<p>I live in the Chicago area and am a native (though I’ve lived and traveled elsewhere). Whenever I do a “quiz” (like on Facebook, so, yeah, this is scientific) it tells me I belong in the Pacific Northwest. Based on my reactions when visiting Seattle and Portland, I tend to agree. Mind you, I visited Seattle on a crisp, sunny weekend in February; the weather was good for Seattle, I gather, and it was particularly nice in comparison to what was waiting for me back home. However, on my last trip to Portland it was pouring down rain and I still thought, “People here must pinch themselves every day wondering if they could REALLY be living in such a terrific city.”</p>