Hypothetical question for you folks in Bend.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

Lets say you have a couple of draft-age boys. Both raised
peaceful, the youngest just started college, and the
oldest is still searching...

And perhaps your husband might own a bicycle store and you yourself
are a RN with lots of critical care experience.

You both can still mountain-bike like a wild-one.
AND would Love to learn how to surf.

But you just can't afford the "peace of heaven" place that
you have lived in all your life, and are working your
ass off to keep.

What would YOU do??????

Move to Bend, Oregon, or somewhere in the Central Pacific
say,,, Costa Rica??????

:beer:

[Red_Viking]

1. I'm a relatively new Oregon resident

Been living in Salem for a little over a year to attend law school. I absolutely love Oregon. Bend is lovely; it's a resort town, so it's heavy on the tourists at times from what I understand. They recently got a McDonald's, and it caused quite a fuss. Someone burned it down, in fact, and it had to be rebuilt. It's right near the Mt. Bachelor ski area, also gorgeous. I'd recommend it. I'm a lifelong Texan who got a wild hair and decided to go back to school at 38, so I packed up my boyfriend and my daughter and we all moved to Oregon. We love it.

As for the surfing, the coast is quite a drive from Bend. And not being a surfer myself, I'm not sure how much folks surf here. I do know there's lots of windsurfing in the Columbia Gorge (also beautiful).

Having said that, when the SO and I are done with law school we plan to expatriate, hopefully to Europe. So take that for what you will! :P

Good luck!

Peace,

RV

[PuraVidaDreamin]

2. I loved Bend. The mountain biking was GREAT, the Micro-brewerys

off the DeChutes River. Lots of outdoor stuff to do
all year round! But the kids... they are prime draft age.

I do have photos of them protesting, going to rally's.
Only got them to attend a Conscience Objector surmon at
the local UU. They wouldn't make an appointment to meet
with him one on one. Would rather be jamming with the local
muscians. They do have passports.

Costa Rica......................

Maybe a small B&B, hosting mtnbikers, surfers, birders,
being a guide. ................ It would be a small
business. However, building almost 25 miles of single-
track trail on CC, with the hub's and My repuTAtions
in the North East Corridor- It could work.

Loved the High Desert atomosphere in Bend.

Learning Spanish is fun.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[classof56]

3. First of all, welcome to Oregon!

I lived and worked in Salem for many years after moving there from Bend. Now live near Bend again and love it here, though many old/long-timers are getting a bit stressed about the ever-increasing population and real estate prices. The sheer beauty of the area, mountain views, Cascade lakes, high desert, etc., help compensate for the intrusive urban sprawl, IMHO. Actually, it was Sisters, about 15 miles west of Bend, where the McDonald's was built and then torched, apparently by someone who objected to the golden arches in their little town. Bend has had McDonald's for quite a few years now.

Best wishes with your law studies and your future plans. Don't blame you for ex-patriating it. There have been times recently when Canada looks mighty inviting! I am a long-time Oregonian and love living here. Hoping like crazy things get better for our country.

Blessings.

Tired Old Cynic

[LWolf]

4. I love the bend area.

It's not exactly cost-effective to live here, though. Wages don't keep pace with property values.

Bend or Costa Rica? I'd choose Bend any day. If I could afford it.

[unschooler]

5. Bend is great, but VERY expensive and growing fast.

If you want real (affordable) peace and quiet, you might try somewhere farther east, like Wallowa County. On the other hand, if you can afford to buy in Bend, your real estate is almost guaranteed to go up, up, up in value.