I’m starting to prefer the cooler, quieter seasons. Summer is the worst. Often romanticized as a glorious time with gorgeous weather, when everybody’s sitting poolside (more likely riverside in Portland) drinking a piña colada (it’s Portland, so probably an IPA), as if we’re in a Janelle Monáe music video. But really? Summer is a profoundly chaotic, sweaty time, and even the fun things are becoming exhausting. In summer, everyone is busy at the same time and no one is around to just hang when it’s finally warm. I’d much rather vacation during literally any other season but I’m married to a teacher so here we are.
Vacationing outside in the summer means there’s also a much greater chance people are going to be available to join you on your camping trip, keep an eye on your place in your absence, pick up or drop you off at the airport, or watch your pets. In addition, Oregon’s wildfire season has had an increasing impact on the Portland area over the last decade, resulting in poor air quality that forces people indoors during the state’s sunniest months. From wildfire smoke to construction, crowds and finding a pet sitter, join me for a rundown about why we hate summer.
Wildfire smoke
While I’m generally against summer vacations for Oregonians — why leave when the weather is finally sunny? — if there’s one time to escape it’s probably the tail end of wildfire season. Remember the wildfires of 2020? At the time, the Labor Day fires were Oregon’s most destructive, killing at least 11 people, and torching one million acres. A thick, sepia-toned haze of smoke, ash and soot filled the air throughout the state, including in the Willamette Valley and Portland area. Breathing conditions were unhealthy for every person and animal in Oregon. Six years later, Portlanders are still experiencing the effects of smoke annually.
This year, Oregon was already nearing its all-time record by early August for acres burned in a single wildfire season. When school’s out, this phenomenon can be particularly hard on families with kids who’re expecting to attend summer camps, go to the public pool, or at least hit the park. It’s also hard on literally anyone who likes to go anywhere.
Whether you have a dog to walk or an errand to run, being out in unhealthy air for even a short time can cause headaches, nausea, congested lungs and more. (I’ve definitely gotten a wildfire-smoke induced migraine that was so bad I vomited, and I do not recommend it.) Other than staying inside when the smoke is bad, what can you do?
Back in 2020, Oregonian witches showed the world how to make herbal stovetop steams to relieve and rehydrate congested lungs. You basically fill a pot with water, bring it to a gentle boil and add some fresh or dry herbs (try eucalyptus, rosemary, chamomile, sage or mint). Turn down the heat, lean over the pot at a safe distance, drape a towel over your head and breathe in the water vapors. This doesn’t remove any toxins from indoor air, but it can help soothe nasal passageways and airways that have been irritated by smoke inhalation.
Finding a house sitter or pet sitter
Another thing about summer? Everyone goes out of town on the same weekends. From Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Juneteenth to Fourth of July and Labor Day. How does one leave town in the summer without bringing their dogs with them? Your friends and family are likely already camping, going out of town, or otherwise having their own summer fun. Maybe you and your entire network are attending the same wedding in another state, leaving no one to care for your furry friends. Sometimes, the only way through is to hire a professional — or at least someone willing to do this work for money. Get a referral from someone you know for a boarder, or a housesitter on Care.com, and call it a day. (Mine is RD Drake who owns In Home Dog in Hillsboro.)
Crowds
Few things are more annoying than trying to enjoy a peaceful day off by the river when there’s nowhere to park, nowhere to set your friggin’ blanket and nowhere to enjoy nature in peace. Then, when you’re actually able to secure some small semblance of space in a popular green place, others don’t know how to read the room: These park patrons might take it upon themselves to be the designated beach DJ, blasting Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys on the otherwise serene sandy shore from a PA loudspeaker. Sure, you would much rather be listening to waves, nature sounds, or at least something chill and beachy. Oh well.
The parking frenzies at all the outdoor spaces and river spots, the people who congregate and party in these hot spots — some of whom end up copulating behind the blackberry bushes at Broughton Beach — they’re starting to discourage me from leaving my house. Whether you’re trying to do some sunbathing in the buff at Sauvie Island, or a family-friendly picnic at Sellwood River Park, timing is everything. Arriving on a weekday, or a morning if it’s the weekend, is key to avoiding crowds.
Construction
“Construction season is here,” shouts the top of the page on the Oregon.gov website. In this rainy state, the majority of construction takes place during the dry months, and it makes complete sense. I understand it! I do. But “construction season” also coincides with the busiest season for a lot of other things. Greenlighting an onslaught of construction and roadwork that often results in closing down sections of freeways, urban streets, bridges and busy roads is a recipe for chaos during the busiest time for “summer fun” events like parades, bike rides and festivals.
I know people are doing their jobs, but respectfully, we have weddings to attend! And on top of that is the fact that the construction is never-ending! My dogs are terrified because it sounds like a friggin’ warzone outside, which makes it that much harder to catch a vibe, let alone keep a baby sleeping during naptime. Whether it’s necessary road repairs, construction of a new school, or eight new houses on the same block (as is all happening near my house), it seems like it’s all week, all day, all summer long.
I hate that I’ve become this person, but I feel like I go out onto my patio to enjoy a coffee or get some work done to the sounds of birds chirping and pollinators pollinating, but every damn day all I hear outside is banging, drilling, chainsawing, and what sounds like concrete exploding into pieces after falling from a very high vantage point. It’s hard not to wonder: When will all the things finally be built?
This article appears in August 26, 2026.