Mississippi Street Fair

On Saturday, we attended the Mississippi Street Fair, which took place just a few blocks from Will's house. Like most street fairs, it was packed with jewelry vendors, food, photographers and painters, NGOs looking for people to sign petitions, and miscellaneous other vendors. Most things were very Portlandy, and the prime example was the fact that there was not one but TWO booths selling hula hoops! Because, apparently, everyone needs a good selection and competitive pricing on their hula hoops.

My first run

One of the ways I learn a city is by going for runs. It gets me comfortable in the neighborhood, I get a sense of place, and I find some local attractions. Because I like to make clear that I'm not from Portland, I wore a running skirt and nice running tank (it was a nice summer day in PDX). I wanted to be sure I was "cute" for this run, which got me thinking about the girls who put on make up to go the gym, or wear sequined shirts, or no bra, or leave their hair down, or all other sorts of non-"athletic" dress, and how maybe I was now one of "those" girls, or perceived as one in this locale. All I'll say I was wearing actual athletic equipment, just some that was coordinated and fitted.

Intro

As most of you know, I am spending the summer at my boyfriend's house in Portland, OR. After a year of dating long-distance, we thought it was time to find out if we liked each other if we saw each other on a daily basis. This presented a variety of challenges, not the least of which is that I don't feel like I "fit" in Portland. There are a few dimensions of this (who are these people that can live without the sun for 9 months of the year?), but the two that I think I will focus on most are politics and general hippy-ness (quite different from hip-ness).

While I do consider myself politically liberal (and I'm imagining many friends and family members rolling their eyes right now in disbelief that anyone would consider me otherwise), Portland takes it to a whole other level, making me feel like I'm not green, liberal, or socially-conscious enough, or, worse, that I'm naive by seeing a more moderate approach.

Another dimension in which I feel I don't fit is that, while I don't feel like a girly girl in any other setting (and I'm again imagining many rolling eyes), I feel like the highest maintenance girl in Portland. I blow dry my hair, I get pedicures in the summer, and I shave in all the appropriate places.

So, it is with some reservations and a general feeling that I'm a misfit that I come to Portland. I specifically chose DC because I feel like I fit there, and so it's somewhat unnerving to be in a place in which I feel out-of-place. This blog will contain my comments about the quirks that make Portland Portland, and hopefully, how I come to appreciate it in the same way they do (even if I still have nice toenails).