I suffer from spring allergies here in the metro Portland-Vancouver area and much to my surprise nearby Portland, OR was ranked last on a list of 100 worst cities for allergy sufferers in a 2013 report. Link here. Ranking last by the way, is a good thing, so this came as a bit of a surprise and in fact San Francisco CA was considered quite a bit WORSE than either Portland or Seattle the two Northwest cities west of the Cascades on the list.
We have so many flowering plants and trees I figured we would be up near the top. Yet there we are at the bottom of a list you don't want to top. It appears to be yet another reason to consider the Evergreen State as your final destination. Your place to retire. Seattle is a bit crowded, and VERY expensive leaving Vancouver as an ideal spot as the second largest city in the Portland,OR-Vancouver, WA metro area, and the defacto second largest city in the state.
With all the things we have to deal with as we get older, the aches and pains, the bum knee, sore back, yada, yada, yada... why suffer through allergies also? Well apparently here in the Evergreen State you get all the gloriously beautiful trees, bushes, flowers and leaves without that nasty allergic stuff. As if the natural grandeur of the Northwest, favorable tax environment, and relatively mild weather weren't enough, we are a bit easier on the eyes and nose as well.
