Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Life as a Pacific North-
westerner
People in the Pacific Northwest are some pretty cool cats, living a relatively
laid-back lifestyle. But this doesn't mean Northwesterners don't care about
what's going on around them. Quite the opposite: they're highly attuned to
the economics and politics of the region, as well as to whatever might be
going on outside it. And folks here aren't complacent: everyone is quick to
voice their opinion, whether it's about the right to own guns, 'local' versus
'organic' produce or the wisdom of Washington's new marijuana law. Here
in the Northwest, people are deeply concerned about their communities, the
environment and what's happening in the world that might affect their val-
ued and independent lives.
Oregon is home to Nike and Columbia Sportswear, while Washington is the birthplace of
Starbucks and REI. Vancouver doesn't care - it scored the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The People
A Texan, a Californian and an Oregonian were sitting around a campfire drinking. The
Texan took a swig of whiskey, threw the bottle in the air and shot it with his pistol while
yelling 'We have lots more whiskey where I come from!' The Californian sipped his zin-
fandel, grabbed the Texan's pistol, threw the wine bottle in the air, and shot it while
yelling 'We have lots more wine where I come from!' The Oregonian guzzled his micro-
brew, grabbed the Texan's pistol, threw the empty in the air but caught the bottle and shot
the Californian. He said 'We have lots of Californians where I come from, but I need to
recycle this beer bottle'.
While not everyone in the Pacific Northwest is a tree-hugging hipster with activist tend-
encies and a penchant for latte, many locals are proud of their independent spirit, profess a
love for nature and yes, will separate their plastics when it's time to recycle. They're a
friendly lot and, despite the common tendency to denigrate Californians, most are trans-
plants themselves. Why did they all come here, from all edges of the globe? Among other
things, for the lush scenery, the good quality of life and the lack of pretension that often
afflicts bigger, more popular places. Primping up and putting on airs is not a part of North-
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