10 Things I Love About Portland
A Week of Gratitude – July 13-19, 2025
It's been a while since I've written a gratitude journal entry, but reflecting on this past week, I felt compelled to express my appreciation for the city and the people. Here's how Portland reminded me why I'm grateful to live here — through ten experiences from just one week in the life of a retired techie.
1. Nature is just a walk away
Last Sunday, my neighbor and I took a little hike into Forest Park right from our condo building. There's something refreshing about accessing greenery without having to drive anywhere. Given that “for real nature” scares the crap out me, Portland’s urban forest is perfect for me, with well-maintained trails, no poison oak, no wild animals, and no need for navigation skills.
2. Prime geographic location
Monday brought unexpected visitors — old friends on a road trip from Seattle (where they'd seen Trevor Noah) back down to their home in California. We met them (and their adorable dog) at Emerald Line, a local spot just under I-405, about a 15 minute walk from us. It's moments like these that highlight Portland's perfect position as a natural stopping point for West Coast adventures.
3. A Magnet for New Beginnings
Tuesday morning started with someone I hadn’t worked with in 18 years — a former colleague who recently moved to Portland from Silicon Valley. We met at Snow Bunny Coffee to catch up on life transitions and new beginnings. They even shared our reunion on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7351259015173095424-mLeu
4. World-Class Food Scene
Later on Tuesday, a dear friend treated me to an early birthday lunch at my favorite Portland casual restaurant: eem. This incredible collaboration between the founders behind Matt's BBQ and Paadee never disappoints—especially their White Curry with Brisket Burnt-ends. The cocktails there are also noteworthy. My friend also treated me with a gift of Kann Coffee (from a favorite Portland fine-dining establishment), which I've been savoring every morning since. For anyone who enjoys expertly spiced coffee, it's a must-try.
5. Eco-friendliness
While Portland is known for an eco-friendly mindset from a citywide perspective, we have also appreciated genuine neighbor-to-neighbor support. While Marsha and I were late EV/hybrid adopters (we believed in using our existing car rather than buying new for environmental reasons), our neighbors who invested early in EV charging have graciously shared their Level 2 chargers with us while we resolve our own charging situation. On Tuesday evening, my Apple Watch reminded me of this community spirit in action.
6. Fun food culture
Beyond its world class food taste and quality, Portland knows how to have fun with food. From Pizza Week to Nacho Week to Burger Week, there are always fun events happening. Right now, we're in the middle of "Summer of Slushies," which led us to Paymaster Lounge on Wednesday. Meeting another couple from a nearby building over Piña Colada slushies (and a satisfying burger) perfectly captured Portland's fun food culture.
7. Welcoming Business Community
Thursday brought an invitation to celebrate a friend's achievement — Phil Chun winning the Portland Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award. Having come to Portland for retirement, I've been consistently impressed by how open and welcoming the business community has been. It's refreshing to combine personal and professional camaraderie in the community, not just inside of individual companies. Phil shared his photos from this event on LinkedIn.
8. Commitment to Civil Rights
Also on Thursday, I joined the "Good Trouble Lives On" protest commemorating John Lewis and advocating for civil rights. Despite the route passing ICE facilities, where federal officers have used tear gas and rubber bullets in the past, I appreciated Portland Police officers marching with us for protection. It demonstrated the city's commitment to peaceful advocacy.
9. Small City Serendipity
Friday dinner with a neighbor turned into a perfect example of Portland's small-city charm. The next day, this same neighbor randomly spotted me from his car while I was walking to the MXPDX event — 1.7 miles from home! These unexpected encounters happen with surprising frequency and make me appreciate how Portland is both a big city and a small city at the same time.
10. Exceptional Beer Culture
Of course, I have to close a gratitude journal about Portland by mentioning beer. The MXPDX event on Saturday that I attended with friends from my weekly beer group featured collaborations between local breweries and Mexico City breweries, featuring innovative selections alongside authentic Mexican street food. The Machetes were particularly memorable. Both the food and the creative beer pairings perfectly represented Portland's food and beer culture.
The people
Behind this “top 10” list of Portland experiences this week were the people who made them meaningful to me. Even though the environment, events, and resources are really important catalysts, it’s having the people to enjoy them with that really makes the difference. Marsha and I talk about this a lot. Thank you to all of our friends here who make Portland such a wonderful home.
Are you sure you want to charge to 100%?
I believe the folks who suggest to settle for 80 to 90 unless planning a trip long enough to require a recharge.