It may come as a surprise to you, but many people live in this area because they don't want to live 'big city life'.   That's why the choose to be here instead of New York City or Los Angeles or even the little town of Portland, Oregon.  

Trying to force them to emulate the 'big city' lifestyle is likely to be futile.  If you are so enamored of it, why have you chosen to live here instead of there?