Solo female midlifer moving here from the SW, advice on current plan?
Planning to be working in Sylvan Heights area, west of the Zoo, and currently looking at places to rent downtown/near the University. I've compared rent and wages and I'd be in a similar range to where I am now. I've seen a couple comments that no one wants to live downtown anymore tho, is it really that bad? I'm not planning on clubbing at night, but I do want to enjoy city walks during the day.
I've lived in the same desert, majority religious/red suburban neighborhood (45min from city center) my entire life as a bleeding heart liberal. I want to be around more liberal, open-minded people, more green/nature/rain/clouds, more culture/arts/diversity. I have felt suffocated living in a brown/dry/cement suburb with long boring drives on long boring streets, no trees, no grass, no people outside, no animals...just relenting sun, rocks, cement, and the same cookie cutter stucco houses. I got married and had kids young, so missed college and living on my own, and I want some new living experiences. I wouldn't mind being in a cute lil neighborhood, but I also think living in a downtown city would be interesting.
I visited Portland for a week 5 years ago and almost cried the first time I walked around downtown bc I felt like I found my "people." I've spent a week in Seattle, NYC, and DC as well, loved the city vibes and using the subway, felt very energized and happy. I have adhd so things like people watching, street fashion, hustle and bustle, sights and smells, is like catnip for me. I've also spent time in Reykjavik and Edinburgh (similar small city vibes I think), and hostels in Paris and London, and loved every second. So I'm familiar with getting around a city on foot.
During the week, I'm mostly a homebody after work. I like cooking, crafting, reading, thrifting. I'd like to find a pottery studio and an archery range. On the weekends, I love to try new foods, go to art museums/libraries/coffee shops/live music. Don't really need a "nightlife" but I have read that there aren't any 24 hr drugstores (that's the biggest flaw I've found so far lol.) Love traveling, road trips and international. I have a medium/large dog I'd be walking every day, so I'd love a couple dog friendly trails/walks close by with trees. Really looking forward to walking more and being outside more and GREEN. I also love camping and hot springs (have an old 4x4 truck) so really looking forward to much more of that. I'll also be going back to school to finish my degree, then working on my masters.
Any suggestions on my plans so far? Thank you!