- I loved living in Portland, Oregon, in college and my 20s—I thought I’d be there forever.
- But a temporary move to Baker City, a small town in rural Oregon, changed my mind.
- I moved there once I had enough of Portland’s noise, big city vibe and cost of living.
I grew up in a small town in Oregon and couldn’t wait to pack my bags and move to Portland for college.
The city seemed to have everything I needed: bustling streets, museums, art, culture and an abundance of good food.
And for years, Portland it Was the perfect living place for a young adult like me. I loved living there while attending Portland State University, a campus in the heart of downtown surrounded by trees and skyscrapers.
I spent most mornings jogging along the Willamette River and across the city’s many bridges. On the weekends, I can visit the local farmers market, visit a botanical garden, eat a lot of different food trucks, or even go to popular places like Powell’s City of Books or chains like Voodoo Doughnut.
I swore that I would never leave my beloved city, but later I realized that this was the best option for me.
At first I thought I just needed a temporary break from Portland
So many things I loved about Portland were now not so appealing to me. miroslav_1/Getty Images
The summer after I graduated from college, I needed some time to regroup without feeling rushed to decide my next step.
The woman in me was feeling burned out, I missed my family, and I knew I couldn’t slow down and just breathe while living in Portland.
The city felt so busy, and the high cost of living was hard to manage as a single person living alone. I would have to work full time – and maybe even take another job – just to make ends meet.
So I packed my bags and headed five hours east to Baker City, a small town in rural Oregon where my family members lived.
Affordable, quaint and laid back, Baker City was just the break I needed. However, I soon missed the hustle and bustle of Portland and the convenience of having a wide variety of shops and restaurants at my fingertips.
After a few months, I returned to Portland to begin graduate school.
But my mental health took a turn when I returned to Portland
Although I was surrounded by people in the city, I felt very lonely. My anxiety and depression were getting worse by the day and I was struggling with panic attacks, paranoia and suicidal thoughts.
Therapy wasn’t helping, and neither were the antidepressants. Most days, I struggled to get dressed and leave my apartment.
I wanted community, less noise and more peace. Soon, I realized that I only experienced those things when I was visiting family in Baker City.
Unlike before, I found the slow pace of the small town appealing. Plus, the lower cost of living can help ease my stress.
I knew I needed to make a change to improve my well-being, so I left Portland for good and moved to Baker City.
My small town allows me to live the life of simplicity I desire
I found a lot of peace living in a small town. Carly Newberg
I now live in Baker City with my partner and pet huskies and work as a full-time yoga teacher and writer.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that I don’t want to be around crowds anymore—and having too many choices for restaurants, shops, and events feels more overwhelming than desirable.
There are more small businesses here than chains, but I love it. Most local business owners know me by name and often ask me how I’m doing.
Restaurant options are limited, but I still eat well. We have several farms and ranches that we can source food from locally. Plus, I’ve taken up gardening and enjoy growing my own food.
Although Baker City’s population of about 10,000 is a far cry from Portland’s more than half a million people, my smaller community feels much closer.
I can’t remember the last time I felt lonely. In all the years I’ve lived in Portland, I’ve never had it so easy to make friends as here.
We have a large art and music community, many outdoor activities and annual events. Baker City also has a lot of sun and less rain than Portland, which has also been beneficial to my mental health.
Portland will forever have a part of my heart, but not like Baker City. I love the simple yet beautiful life I’ve cultivated here over the past three years and wouldn’t trade it for the world.