Florence/Eugene Area (Portland, Oregon City, Coos Bay: co-op, school, casino)

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Although I used to live a bit north on the coast, Florence is an OK place to live, but it has some problems. It is a typical tourist trap with thousands of vacationers causing the usual problems during a large part of the year. Also, it's a lot like living in an elitist liberal California resort type town (which is fine if that's what you like) and when the CA boom hit it became the highest lawsuit per capita town in Oregon.

Between Florence & Eugene (my hometown) is very pretty but spotty. It's a drug pipeline of sorts (closer intowards Eugene). You need to be careful.

And, yes, tsunamis are a problem for almost all the south-central to north OR coast. It comes with the territory. Some of the best places to live on the OR coast are Yachats-Seal Rock and Pacific City. Not quite as many tourists and the locals are less interested in suing their neighbors than other areas like Newport, Lincoln City, Florence, Neskowin, and the entire northern coast areas.

All that said, the central OR coast is beautiful.

[nocoldiron]

Hey,I live in Mapleton and we do NOT have a big crime problem-we have one infamous family we would love to go away but who doesn't? Both my neighbors are 70+,one has never locked his house or sheds in 50 years,the other doesn't even lock his house when he is in Arizona for the winter.I would not live in Swisshome,that is where the displaced riffraff from Mapleton goes.Half the people who live here are 70+ and can tell you who drove up the street and how many times.I am 15 minutes from the ocean and Florence,45 minutes from Eugene,and have a little grocery store,a hardware store,several restraunts,a library,and a beauty salon.I like the fact it doesn't have the wind constantly blowing like the coast and it gets warm enough that I can grow huge tomato's.School is here also,k-12,all 250 students? You have salmon in the river,lots of edible mushrooms,deer and elk,and lots of fertile ground.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by nocoldiron

Hey,I live in Mapleton and we do NOT have a big crime problem-we have one infamous family we would love to go away but who doesn't? Both my neighbors are 70+,one has never locked his house or sheds in 50 years,the other doesn't even lock his house when he is in Arizona for the winter.I would not live in Swisshome,that is where the displaced riffraff from Mapleton goes.Half the people who live here are 70+ and can tell you who drove up the street and how many times.I am 15 minutes from the ocean and Florence,45 minutes from Eugene,and have a little grocery store,a hardware store,several restraunts,a library,and a beauty salon.I like the fact it doesn't have the wind constantly blowing like the coast and it gets warm enough that I can grow huge tomato's.School is here also,k-12,all 250 students? You have salmon in the river,lots of edible mushrooms,deer and elk,and lots of fertile ground.

I would agree that Mapleton is probably the best community between Eugene & Florence. That said, a friend of mine was shot at while looking for mushrooms two years ago. The sheriff informed him it was a fairly dangerous area as there were people who harvested weed & other mushroomers that get really touchy when people invade their turf.

[furyu]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

I would agree that Mapleton is probably the best community between Eugene & Florence. That said, a friend of mine was shot at while looking for mushrooms two years ago. The sheriff informed him it was a fairly dangerous area as there were people who harvested weed & other mushroomers that get really touchy when people invade their turf.

That very same thing happened to us while cruising around rural Napa Valley, CA. My spouse & I were on a photography trip one day and decided to travel down a gravel road (there were no signs stating "private property" or "no tresspassing" or any indication that it wasn't just another non-maintained country road). To our sudden surprise, some guy with a rifle or shot gun (I don't know the difference ) came running out at us, screaming vulgarities, and aiming at us with this gun. My spouse told me "get down" and did a "180" out of there. We heard the gun go off within seconds of turning around.

A lot of 'weed' used to be grown up that way.

Another thing that Wood & Creek need to know is that it's really hard to grow vegetables right along the coast. That's one of my greatest disappointments living here. When we lived in San Diego county, we had a huge organic vegetable garden. But right along the coast it's pretty hard to grow veggies without an elaborate greenhouse. A few miles inland I think would be sufficiently warm enough to grow most things although the growing season is shorter here in Oregon than in California, I believe. Some of my coastal neighbors have successfully grown zucchini (which actually grows like a weed in most places), lettuce, and other things but forget tomatoes, or basil, or anything that requires a lot of nice, warm, sunny days for extended periods. However, go beyond the 'fog' belt, and that won't be a problem.

[FoxyKnox]

Originally Posted by Wood & Creek

I have been considering homeschooling but in the end I don't think I would end up doing it. We are also vegetarians and I absolutely can't wait to get growing a giant amazing veggie garden and who knows we may get a couple chickens. We've never done anything like that before but it's all part of our "escape the rat race, move to a nice secluded acre in OR" plan! haha. Thanks for the Triangle Lake tip!

Farmers markets in the area would be great though I know with as rural as I'm looking that might be asking too much?

Off of that same Little Lake Rd, there is a new couple that moved in and planted huge gardens. I believe they are trying to begin a sustainable garden/farm type of business. I don't know of any farmer's markets, but my family always gets produce from a particular farm, Bush's Fern View Farm, they're on Territorial Hwy. They have the best peaches ever and I believe they are all organic. Here is a link I found with a list on the 2nd page of local farms. I've heard that Secret House Winery is pretty good/fun too. http://www.longtomcountrytrail.com/p...-ridge-map.pdf

Another little place to consider out there would be Horton. That is a beautiful area, I believe they use Triangle Lake Schools as well. There are a couple of farms off of Horton Rd. One is organic and I believe they are a wholesaler of some sort of salad greens. My family likes to ride our bikes on Horton Rd near the stream and fish ladders, it's a popular camping spot in the summer too.

[Wood & Creek]

Originally Posted by furyu

Another thing that Wood & Creek need to know is that it's really hard to grow vegetables right along the coast. That's one of my greatest disappointments living here. When we lived in San Diego county, we had a huge organic vegetable garden. But right along the coast it's pretty hard to grow veggies without an elaborate greenhouse.

Oh dear, that is a problem! I Reeeeeallly want a giant veggie garden! LOL. The constant whipping cold rain doesn't honestly sound that great either. Maybe I will stick to the towns I mentioned previously.. Creswell, Blue River, Fall Creek, Drain, Oakridge, Lorane...?

We know that if we live in a small rural town not to expect much as far as services and culture. We would just drive into Eugene every now and again, and enjoy the peacefullness and beauty on our remote lot.

For some reason the mushroom stories are cracking me up! Are these people growing pot and mushrooms on public land, like state parks or something? That could be a bit of a concern for me as I hike at least once a week usually with my small daughter and enjoy backpacking and camping quite a bit!

[Wood & Creek]

Originally Posted by FoxyKnox

Off of that same Little Lake Rd, there is a new couple that moved in and planted huge gardens. I believe they are trying to begin a sustainable garden/farm type of business. I don't know of any farmer's markets, but my family always gets produce from a particular farm, Bush's Fern View Farm, they're on Territorial Hwy. They have the best peaches ever and I believe they are all organic. Here is a link I found with a list on the 2nd page of local farms. I've heard that Secret House Winery is pretty good/fun too. http://www.longtomcountrytrail.com/p...-ridge-map.pdf

Another little place to consider out there would be Horton. That is a beautiful area, I believe they use Triangle Lake Schools as well. There are a couple of farms off of Horton Rd. One is organic and I believe they are a wholesaler of some sort of salad greens. My family likes to ride our bikes on Horton Rd near the stream and fish ladders, it's a popular camping spot in the summer too.

Thanks again for the tip! This looks like a great potential area for us! I would love to have like minded individuals as neighbors as well. Perfect!

[FoxyKnox]

Originally Posted by furyu

Another thing that Wood & Creek need to know is that it's really hard to grow vegetables right along the coast. That's one of my greatest disappointments living here. When we lived in San Diego county, we had a huge organic vegetable garden. But right along the coast it's pretty hard to grow veggies without an elaborate greenhouse. A few miles inland I think would be sufficiently warm enough to grow most things although the growing season is shorter here in Oregon than in California, I believe. Some of my coastal neighbors have successfully grown zucchini (which actually grows like a weed in most places), lettuce, and other things but forget tomatoes, or basil, or anything that requires a lot of nice, warm, sunny days for extended periods. However, go beyond the 'fog' belt, and that won't be a problem.

Correct, it would be hard to grow veggies right along the coast, but as far inland as he is talking (~5-10 miles) should have absolutely no problems. The Willamette Valley is extremely fertile, and it is easy to grow great gardens.

[Wood & Creek]

I'm actually a she .

I think I'm getting closer to narrowing down the right place for me, I appreciate all your help!

[furyu]

Originally Posted by Wood & Creek

Oh dear, that is a problem! I Reeeeeallly want a giant veggie garden! LOL. The constant whipping cold rain doesn't honestly sound that great either. Maybe I will stick to the towns I mentioned previously.. Creswell, Blue River, Fall Creek, Drain, Oakridge, Lorane...?

Right. Coastal property is a lot more expensive too. But the nice thing about those areas you mention is that they are not a long drive TO the coast, where you can go to 'cool' off during the summer months, or to beach comb in the winter. You'll really have the best of both worlds! You'll be close enough to Eugene too, for those stock-up shopping trips.

Originally Posted by Wood & Creek

We know that if we live in a small rural town not to expect much as far as services and culture. We would just drive into Eugene every now and again, and enjoy the peacefullness and beauty on our remote lot.

I'm originally from the east coast, Boston and my "formative" years were spent growing up in NYC! Up until my mid-thirties, I always lived in metro areas, then we moved to a very rural area south of San Diego. An hour's drive to any store at all! If I can get used to rural living, anyone can. You just learn to pack in a lot of stuff, have your own garden, become more independent and handy about such things as plumbing, electricity, and first aide! It's definitely not as 'cushy' as living in a condo, but the upside is... you're not living in a condo.

Originally Posted by Wood & Creek

For some reason the mushroom stories are cracking me up! Are these people growing pot and mushrooms on public land, like state parks or something? That could be a bit of a concern for me as I hike at least once a week usually with my small daughter and enjoy backpacking and camping quite a bit!

Yep, some are. But it's like the 'tsunami' thing, you could stumble upon some illegal marijuana field guarded by a crazed pothead () but the odds are against it happening. You know? My husband and I are avid hikers, backpackers, etc., and only once did we experience that sort of thing, and we were in a car when it happened. So, don't worry. Once you get settled in and meet your neighbors, you'll find out if anything 'weird' is going on in your area.

The best thing for all of us is to learn to live without fear. It's getting harder and harder to do that lately, given all that is crammed down our throats about those evil-doers out to get us. Not to say that you shouldn't remain alert, aware of what's going on, but that's different from expecting something bad to happen to you around every corner ... or tree, as the case may be.

My feeling is, you attract those things you think most about. I know that sounds airy-fairy to some, but hey--it's worked for me! (We did escape getting shot, after all. )