10 things I've learned in 10 years in Portland

This summer marks a full decade since I moved to Portland, the most beautiful and confounding city I've ever lived in.

The big picture: I've seen the good, the great and the not-so-great.

⛰️ The natural beauty and the easy access to it — from our city parks to Mount Hood to the coast — is unmatched.

💸 This is an expensive place to live, and getting more so, and it's not always clear what you get for your money.

😋 The hype about our food scene is real and deserved — from the cheap eats at food carts to our award-winning fine dining powerhouses.

🕵️ We end up under the national spotlight more frequently than most of us would prefer and often for reasons locals barely recognize.

🌧️ The winter weather here can be a downer, even for a rain lover like me, and a February trip to somewhere sunny is an important piece of self-care.

➡️ Progress on some of our biggest issues — especially homelessness and substance use — can be glacial and sometimes feel like it's moving backward.

👬 The social scene here can be insular, but once you find your people they'll be with you through thick and thin.

👀 Portland proper has a lot going for it, but our surrounding suburbs are bastions of good food, inventive culture and far more diversity than you find in the city's core.

🐈 This city rewards curiosity because you need to be willing to dip your toe into the weird, quirky, offbeat, niche subcultures to get the most out of Portland.

🥹 We have lots of work to do on our most important issues, like any city, but we have so much to be proud of.

The bottom line: Ten years in, I love that I can still find new corners of the city that surprise and delight.