作者Kayla Brock在22岁时因一次实习机会来到波特兰，并在此度过了八年。她曾因城市提供的经济实惠的租金、亲近自然的便利以及独立自由的生活而深爱这座城市，并形成了独特的城市生活习惯。然而，随着年龄的增长和职业生涯的发展，她开始感到波特兰已无法满足其对职业机会和社区归属感的需求，特别是考虑到大城市更集中的行业资源和更具多样性的社区环境。如今30岁的她，正准备迎接新的生活篇章，并反思不同人生阶段对居住城市的不同需求，对波特兰的经历充满感激，也对未来的选择持开放态度。

✨ **初抵波特兰的吸引力与归属感形成**：22岁的Kayla Brock因一次编辑实习机会来到波特兰，最初被其低廉的租金、丰富的自然资源、独特的“怪异”文化以及充满活力的社区所吸引。她在此找到了一个舒适的住所，并逐渐形成了自己的城市生活节奏，如品尝特色美食、夏季河上漂流、逛书店等，这些活动让她对波特兰产生了深厚的归属感和独立感。

📈 **职业发展与社区多样性引发的思虑**：步入30岁，Kayla Brock在新闻行业的工作让她意识到，波特兰虽有知名大企业，但更多她梦想的职位机会集中在洛杉矶、纽约等城市。同时，她也感受到波特兰的白人比例较高，这让她作为黑人社区的一员，有时会感到自己仿佛从未离开过成长环境中单一的族裔构成。这些因素促使她开始重新审视这座城市是否仍是她长期发展的最佳选择。

🔄 **人生阶段变化与城市选择的重新考量**：作者深刻认识到，随着年龄的增长，个人需求也在不断变化。20多岁时追求的独立和自由，与30岁时可能更看重的职业发展和社区多样性有所不同。她对波特兰给予的成长空间和自我发现的经历表示感激，但她已准备好迎接新的挑战和机遇，并考虑搬到洛杉矶等更符合其当前职业和生活需求的地方。

💡 **对未来居住选择的开放性与生活哲学**：Kayla Brock的经历揭示了一个重要的生活哲学：不同的人生阶段需要不同的居住环境。她对波特兰的经历充满感恩，并相信自己未来仍会乐于再次到访。同时，她也明白，下一个居住地也未必是终点，重要的是能够灵活适应不同阶段的需求，并在旅途中不断学习和成长。

At 22, I jumped at the opportunity to move to Portland for a four-month internship.I loved my affordable rent, the access to nature, and the independence I felt, and ended up staying.Now that I'm 30, I feel like I've outgrown the city; I'm craving new opportunities and community.

I was only supposed to be in Portland, Oregon, for four months. Eight years later, though, I'm still here.

When I first moved to the city at 22, I knew little to nothing about Portland. Although I'd spent time elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, I'd never even visited Oregon.

I was offered an editorial internship, though, and saw this as my chance to leave home, have more freedom, and start my career.

Any opportunity, especially one that would let me write, felt worth the leap. Then, in the blink of an eye, what was supposed to be a brief blip turned into nearly a decade.

At first, Portland felt like the perfect place for me

Portland's quiet green spaces, access to nature, quirky commitment to staying "weird," and community of small businesses made the city feel just right. I loved the food carts, walkability, and general pace and culture.

I found a charming one-bedroom with a large living room and natural light in a quiet, walkable neighborhood near downtown, for a rent below market rate.

My apartment gave me a home base, and with that came a deep sense of independence that felt imperative in my early 20s.

As I adjusted to my new city, I created rituals that made Portland feel like home: grabbing a slice from Sizzle Pie, floating the river with friends in the summer, wandering through Powell's for books.

Now that I'm 30, the city I once loved doesn't feel right anymore

I work in journalism, and around the time I turned 30, I started to feel like this city might not be the best place for the career I've been building.

Although Portland is home to powerhouse brands like Nike, Intel, and Adidas — and there are tons of small businesses and local media organizations — many of my dream roles seem to be based in cities like Los Angeles, New York, or Atlanta.

Also, although there is a vibrant Black community here, the Portland metropolitan area is predominantly white. Some days I walk outside, and barely see anyone who looks like me.

After growing up in a majority-white suburb, my neighborhood sometimes makes me feel like I never really left.

I'm learning that as I grow older, what I'll need in a city might change — and that's OK

I'm no longer 22, 24, or even 29. I've realized that what I need in my 30s might be different from what I needed several years ago.

Portland will always be the first place I truly lived on my own, and it gave me room to grow, reflect, and find myself. I found so much joy in sunset hikes, aimless wanders through Powell's, afternoons at the Portland Art Museum, and live music in the parks.

I'm grateful for my time here, but I'm ready for something new.

Maybe I'll move to LA, where the creative community feels more accessible. Or I'll go back to London, a city I once lived in for college, where I felt so inspired by its pace and diverse mix of people.

Although I'm excited to move to one of these cities whenever the right opportunity comes, I know that my next home might not be forever, either.

One of the biggest lessons Portland has taught me is that different chapters call for different places — and even though Oregon no longer feels like home, I know I'd happily visit again and again, with gratitude.