I'm thinking of moving to Oregon. What's it like?

[Peak_Oil]

Nature, clean water, trees, blah blah blah. But what are the people like? Have you been there? Got any stories?

[gristy]

1. The weather is absolutely beautiful in the summer.

Miserable the rest of the year.

[Parche]

34. oregon

I have lived here all my life, and it is fantastic
sure it rains, but we have good weather most of the time

[West Coast Democrat]

2. Which part of Oregon?

[Peak_Oil]

11. Probably Southern Oregon, by Ashland/Medford and the University

At least that's my initial idea. No kids, so school doesn't really matter. I'd like the cultural things that happen around a university, though. The library, etc.

[Speck Tater]

21. I've lived in Ashland and in Eugene, both university towns...

I am currently in Eugene (for the last 10 years or so) and prefer it. However, I think I prefer Ashland weather. It's drier, and closer to winter sports.

Both have lots of cultural activities, but Eugene gets higher marks there because it has more going on. The Eugene Symphony and the Oregon Mozart Players are a couple notches better than the Rogue Valley Symphony, and the Hult center is a great performing arts center attracting big-name acts from around the world. Ashland has the Shakespeare festival, but Eugene has a world class opera company.

I guess you pays yer money and takes yer choice.

[GregW]

39. You forgot about the Bach Festival!

I went to a number of performances this year in addition to the after-concert dinners, etc. A truly excellent orchestra and world-class choir.

[Old_Growth]

53. I always enjoyed...

The Oregon Country Fair there on the outskirts of Eugene (Veneta I think). Don't let the word country fool you. It doesn't get much more liberal than that. Not your typical fair for sure.

Left Oregon in 98. Lived in Corvallis (OSU town) Still miss it.

[murphymom]

57. LOL!

We went to the Country Fair a couple of weeks ago. Year before was our first time and although I knew what to expect my husband didn't - he heard Country Fair and was thinking 4-H, farm animals, quilts - after the first young lovely who walked by wearing nothing but body paint above the waist I thought he was going to step on his tongue!

[murphymom]

37. In Ashland

the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a very big deal.

http://www.osfashland.org/home.asp

It's a very dominating influence on the town and there is a huge amount of tourist traffic there in the peak season, summer. Over the years I've noticed the town has gotten more and more gentrified - lots of Northern Californians have moved up there.

Don't know too much about Southern Oregon University. It's one of the smaller campuses in the state system. The bigger names are University of Oregon in Eugene and Oregon State University in Corvallis.

We've been in the Eugene area for the past 4 years and love it. Eugene has a reputation for being pretty liberal and we've found the people to be as friendly as you want them to be.

Don't be put off by comments about the weather. If you're from a very mild climate the winters will be colder and wetter than you are used to, but if you're used to mid-Western or New England winters with extreme cold and snow you'll probably think we're a bunch of weenies for complaining.

[Peak_Oil]

47. If you were to compare Chicago to Oregon...

I'm used to 80 w/ 90% humidity and no wind in the summer, and 20 to -20 in the winter with buttloads of salt and slush everywhere.

When it got really bad in the summers in Chicago it would hit 95 with 100% humidity and the air stood stock-still. Really bad winters were consistently 10 below or more, and it stayed that way for a month or more. Spring was a slush festival, which truly was nightmareish. Plan on buying new shoes twice a year there.

How's that compare with Oregon?

[murphymom]

56. Well, right now its around 87 degrees

at 4:50 p.m., humidity around 21% (according to Weather Underground) - a little warmer than it's been recently. We get a few days in the summer that are hotter than this, but usually humidity isn't an issue.

In the 4 winters we've been here, we had a couple of light dustings of snow that melted within a day, and one snowstorm last New Year's Day that pretty much shut down half of Oregon! Mostly it just rains. We probably get around 40-45 inches of rain a year, some blustery storms but a lot of it is just gentle rain that comes down all winter. I like the rain myself and find it soothing, but if you are susceptible to Seasonal Affective Disorder you might find it depressing. We've noticed a lot of people who aren't tied down to school vacation schedules like to take a break towards the end of winter and vacation down in Southern Cal or Arizona to get some sun.

Not nearly as cold as Chicago in the winter in this area, gets down to 30s and high 20s at night during the coldest months, warmer in the daytime.

[Eloriel]

72. I'd vote for Portland, or closer to Portland

Ashland/Medford is very nice, but if you want cultural, Portland can't be beat. Two of my favorite bumpersticker/t-shirt slogans came from Oregon (in order):

Welcome to Oregon. Now go home.

(Unfortunately, too many Californians visited and stayed -- and pumped up real estate prices. But when I lived there it was perfect.)

World Class Cities:
New York
Tokyo
London
Paris
Portland

:D

It's simply paradise, IMO. I spent the happiest 3 years of my life there. We were on the go constantly, so many things to do (and cheaply or free!!) -- 2 hours to the Coast, 2 hours to Mt. Hood and the Hood River Valley, 1 hour or less to the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Free symphony concerts at the riverside park. The Saturday Market. Wine festivals all summer long -- and that was when there were only a double handful of wineries. And you couldn't get a bad meal anywhere in the state -- at least we never did -- and so many fine restaurants all over the place. Artists and craftspeople everywhere, and everything was an art. Putting up HONEY was artfully and creatively done. I could go on and on ... and on.

Portland has everything, and is easily accessible to everywhere.

I mourned for 5 years solid when we had to leave. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do -- and that was the year my son went to live with his father (I thought forever, but he joined us in GA after a year), and my mother died.

I loved the climate, and in fact absolutely every single thing about it.

[Danieljay]

82. self deleted..see post below n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Do you have kids? Cause I think they have the shortest school year of

all the states.

[roguevalley]

4. I grew up in the Rogue Valley, which is the most beautiful part of Oregon.

<SNICKER!> My grandpa traveled the world over and he said there is no place on earth as wonderful as Oregon.

The state from Eugene north to Portland is a different climate than that south of Eugene. East of the coast after you cross the mountains is desert and high dry country.

Bend is a wonderful town in eastern Oregon. Medford is the regional hub of southwestern oregon. Portland is the financial etc center of Oregon and the capital is Salem, not that far from Portland.

You have beaches -including white sand- with 100% public access, mountains with forests, huge and beautiful, high deserts and all that comes between. I live in Alaska, with all its beauty, but it still doesn't make me feel like Oregon. Its a state of small towns, beautiful country and good hearted people. Lucky you. :)

[West Coast Democrat]

5. We passed an income tax increase in Multnomah County

so that the school year wouldn't have to be cut.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Glad to hear that

[eugeneliberal]

6. What part of Oregon?

I live in Eugene and love it. I grew up in California and wouldn't think of ever moving back. Eastern and southern Oregon have drier climates and politically, are more conservative. It rains more over here in Eugene and in Portland. Both are fairly liberal. Eugene is a college town (University of Oregon) so there's always lots going on. If you like the outdoors: hiking, boating, swimming, fishing. It really is a nice area.

[newyawker99]

58. Hi eugeneliberal!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[eugeneliberal]

61. Hey thanks

...newyawker99. I'm not really a newbie. I read the boards every day and registered probably two years ago, but forgot what my user name and password was. Now that I've found it, maybe I'll actually post once in a while.

[Speck Tater]

7. The people are great! The weather...

... well it depends on where in Oregon you are. We have high desert in the east that is dry and bitter cold in the winter and we have the I-5 corridor which is wetter, and the coastal area which is "temperate rain forest." In general expect about 1 inch more rain per year and a few degrees cooler for every 100 miles north on I-5. In the summer Grants Pass gets about 10 degrees hotter than Portland.

Here in Eugene the weather is perfect year round, except for October, Novermber, December, January, February, March, April, May and June when it rains too much for my taste.

Politically, from Grants Pass north up to, but not including Cottage Grove expect right-leaning rural folk. South through Ashland to the Cal border is pretty left-leaning. From Eugene north to Portland is also pretty left. These are my own informal observations. Your milage may vary.

[AmerDem]

8. countries worst unemployment!

I have also looked into moving to Oregon.

[West Coast Democrat]

14. Nah! I think that's Washington

[progressivebydesign]

50. No Washington is now 7th... it's improved 3 spaces since last year. N/T

[Peak_Oil]

17. The unemployment thing doesn't scare me in the least.

I'm planning on starting up a small farm, maybe 40 acres or so, that's within striking distance of a couple towns. I think I can get by like that... shouldn't be too tough...

You never know, I might be an employer soon enough!

[sandnsea]

22. Inherit a million???

Land is kind of spendy here!

[Peak_Oil]

46. Southern Oregon land is expensive? Check this out.

http://guests.themls.com/search/profile_page.cfm?mls=04-072860&property_type=0&pass_la=Waltz%2CPrudence

Keep in mind that this is Tha Hood. It's a truly frightening neighborhood. I've spent some time around there and yes you really do have to pay attention to how many police cars are in the neighborhood and how close you stop to the car in front of you at the stoplight.

I don't really know the neighborhood around this area, but check this out as a comparison.

http://www.move2oregon.com/realestate/Ashland/MooreFSBOash.html

[sandnsea]

79. Yes, it's cheaper than CA

But in comparison to other places across the country, Oregon is more expensive than many. And acreage can be especially high, depending on where you end up. BTW, I actually do know of a 40 acre farm with a magnificent home, barns, corrals, fruit trees, and all the rest. PM me for a link if you want. I'm afraid to put it on DU because looky-lous might overrun my server!

[AmerDem]

55. good luck to you

sounds like a great plan, i wish you the very best. everything else i have looked into about Oregon was wonderful. what can i say i love nature!

[gratuitous]

10. No room, sorry

We're full up. Couldn't possibly accommodate anyone else. Just a second.

{Launches Don McIntyre into space}

OK, you're in; just don't tell anyone else -- got it?

[MissB]

12. Well, we could always make room for one more

(remember Bill Sizemore?)

[gratuitous]

13. Shhhhh!

Okay, after Sizemore and Lon Mabon go up, we can take two more. But that's absolutely it!

[Rosco T.]

15. My better half is looking at a position in the Burns/Hines area.....

any commentary on that part of the state?

[roguevalley]

63. Hotter than ten kinds of crap. That part of eastern Oregon is bleak

and hot. If you like Nevada desert, you will like Burns. My great aunt retired there years ago. Died her hair bright red, married a young man and lived large. :) They don't really give a damn there
if you are civil. :)

[classof56]

24. Launch Don McIntyre into space--I love it!

Somebody shoulda done that years ago. (Inside joke for those of you not privileged to live in Oregon.) My spouse imported me from WA state 36 years ago, and I absolutely love living here. Have dwelt in many different areas of the state, traveled to every one of its corners, IMHO and it is all good. Now live east of the mountains where rainfall is sparse and the sun is shining even as we speak. Does that most of the time, trust me! We have no sales tax, don't have to pump our own gas, and my kids/grandkids have and are so far getting a terrific education (you gotta pay attention as a parent, but good ones do that anywhere). Our governor has attended every single funeral for the soldiers we are tragically losing in Bush's misbegotten war. Good man, IMHO. I am now retired, and unless Bush forces me to flee the country, I will live here until the day it's time to scatter my ashes--over the ocean, by the way.

Hate to so shamelessly promote our state, but gotta be honest. Oregon is great!!

[MissB]

27. Oregon is great

I do think that we may well have a Repub governor in 2006, though. Unless Kulongowski doesn't run again. Don't get me wrong- I volunteered for his 2002 campaign. I just don't see him making it again.

Ted is great for having attended the funerals.

[classof56]

31. We've had some great Republican governors

Tom McCall is one of my personal heroes, and I took issue with Vic Atiyeh on some issues, but he was just such a nice man (he was my boss's boss), low-key and gracious. Not sure how the 2006 election will shake out. I'm guessing Kevin Mannix has his sights set on the job, and that is not good news, as far as I'm concerned. Hope Ted hangs in there!

"Oregon is great"--one of my mantras. That and Bush Must Go!!!

[MissB]

33. Actually, I think it'll be

a moderate - do you remember Saxton from the 2002 primary? He is still keeping his name out there. One of the local news stations has his commentary on twice a week at the end of their newscasts. He also writes commentaries in several newspapers outside of the Pdx area. He is somewhat moderate, but he doesn't quite fit the mold of McCall.

If it is Mannix again, I'll redouble my efforts for Ted or whoever runs on the Dem side!

[classof56]

38. Ron made a campaign stop I attended

This was in the small town east of here where I lived at the time. I was impressed with him--he had some good ideas and was responsive and articulate. I'll check to see if I can find out what papers he writes for. Would be interested to read his comments. Don't get Portland stations over here (except KPOJ online to listen to Air America sometimes). Just my opinion, but I think they broke the mold with Tom McCall. He was one of a kind! Will have to see what the next two years bring, but I will also work hard for Ted if Mannix runs, or like you--whoever's the Dem candidate. Thanks for the info about Ron. I liked him!

[MissB]

43. You can read or watch him at KATU.com

Here is a direct link to his commentary. http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=52509

I agree - I like him. I waited until after the primary to see who would win on the Repub side - if he had won, I probably would have spent my time volunteering for Bradbury's senate run instead of Kulongowski.

I would expect to see some significant cuts in state government with him - he appears to prefer a zero sum game on funding (start each year with zero, not with the previous year's funding level plus a percent increase). Not saying that is bad...

I think he would be attacked this time around for his close friendship with the Goldschmidts, though.

[depakid]

16. Better have a secure job line up first

The economy here is dismal and it isn't likely to improve any time soon.

[leftofthedial]

18. bring an umbrella and a snorkel

leave the sunscreen behind

be sure your anti-depressant prescriptions are up-to-date


just kidding! I love Oregon, but it does rain an awful lot along the coast.

[sandnsea]

19. Where are you now?

I like Ashland. Very cool. I live on the Oregon coast now, it's okay. The people talk about anything and are friendly as can be. But beyond that, a little headachey! Even different cities can be different though. I don't think Medford and Ashland are very much alike at all. How you like it might depend on the kind of person you are and the people you are used to.

[Rosco T.]

20. We're stuck in West Texas now... it HAS to be better there n/m

[MissB]

23. Yes, definitely better than there!!

Although frankly, Burns is just a wee bit too rural. You may find an occaisonal democrat in the area, but there is a serious urban/rural divide in Oregon. Serious.

[Rosco T.]

26. Understand.. but THAT's where the position is n/m

[MissB]

30. Well, on the bright side

You would be quite close to the Steens, which is an amazingly gorgeous area.

[sandnsea]

29. Hey, I was "blessed" today

Seriously. I was on the phone with someone from Mississippi and she told me to have a "blessed evening". :crazy:


I don't think even Burns is that "rural". lol.

[roguevalley]

65. my uncle dave lives in Enterprise. He's organizing dems out in the

desert. There are dems there and he says there is a lot of disaffection for Bush among the sage brushes. You will find whatever you need in Oregon. All you have to do is look. I grew up in Central
Point and was the butt of jokes everywhere. However, I found it to be wonderful there. Its all in what you need and how hard you are willing to get it.

[sandnsea]

25. Oh ickypoo...

Yeah, most anywhere in Oregon would be better than West Texas... eeeeww!!!

[Ernesto]

28. South Oregon: think poverty

Also, ever hear of the "Don't Californicate Oregon" bumper stickers?.... I live in Ca., but have many close relatives in South Oregon.

[Zorra]

32. Oregon is pretty diverse.

On the west side it rains and is overcast quite often, the weather rarely gets too much below freezing in winter and generally is temperate in the summer it is pretty green and forested, you have the seacoast, the population density is higher than central and eastern Oregon, and the people are pretty friendly and generally more liberal than the rest of the state.

The Cascade Mtns. form a divide between the western coastal area and Central and Eastern Oregon. They also block the rain from moving farther inland, so it is very dry and sunny and is a high desert with some forested mountain ranges (Blue Mtns) in Eastern Oregon. It gets pretty hot in the summer and pretty cold in the winter on the East side of the Cascades. There is a relatively low population density in Central/Eastern Oregon. The people are generally more conservative in Central/Eastern Oregon than they are on the west side of the Cascades.

I like to backpack, and don't like rain so I often go to Eastern Oregon for recreation. It's an interesting place with a lot of wildlife, hot springs, and some strange geological features.

[oregonjen]

35. I live in the Portland metro area

Love this state! I grew up here and had the pleasure of living in Yokohama, Japan. I can say about Oregon-less people, close to skiiing, the coast, the desert. Great summer weather and little humidity! Yes it rains, but I prefer the rain. I grew up with it and it doesn't bother me at all. People poo-poo the rain and I think that is stupid. Rain in the valleys, snow in the mountains. The snow pack gives us water in the summer.:hi:

[Peak_Oil]

42. Rain?

I'm originally from Chicago so I understand rain and overcast skies. It doesn't bother me too much. I keep hearing about rain... how much does it rain? I love it when it rains in LA because it beats back the smog for a minute.

I'd think it would be a great place to do outdoor things, and a great place for a big garden and a couple animals.

It would be absolutely impossible to live like that in LA.

[MissB]

44. Rain is almost certain from

October through June, with occaisonal patches of clearing.

[progressivebydesign]

51. Ah.. but Medford is much drier!

That area has much less rain then Portland, Eugene, Salem, etc. It's downright hot and dry in the summers... All one has to do is check accuweather, etc. for the rainfall totals.

Southern Oregon is lovely.. but I"m more about the more forested, rainy areas. Ashland is wonderful, but pricey. It's a bit Hollywood-North now. Medford is nice, but not terribly cultural. Roseburg has beautiful old homes, but is a depressed milling/logging area. Eugene is the absolute BEST culturally of all those places, but they get a ton more rain. Eugene would be one of my top two choices for Oregon... if you are self-sufficient, and have no kids in school.

[roguevalley]

67. add a weather doodad to your brouser and set it on the towns in Oregon

you want to try out. that should give you a clue about the weather. By the way, it gets in the 100's in the Rogue Valley and stays there a long time in the summer.

RV

[oregonjen]

52. My husband and I chose to move back here instead of Japan

for that very reason. We have 2 kids, a dog, a cat and a fenced back yard. You would literally have to be millionaires in Japan to have that kind of lifestyle. We chose a city that is fairly wealthy that passes bonds to fund the school system. I guess you have to choose the city carefully.

[DrWeird]

60. Spend a winter there.

I don't thing you understand what we mean by rain.

A lot of people back from back east have a lot of misunderstandings about the rain, which is understandable.

Spend a winter there.

In terms of inches of rain, it's not that much, compared to many places back east. But it's not something you can measure with inches.

Pick up a copy of Ken Kesey's "Sometimes a Great Notion."

And spend a winter there.

[depakid]

75. It's not as bad as Washington

When it's cloudy with sunbreaks (threatening to rain) in Portland, it's raining for sure in Seattle!

[roguevalley]

66. when I was a kid, it would rain from the end of October until the end of

May. Doesn't now. Or at least it didn't during the drought days. I don't think Oregon is as rainy as it once was. There is more kinds of weather in other places I've seen because I keep track of the state even though I live in Alaska. SIGH! You guys are making me severely home sick.

[MissB]

68. Sorry - you could move back down, though

I moved from Alaska to Oregon in the late 1980s. Can't say I miss my former home!

[roguevalley]

76. heh-heh-heh. I will probably try and get a place near Central Point to

come down in for the winters. I'm getting too old for the cold.

[GregD]

36. Bend real estate market rocks

My brother just bought a home in La Pine, which is 20 minutes outside of Bend for $135k.

1440' new 3br 2ba home on 1.2 acres, with an extra structure (a small old cottage which he is gutting and turning into a shop).

The lot that home is built on sold for $20-25k a year ago, and would sell for $50 today.

There are new home tracts EVERYWHERE you look in the whole region.

In Bend itself, an old lumber mill has been refurbished. It consists of multiple buildings over a large area, and was converted into retail and entertainment space. A bridge over the Deschuttes River, and extensive other land improvements made by the city/county tie this section to the rest of the town. Very pretty.

I'm not sure about jobs, but if you want a reduced cost of living (relative to other areas) and a slower pace of life, Bend looks really good. Skiing at Mt. Bachelor, fishing and rafting on the Deschuttes (as well as simply oodles of other streams and lakes in the area), snowmobiling and so on are all popular.

[sandnsea]

40. That's a good deal

Over here in Florence, that place would go for $300,000 I imagine. I really don't want to live in the snow again, but I may have to think about Bend.

[roguevalley]

69. If you're a gazillionaire, try the Sisters. There are few places more

beautiful.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

41. I wanted to move to Portland SO badly about a year ago

but then I realized one thing and decided another thing.

Realization: I cannot afford to move there at this time. The price of real estate is about 500 times higher (ok maybe not that much but enough to seriously put it out of reach) than here. For what I paid for my 10 year old, 2000 sf, four bedroom nice house, I can get a two bedroom shack with running water in and around Portland.

PLUS teachers don't get paid any higher THERE than they do HERE! WTF?

So I can't.

Decided: I'd rather stay here. My peeps have been in Texas since before it was a STATE and I'll be DAMNED if I'm gonna see the repukes run it into the ground anymore than they have. Progressive Texans are really starting to get mobilized here (thanks Dr. Dean for the kick in the pants!!!) and I want to keep this ball rolling, damnit.

I want my STATE BACK.

Sorry I don't think I helped you much.

[mitchum]

45. I have a very close friend who is leaving Portland after 5 disappointing..

years. Moved there when tech boom was still on...then it burst. Went through three IT jobs as those companies folded. Finds the people "friendly", but distant and guarded. Felt that the house he purchased last year was an albatross, but found out last week that he can at least unload it for enough money to get out of there (and to somewhere else) Thankfully, he is no longer as depressed.

[progressivebydesign]

48. We considered Oregon, chose Washington

I LOVE Oregon. It's lovely, very lovely.. BUT depending upon where you are planning to move, it can also be trashy and depressed and depressing. There are some wonderful spots like Eugene, Corvallis, areas near Portland, etc. IT all depends upon your situation.

We eventually chose Washington because we have a school-aged daughter. The schools in the areas we liked were ALL firing teachers, cutting programs, etc. The public services were being slashed.. all because of some anti-tax cultists up there. It's a shame, I love it there..

We're in Western Washington now. They actually fund their schools adequately here.. what a concept!

[Amaya]

49. I lived in Portland for 10 years

No sales tax. Property tax can be high. Great restaurants. The people are very liberal. It's beautiful on the coast! The weather is mild all year round. If you want to ask me anything, PM me :)

[LWolf]

54. I love Oregon.

I have family there. Some have lived on the coast, some about an hour south of Eugene, and some in the Bend area. I like it all.

I've been making several trips a year for about 15 years now. I planned to move a long time ago, but Bush I's recession turned me upside down in my house and I couldn't shake loose. Just about the time we were set to go again, my ex got a job locally he couldn't refuse, so we didn't go then, either. Now that I'm not married anymore, I'd hoped to make the move this summer, but they are cutting the school year and raising class sizes so they won't have to hire any more teachers. So I'll try again in the spring. Maybe things will be looking up after the inauguration.

What are the people like? It's my experience that Eugene/Ashland is more progressive, Bend is more conservative. 15 years ago, Oregonians weren't automatically friendly to their neighbors to the south; we got regular comments when they saw our CA license plate. That's because Californians brought the money they made with their CA equity and priced many natives out of the market. These days, many of the people you meet used to be Californians, and it is much, much pricier.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

59. I left Portland last summer after 19 years in Oregon

It just didn't work on a personal level anymore, so I returned to my hometown of Minneapolis.

However, I miss the following things:

1) Having views of snow-capped mountains in two directions
2) The long spring blooming season, starting in late February to early March with plum blossoms, camellias, cherry blossoms, azaleas, rhododendrons, and roses, each taking their turn.
3) The dry summers. I just about drowned in the air yesterday morning when I went out cycling.
4) Not having snow or even freezing temperatures many years
5) Portland's transit system (sob!) and its urban planning in general.
6) the lack of a sales tax
7) my favorite restaurants: Beau Thai, India House, Pizzicato Pizza, Maya Taqueria, Old Wives' Tales, Typhoon, Swagat
8) Cinema 21

I do not miss:

1) Don McIntire and Bill Sizemore and their super-freeper followers
2) the daily Oregonian, except for David Sarasohn
3) the "whatever" attitude that many people have
4) the high rental prices

[Ridiculous Bill]

64. portland

moved to portland a few mos ago. it's tremendous for all the reasons you state, though I don't know all those restaurants (yet). it is a well run city in a great state

[Citizen Daryl]

62. "Eugene" has become my euphemism ...

... for that wonderful green herb.

"You wanna come over and watch some movies? Eugene'll be stopping by."

[kaitykaity]

70. Lived here 17 years.

Portland/Eugene/Salem are very liberal.
The rest of the state is very conservative.
We outnumber them, so it's all good.

It rains lots and lots, and a lot of people
come here after a few years they can't stand
it anymore and head back to sunnier climes.

Our most famous governor, Tom McCall, once said
something like "Come to Oregon, spend your money,
but please don't stay."

The people are very friendly but they (I'm still
considered a non-native) don't open up really
until you've been here a decade or so.

[MissB]

71. "We outnumber them, so it's all good"

*That* was funny!

[0rganism]

74. And only barely true

The gay marriage issue is mobilizing rural nazis by the thousands. Oregon could fall to bush this election because of it.

[0rganism]

73. Do not expect high-quality public schools

Sadly, our state education budget has been attacked every year by anti-tax activists. Apparently Oregon was a test bed for Norquist's beltway thinktank, and we're really paying the price now. Oregon had a pretty decent public health care alternative for a few years, which is now on the chopping block thanks to declining revenues.

But just try to raise the state income tax! You can't do it. It's all paid with county bond measures, doing stuff piecemeal. And once you've convinced people to up for a county revenue bond, they're not going to want to fix the state finances.

Oregon has been called "the Mississippi of the West Coast", not without reason.

[roguevalley]

77. Its too bad. My education in Central Point was first class. We had

ecology and other ahead-of-its-time stuff drummed into us. There is a bunch of us of a certain age that can't leave a room without turning off the lights first. The bottle bill was ours first. The education you used to get was first class and surprisingly liberal.

[MissB]

78. Sadly, in order to get a first-rate education in Oregon schools

you need to either live in the wealthiest area or put your children in private schools. It is that bad.

Art, music, PE - all that is expendable. Can you imagine taking foreign language from a tv screen rather than a real human?

[Danieljay]

85. they got rid of the janitors in a friend of mines daughters district...

the kids and the teachers have to cleanup for themselves...even when the kids throw up in the hall. The kids also take turns working in the cafeteria...but seem to like that part. She seems to be getting a decent education though many of her past teachers seem to be leaving. I don't know except what I've heard but the state doesn't seem to have a lot of money.

[Joanne98]

80. Rains a lot, lots of trees and ferns

Liberals in the cities, freepers in the small towns and in the east. Beautiful state.

[Danieljay]

81. What are the people like where you come from?

....those are the kind of people you will find here in Oregon.

[Danieljay]

83. I moved here from Kansas a year ago..here are some observations

Portland, its wonderful. You may want to consider what you are prepared to pay for a home mortgage or rent, its WAY high here. I pay more in rent for a small two bedroom house than I paid for my mortgage for a beautiful home in Kansas, that actually had a yard and detached garage. Parking is a pain in the butt in many places..even your own neighborhood. Work appears to be scarce...I've been looking for work for a while now and am running low on funds. I'm finding odd jobs here and there but I've gotta get something more permanent soon.

The weather is wonderful, I love the rain in the winter. The coast is great...a little over an hour away, the mountains an hour the other direction. There is always something going on...festivals all the time. Great public transportation here...and bicycle friendly. Dog parks abound. Great food, great music, Powells book store, great library system, First Thursdays, Last Thursdays, hell...every thursday.

I'm single, 39 with three dogs and haven't gotten much into the dating scene..I'm not sure what thats about. I've seen someone on a fairly regular basis but not sure it seems to be working out. Anyway, lots of people find a room mate here. You might want to try Craigslist Portland under housing wanted. I'm looking to find a place to share with my canine family myself.

The Columbia Gorge is wonderful. Mount St. Helens isn't far, and Seattle is just a couple hours to the North. Traffic kind of sucks, but I've yet to discover any unfriendly drivers. Be patient and just trade off letting people in..and listen to 620 AM during your commute (Al Frankin AM, Ed Shultz and Randi Rhodes afternoon).

Hope this helps... my previous post is a philosophical one. I've learned that the people you meet on the West coast are simply completing the sentence of the people you left on the East coast. You'll find and attract people based on your own consciousness. Remember, where ever you go..there you are. Not much changes but the scenery unless you commit yourself to changing (if youre seeking a change, that is).

Daniel

Oh..the bridges in Portland are like way cool...

[lucky777]

84. I lived there last year while doing a visiting professorship

and I lived there in the early 90s as well.

I love it. Extremely hip, very progressive, they are really trying to put limits on sprawl, to be independent, green, etc. You'll like it; the only downside is that jobs are scarce and it rains a lot. We miss it (we now live in OH and hate it terribly).

[Danieljay]

86. Being as though theres only one state trooper patrolling the entire coast

You can speed like hell on highway 101 and get away with just about anything (i'm being sarcastic ie Michael Moore's F911)!

I wouldn't recommend it though, there's no hurry and you'll miss the most beautiful coastline in the country!

[grasswire]

87. Hey!

What's up with all the encouragement of more escapees from other states? Any native Oregonian simply mentions the rain when asked about Oregon living. We haven't exactly benefited through the migrations to the state in the last few decades.

California refugees drove up the property values out of sight. The employment rate is the highest in the nation. The state is the second hungriest. Draconian tax cut measures have affected Oregon in the same way California was ruined.

It ain't all roses. :-)

[philosophie_en_rose]

88. You can't pump your own gas.

There's no sales tax, but there is a personal income tax. If you live in Southern Washington and shop in Portland, you can avoid those taxes altogether.

[traco]

89. Scappoose, saint helens, astoria

That area is beautiful. Nice cool weather year around. Lots of rain in the fall, winter, spring. Nice dry beautiful days in the summer.

Oregon/Washington area is good for the lefties! Not too hard to find people you can be friends with.

I loved it there, and may go back when my kids get older!