[jyl]

It looks like I may have the chance to move to Portland. There is also an opportunity that may emerge in Seattle.

Could the PNW'ers give me their thoughts on the pros and cons of both cities?

I'll include some background if it helps. We have kids. I like to autocross, camp, flyfish, downhill ski, and recently got back into shooting. An active Porsche community would be a plus. The significant other likes cross-country skiing. The kids are into camping, soccer and skiing. We're not into nightlife at all. I like to cook, the wife is an organic foodie. Photography, bookstores, and pottery round out the pastimes. I don't have much tolerance for long commutes in bad traffic (I usually take mass transit to work). We both know Seattle fairly well (wife grew up in WA, I lived there as a kid), neither of us know Portland thogh we've taken a few summer vacations on the OR coast. Living in the SF Bay Area, I don't have a problem with rain and cold, although I guess less is always better than more. The kids go to private school now, a good elementary/jr high system is okay but a good high school is more important and a good public university will become important. Lower taxes (income, sales, property) would be nice.

I don't really have any issues with the SF Bay Area, I mostly love it there. The idea of moving is job-inspired - better work, more money. I would be interested in a less inflated real estate market.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.