There’s no denying that Portland is a rainy place, with more days with gray skies than sunshine – the U.S. average is 205 a year, while this Oregon city gets 144 days of sun, along with 43 inches of rain on average annually.
That said, many people are making the move here, buying one of the Portland houses for sale because it’s also a beautiful place to live, with lots of lush greenery and waterfalls thanks to all that rain, while the coast and some of the country’s most beautiful beaches are within an easy day trip, less than a 90-minute drive away.
Of course, it can take time to get used to the rain, especially during those long wet winters, but there are ways to make it happen faster and even embrace it.
Gear Up and Go
If you’ve lived in a place with lots of sunshine, your immediate instinct might be to stay inside because of the rain, but here, if you keep canceling your plans just because it’s wet out, eventually you’re going to get depressed. There’s really no reason to stay indoors – it usually doesn’t get all that chilly out, and it’s often more of a mist than actual rain. Just invest in a decent rain jacket with a hood, some waterproof shoes or boots, and get out there. Plus, the more rain, the more majestic the waterfalls – there are countless cascades to view here, go out and take a drive. There are some right off the roadways, and many others reached via just a short trek.
Soak in a Hot Spring
Sitting in soothing warm water as the rain falls is an incredible feeling, and you’ll find many hot pools throughout the area, including natural hot springs. Bagby Hot Springs is less than two hours away in the Mount Hood National Forest, but there are pools at the Common Grounds Wellness Center and the Everett House Healing Center, among others.
Use Light Therapy
Winter depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), tends to occur in more northerly climates that lack sunshine during the chillier months of the year, which can cause sleeping problems, lack of energy, changes in appetite, weight gain, moodiness, social withdrawal, and other symptoms. It’s a very real disorder caused by a lack of natural light and other factors. But you don’t have to be diagnosed with it to use light therapy, it can be a good way to help you get used to the weather. A light therapy box is a lamp that mimics sunlight. It brightens up those gloomy days, especially when it feels like they’re never going to end.
Exercise
Regular exercise will help keep your mood up and beat that gloominess as it causes the body to produce more serotonin, a “feel-good” hormone. Whenever you’re feeling out of sorts, go for a walk, hit the treadmill, dance around, whatever it is, just get moving. Remember, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed, thinking you have to run a marathon or become an Olympian, being consistent in any type of exercise will offer positive effects.
