they're trying to make the best of it," said Greg Schrock, an assistant professor in urban studies at Portland state. "They're committed to working, they're committed to trying to make ends meet, but they're more committed to living in Portland."

Young people are drawn by a relatively low cost of living, a vibrant arts scene and a collegial, laid-back atmosphere. With abundant public transit, a vibrant bicycle culture and many walkable neighborhoods, there's no need for a car.

"I'm pretty content being able to support myself on a minimum-wage job," said Deanna Horton, 22, who graduated in May from Lewis & Clark college in Portland and is now working the front desk at a science museum. Horton doesn't have a driver's license, but she said the only time she's ever felt she needed one was when she moved across town.

A transplant from Syosset, N.Y., on Long Island, Horton said she'd love to have a more challenging and fulfilling job — but not enough to give up on a city that supports things like a neighborhood tool library, which gives residents free access to a wide variety of tools for carpentry, home improvement and gardening.

"I feel like my job prospects in other places would be really good," she said, looking over the top of her Apple computer at the popular Stumptown Coffee. "But I don't want to try."

(more at link)

[zelda25]

Native Oregonian and long-time Portland resident checking in. I have so many thoughts around this that I'm having trouble sorting them out.

First, yes--there is a contingent of annoying hipsters and barely-employed "artists," etc. who are the butt of Portlandia jokes, but those people are not a majority or a fair representation of the city.

There are a lot of reasons why Portland struggles economically (it's a state-wide issue, but people seem to think Portland=Oregon, so I'll stick to Portland for now), but I think most of it boils down to the state's budget woes. We are one of only a few states--maybe the only state--that depend almost entirely on income taxes for revenue.

Oregon has had among the highest unemployment rates in the country for several years--long before the latest economic meltdown. Tons of people out of work = shrinking state revenue = lack of funding for education and various basic services = shitty schools & shitty infrastructure = lack of business wanting to park here, in spite of a relativley friendly tax structure for large corporations (this not true for small companies, however) = continuation of shit-cycle. Lather, rinse, repeat. Throw in the real estate crash for fun and it feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

H and I have been lucky enough to stay employed, although I don't know how long that will last, and not having children means we're not as incented as most to get out of Dodge because of the crappy schools.

The state has a jaw-dropping stubborn streak and has voted nine times against a sales tax that would help stabilize state revenue. Voters have also stupidly amended the state constitution such that any time revenues exceed forecasted revenues by 2% or more, the state has to give the amount not forecast back to taxpayers, so there's never any way for the state to save revenue (this hasn't happened recently, of course).

This is where it gets stupid: I know we could do better elsewhere and I bring this up to H periodically, but it always boils down to two things: 1) there are more things we love than hate about living here and 2) we've lost so much money on our house (that we bought 6 months before the market crashed) that we'll never get out from under it :-(

Sorry--that was really long.

[heyjude]

Portland is an awesome city to visit. It's like a very clean SF. But it seems very self satisfied and sonetimes snotty. Portlandia is on point.

[pescalita]

My cousin moved to Portland with her masters and tended bar. So, yeah.

[zelda25]

Sept 20, 2012 12:08:53 GMT -5 pescalita said:

My cousin moved to Portland with her masters and tended bar. So, yeah.

Why? Not being snarky--genuinely curious.

[mominatrix]

I'm actually OK with the message that Portland (at least, the stereotype of Portland) sends.

Can you live? Can you live well? Do you have to join the $$ contest, the rat-race, or can you make what you need to live and enjoy what the city has to offer without having to constantly be in an upwardly-mobile spiral?


What's the point of getting an education? You might think the city is over educated, but even if you think the point of education is making you employable - - giving you the tools you need to live a good, happy, fulfilling life, where's the fault in saying that people can have that kind of life tending bar, instead of working in an office?


...of course, the folk I know best in Portland live in the suburbs (in a town that rhymes with Snake Smoshwego) where they live a VERY typical suburban lifestyle, not the Portlandia-drop-out-types at all.

[ESF]

Sept 20, 2012 12:17:33 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

I'm actually OK with the message that Portland (at least, the stereotype of Portland) sends.

Can you live? Can you live well? Do you have to join the $$ contest, the rat-race, or can you make what you need to live and enjoy what the city has to offer without having to constantly be in an upwardly-mobile spiral?


What's the point of getting an education? You might think the city is over educated, but even if you think the point of education is making you employable - - giving you the tools you need to live a good, happy, fulfilling life, where's the fault in saying that people can have that kind of life tending bar, instead of working in an office?

I agree.

I have never been to Portland but hope to visit soon. It sounds lovely.

[moreace01]

My H recently took a job in Portland (unemployment rate 8.5%) because after years of trying he couldn't get a job in Chicago (unemployment rate 10.5%). So anyway...coming from an area that was hit really hard (unemployment, MASSIVE overbuilding in the boom years, and now many home foreclosures and underwater mortgages), Portland is like a dream. I'm out here now visiting and I can see the draw - clean, new, relaxed, safe, mild weather, like zero traffic, it is so easy to get around and tons of small neighborhoods with things to do (and I swear more restaurants per capita than Chicago has) so you don't really need a car. And tons of young people. On the flipside - his rent is really high for what he has and he doesn't get paid much either. But for now, we'll take it.

[heyjude]

Snake Smoshwego. Lolololol.

[zelda25]

Sept 20, 2012 12:17:33 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

I'm actually OK with the message that Portland (at least, the stereotype of Portland) sends.

Can you live? Can you live well? Do you have to join the $$ contest, the rat-race, or can you make what you need to live and enjoy what the city has to offer without having to constantly be in an upwardly-mobile spiral?
What's the point of getting an education? You might think the city is over educated, but even if you think the point of education is making you employable - - giving you the tools you need to live a good, happy, fulfilling life, where's the fault in saying that people can have that kind of life tending bar, instead of working in an office?


...of course, the folk I know best in Portland live in the suburbs (in a town that rhymes with Snake Smoshwego) where they live a VERY typical suburban lifestyle, not the Portlandia-drop-out-types at all.

I'm ok with that message, too, in theory. But it's really only applicable to very young people while they're still in their post-college-don't-have-any-real-responsibilities days. Like I noted in my epic reply above, this isn't a fair representation of Portland's population. The rest of the city is trying to find real jobs with real wages and benefits, trying to raise families, trying to buy homes and save for retirement in an economic environment that isn't conducive to any of those things.

[pescalita]

Sept 20, 2012 12:12:13 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

Sept 20, 2012 12:08:53 GMT -5 pescalita said:

My cousin moved to Portland with her masters and tended bar. So, yeah.

Why? Not being snarky--genuinely curious.

Why did she move there? She was recently divorced and kind of looking for a new start and it seemed like her kind of place, AFAIK.

[basilosaurus]

H is going to enjoy the Portland love.

I think the city has encouraged the stereotypes. H's cousin could live in the Pearl district b/c he's a teacher and qualified for some type of subsidized housing for young but not rich professionals. He's not a hipster, but I'm sure there are hipster teachers

My BIL was able to rent studio/store space in a mostly subsidized building full of artists, fashion designers, you know, the stereotype, so that he could start his (one man) small business. And I'm pretty sure everyone's income in that building went directly to supporting the independent coffee shop across the street.

Now, whether that all is good use of city funds, who knows. But I'll admit it makes for a really neat city. If only it wouldn't rain so much!

[JLN]

Sept 20, 2012 12:17:33 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

I'm actually OK with the message that Portland (at least, the stereotype of Portland) sends.

Can you live? Can you live well? Do you have to join the $$ contest, the rat-race, or can you make what you need to live and enjoy what the city has to offer without having to constantly be in an upwardly-mobile spiral?


What's the point of getting an education? You might think the city is over educated, but even if you think the point of education is making you employable - - giving you the tools you need to live a good, happy, fulfilling life, where's the fault in saying that people can have that kind of life tending bar, instead of working in an office?


...of course, the folk I know best in Portland live in the suburbs (in a town that rhymes with Snake Smoshwego) where they live a VERY typical suburban lifestyle, not the Portlandia-drop-out-types at all.

I agree, and that's why I love it here.

The girl that makes my coffee might have a college degree, but she's doing what she loves. That's the story with a lot of people here.

While it's important to make money and save, to many people it's more important to live life and feel fulfilled. And people here seem to be more relaxed, slower, happier. And while we may have financial issues, we also have a low crime rate, tons of amenities and culture, and a generally good quality of life.