I guess I would be branded a tourist forever, if I moved to Portland. I cannot stand being wet (unless I'm outside doing some activity, like hiking) and it would mean I would have to travel with my flat iron, so I wouldn't look like Bozo when I got to work, if I was walking. I have no problem with umbrellas, keep 2 very small ones in my car and work bag. I dislike hats/hoods, though and those are not a solution for me.
In the case of the kids, though, that is nuts. Veronica, the mom sounds like some of the women I work with.
When my kids used to stand and wait for the bus in the rain (with appropriate rain gear) all of the moms in the caravan of cars that would be lined up and holding their kids, so they wouldn't get wet, would ask my kids to get in the car and they would refuse. It was a never ending source of laughter for DH and I, who would watch from our window.