If you’ve experienced these 10 things, you’ve likely lived in Oregon for far too long:
- You’ve become a passionate “tree hugger” who always chooses biking over driving, no matter the weather.
- You never leave the house without a reusable coffee cup and can name your favorite local fair-trade café.
- You have an encyclopedic knowledge of local breweries and consider microbrews a lifestyle, not just a beverage choice.
- You’ve perfected the art of pronouncing tricky Oregon place names like Willamette, Clatskanie, and Tillamook.
- You understand that “the coast” is not the beach and respect that the Oregon coast is public land with no private ownership.
- You’ve witnessed or at least heard the infamous story of the exploding whale in Oregon history.
- You use local terms like “filberts” for hazelnuts and “jo-jo” for seasoned potato wedges without thinking twice.
- You don’t mind the heavy rain for most of the year but cherish the dry, sunny summers as the best time to enjoy Oregon’s outdoors.
- You’ve grown used to the mix of progressive urban culture in Portland alongside more conservative rural communities.
- You participate in, or at least notice, the thriving local arts scene, farmers markets, and outdoor recreation that shape Oregon’s unique identity.
These experiences—and the quirky, nature-loving lifestyle they reflect—are quintessential to living in Oregon long-term.
SOURCES
[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUUBQZMIGlY)
[2](https://matadornetwork.com/life/10-ways-youll-stereotyped-oregon/)
[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce-sTQpfOkM)
[4](https://www.wweek.com/outdoors/2022/05/14/the-oregon-forest-is-for-everybody-not-just-stereotypes/)
[5](https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comments/apjz61/what_are_things_only_people_from_or_would_know/)
