California Bound
So I’ve debated when to post this…now, or after all of our road trip posts, but I think I’ll go with now. Some of you may have noticed that our trip to California was a bit long. And that is because Patrick and I were on a secret mission! And that mission was successful! We are moving to California! Orange to be exact! And I couldn’t be more excited!
This is a move I’ve wanted to make for a few years now, but it wasn’t possible until now, mainly do to Patrick’s unique job situation (tech start-ups and acquisition transitions are quite complex) and I am thankful that we are now capable of making such a move, and I am thankful for Patrick’s willingness to try this huge shift.
I expressed the desire to move to some in my social circles, some of whom were California transplants, and they became nothing but Negative Nancys about it, and as the notion became more of a reality, I began to button up about it. So if you’re one of those who is wondering why I would ever leave Portland, the mecca of vintage, here are a few reasons.
First off I’m bored. So bored that I am teetering on the verge of depression. The truth is, that aside from vintage shopping there isn’t much else for me to do here. And vintage clothing isn’t all there is to life. And in fact, the frequency of my shopping was causing problems, mainly with space. And while I have a new found love of sewing, it too creates more garments, though at a slower rate. While Portland, and Oregon in general, has a lot of offer with regards to the outdoors, such as skiing, snowboarding, camping, rafting, hiking, that just isn’t my scene. I’m a history and film geek, I enjoy museums, visiting historical landmarks and filming locations. Oregon’s history is dullsville to me, and doesn’t offer much with regards to film history. California meanwhile is rich in history that is actually appealing to me. Additionally, there are way more museums, not just on California history subjects, but on general subjects that don’t have museums in Oregon, like neon museum or an entire museum dedicated to strictly modern art! Both of which Los Angeles have. I realized I could fill ten years of vacations in just California, and I really want to see more of the world, and by living in California, Patrick and I can make day-trips and weekend visits of the long list of places I want to visit, and take real vacations somewhere else.
Secondly, I am tired of Oregon’s trademark rain and evergreens. The rain limits my desire to go outside, as my wardrobe has never been rain-friendly, nor have I ever really seen a way for it to be so without my personality and taste disappearing, and let’s be honest, rain isn’t fun. I began to dread the rain, and the evergreens were boring and creepy. Our multiple visits to California over the last few years solidified a passion for palm trees, cacti and tropical flowers, such as birds of paradise, and I one day hope to have a beautiful garden full of these.
Thirdly, I no longer see a viable career for me here. When I moved back to Portland after graduating from the University of Oregon, I envisioned opening up my own vintage clothing store, but over the last four years I have learned so much by befriending multiple shop owners, and witnessing their struggles. In those four years I became friends with two shop owners to closed their doors, and witnessed two friends open stores, and listened their their woes and struggles, in addition to the already established shop owners I became friends with, and I came to the conclusion I could not be a shop owner, for a variety of reasons. Vintage is getting harder to find and more expensive. And I won’t lie, here in Portland, it can feel rather cutthroat, as we have a plethora of brick and mortar shops, as well as strictly on-line sellers. It takes a special kind of person with an extreme passion for vintage to own and operate a vintage clothing shop, and in witnessing my friends’ struggles, I realized that I didn’t have that passion in me. While I love vintage, I just can’t do what they do to stay afloat. I greatly admire the people I have met who own and operate their own shops, who pay their bills with vintage, but I know I cannot be one of them. Today I have new career goals, and they can only happen in California.
So what does this mean for the blog? Well, there will certainly be a less blogging as we pack up, move and get settled. But I also think this means I will blog more! And more on the subjects I care about! My blog was never meant to be a strict fashion blog, it just became that, and I was growing unhappy with that. I honestly think I will be doing more and wanting to share more, more than just outfits! Visits to filming locations, museums, etc. And what does this mean for my Etsy shop? Well, the shop will go into Vacation Mode sometime soon, and stay in said mode until we are settled, then I plan to continue to keep selling strictly vintage sewing patterns.
To those who were aware that this move was in the works, I thank you for keeping it on the down-low, as I requested. I also want to thank you for all of your kind words of support.
Meanwhile, stay tuned for more from our road trip!
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That is SOOOO exciting!!! How wonderful for you guys! You’re going to have so many grand adventures, and I can’t wait to hear about them!
This has also been a good lesson for me. I’ve always thought it would be cool to live in Oregon because SO many vintage wearers live there (at least, it seems) and you have amazing vintage stores everywhere (southern Missouri has… one, I believe). However, I can see how the points you brought up would be frustrating. “The grass is always greener” I suppose!
Janey, I am SO excited for you! California sounds like the perfect fit for you, and I’ve long known how much you love the state, so I’m very happy you and Patrick will be moving. California’s history, and the film industry, among many other things are so exciting, so it will be a wonderful place to live!
Oh my goodness, how exciting!!! Congratulations on this life-changing decision. It will be such an adventure. It sounds like you’ve thought long and hard about this and are really making a decision that will change your quality of life, which is always such an important thing. I look forward to seeing your future posts. P x
Welcome to California! Or soon to be at least. We’re a fun group. Hope your transition goes smoothly.
I’m happy that you and your husband will be doing something that will make you both happy. Can’t wait to see what you make of yourself there.
Congratulations! The hubby and I are also planning a big move (to Florida) so I know just how you feel! Best of luck in California! 😀
Congratulations on your decision to move! I wish you all the happiness you desire in California and am looking forward to watching your adventure unfold on the blog.
Lisa.
Hi Janey,I am so happy for you and your husband and wish you the best of luck! Now you know there is a What Katie Did in LA but I hope you will remember me if you need another bullet or something else from them. I will be glad to ship the merchandise to you when you need them. The Foundation will miss you! Please keep in touch. Tami
Cheers to California!! I hope you and Patrick enjoy the move. Vintage clothing is fab, but there is more to life. You seem to enjoy a wide variety of interests and California will be a place you can enjoy them all! I look forward to future blogs of you all running around California in beautiful vintage clothes, of course!! Best of luck.
How exciting!! I grew up in California and it is always “home” to me though I currently reside in Ohio. I love it for all the reasons you list and then some. If you do eventually get into the outdoors thing you really can’t beat California for its natural beauty and better yet, the weather is nice enough to properly enjoy it! And you are so correct about there being so much to do and see, you really could just do all your vacations for a year in California. I’ve been trolling jobs out there lately, maybe one day I’ll join you!
Oops, meant “For years,” not just one year of vacations 🙂 Congrats!
How exciting! California is the best place to live, and Orange is so close to Disneyland!!! Good luck!
Deborah
Hellcat Vintage
Congratulations on the exciting decision! As a former Pacific North Westerner myself, I totally get the desire to leave the gloom and come to a sunnier place, it really affected me. There is a beauty up there that a few times a year (mostly during our long dry heat waves), where I want nothing more than to pack up house and move back up. I am sure you will love California. I have been in San Diego for 17 years and am constantly seeing and learning more about this incredible part of the country.
This is a big step and best made before it gets tougher to move (ie when you have kids). I am so happy for you and your husband. You seem more like a Cali girl and I TOTALLY get you when you say you have to be around things that make you happy. Omg. I SO get you. I like all the things you say also and I know it sounds impossible but I get tired of NY. I really love England and although I won’t ever move there I hope to visit again soon and when the kids are older spend an entire summer there bc it has the things that I love and enjoy doing. So I totally get you. Life is about compromises and working as a team esp when you have a spouse and this sounds like exactly what you need. Again, super duper happy for you!!!!!!! xox
I am a San Diegan, and there is no where else I’d rather be.
When visiting family in Portland, I was struck by how everyone looked like a Zombie Hiker. Absolutely no insult meant! It is beautiful, and there are so many fun shops, but that cannot be all one has.
Welcome to California! I hope you don’t mind traffic.
Oh I am so envious! I live in Washington (blah city) and It’s been a dream of mine to up and move to California. Happy Trails! I look forward to reading about your SoCal Adventures!
A pre-welcome to Cali! As a Los Angeles dweller, I am very pleased the state is receiving a much needed dose of fabulous vintage style!
I bet you will have a wonderful time there. You’ve been there often enough, you are familiar with the mega traffic. Plus you can have nature there with the ocean about 10 miles away or drive two hours the other direction for nearby skiing in the winter….in fact you could do both in the same day if you wanted to. I grew up and lived many years in cities next to Orange. I love their downtown Circle. And L.A. is so close you can go whenever the mood strikes. And of course Disneyland will be so close you will hear the fireworks all summer long. Enjoy!
So so happy for you and thrilled that you are pursuing your dreams! I have no doubts that you will find what you’re looking for in California, and wish you and Patrick all the best there!
I think it’s great that you are opening yourself up to new experiences. Cheers to a new move and fresh and new adventures for you!!
How wonderful!!! I’m so excited to start reading about your actual move to california…I wonder what city. I was born in Glendale but I have always wanted to move to San Diego but after having kids it’s been a lot more challenging. Can’t wait to see your sun filled beautiful photography from CA.
I am a little biased as I am a California native, but I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Congratulations and welcome!
Congratulations! I’m originally from California (an area that is so northern it’s practically southern Oregon), but in the past few years, I’ve definitely begun to feel some of the same bored feelings with Portland. It’s lost it’s allure for me as well. I’m excited that you get to embark on a new adventure elsewhere!
I am a long time reader and I live in Los Angekes county. As a vintage lover, I love the area. I also live what the area has to offer.
I totally understand where you’re coming from Janey, I live in a beautiful part of the UK, but I hate the fact that it’s not even the end of August and I’m here debating whether I can wear shorts today or whether it’ll be too cold. I’d love to move anywhere in the US, but especially California (among others). I know you’ll enjoy your new life, just please remember to share bits of it with the less fortunate 😉
I am so incredibly happy for you guys (seriously, fighting back the happiness tears here) and sense in my heart of hearts that this is going to be a fantastic, rewarding, beautiful new chapter in your lives. Way to go on making this longstanding dream of yours a reality. I’m super proud of you and wish you the absolute best in this fabulous (sunny!) new chapter of your life, my dear friend.
♥ Jessica
YAAAAAAAAAAAY! Oh, I am SO happy for you. I absolutely love California, and while I didn’t have the best experience living in So Cal (Riverside is where all of LA’s smog goes to die & exercising outdoors was physically uncomfortable!) there were so many things I loved about it. And you’ll be SO close to Disneyland and the beach and everything else lovely. I completely agree with you with regards to selling vintage full time… kudos to the ladies who can do it, but goodness, it isn’t for everyone!
Anyway. I’m very excited for your big move and the next time I’m down to visit family in Riverside & Corona we’ll have to go for coffee or Disney time or something!
Congrats! I’m a little over an hour south of there. It would be fun to meet up sometime! There’s this great little tea place near the Orange circle… 😉
I think you are going to love it. I have lived here my entire life and couldn’t really imagine living anywhere else. 10 Years ago my entire family took off to Oregon and I stayed behind, so I do spend a fair amount of time visiting them, and most of my summers when I was a kid…so I know what you mean on lacking of things to do if you don’t like the outdoors to much(in Oregon). It will definitely be an adventure and an adjustment. When you get settled, just know, Ventura County has KILLER thriftstores. 😉
Congrats! I actually know someone who owns a vintage shop here in Chicago and while I don’t think its quite as competitive here as say Portland. I see the struggles they go through with their shop, especially say in the winter where it gets extremely cold here and she said that no one had stopped into her shop for a whole week! Can you imagine that! I also know the two girls who own this shop both have to work second jobs. Vintage is wonderful, I love vintage but it doesn’t seem like its all its cracked up to be owning a shop. Cant wait to follow your Cali adventures.
I would love to move to California!! But I live in the UK, so I don’t know if I will ever get there. It is so exciting and I look forward to your sunny weather blog posts in the future! 🙂
Congratulations! I was born in So. California (and absolutely LOVE it!) and wish that we could move back there (in Vegas now). We have a retail store (health food store) and I can say it can really be challenging, so you’re making a great decision to go in a different direction! Having a store is like having a kid, but you can’t pick up and move to a new state when you want! Wishing you a wonderful, bright future in sunny California! 😀
I’m so happy for you, Janey– this sounds so terrific. Your reasons for wanting a change strike a real chord, and it’s awesome that you’re *doing* something about it! Seriously– congratulations.
Congrats on deciding to follow your bliss!
I’m extremely excited for you…and maybe even a little envious! While I definitely don’t miss the Southern California heat and traffic – I do really miss all of the other things you’ve mentioned. California is so rich with history and culture, and that’s just not something I find here in Oregon.
I’ll miss seeing your lovely self around Portland, but hope to see you around sometime when I’m down there visiting my family. I hope you love California and have great time making it home!
OMG I am so jealous! I have wanted to move back out to California for a while now, but now with my husband having the job he has, that probably won’t happen for at least a few years. Plus I would like to go back to school for my PA degree or MD! But one day, I tell you – one day!
For now, I shall live vicariously through you. I am beyond elated for you and can’t wait to see and hear of this next step in your life unfold!
-Holly
Veronica Vintage
Congratulations! What exciting news! 😀 I can completely understand why you want to move – I love California so much, and have spent a lot of time there (I went to university in Berkeley, and my husband is from California) and I always have the best time when I go back there. We may move back at some point in the future…. Good luck with the move! xxx
Good Luck to you both! This entry made me laugh – now I am picturing Portland/and OR in general, like Twin Peaks – btw, they made 1990s does 1940s work!
It TOTALLY is Twin Peaks! Seriously, everyone still dresses like it’s the 90s here.
I can totally relate! We’ve been in Colorado almost 7 years and I’m ready to put it in my rear-view window! I want to move to a more temperate climate-no snow,tornadoes,70 mph winds! I hate it here! I would like to move to extreme northern CA or Oregon. If I could find the DH a better job,I’d be packing today!
Just a quick comment to say how exciting and congratulations!! 😀
Way late to the party… I follow you on Instagram and am just now getting over here to read your California posts. Congrats to you, and I am also sooooo jealous!. I’ve been in PDX for over 9 years now (grew up in Anaheim/Long Beach) and I am just over the gray and rain and some other things at this point. Every time I go down for a visit I feel like I don’t have time to do all the things I want to do and I come home wanting to go back. So I’m planning to move back either next summer or the following one (depending on jobs)! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one craving Southern California up here in the rainy PNW. Happy travels!