What I Like About Oregon (Portland, Eugene: sales, real estate, to rent)

[Benton]

I love Oregon, especially the town of Port Orford on the coast. My wife was born there and I have found it to be a great small town of about 1,500 people. They have many hiking trails and great beaches. Their 4th of July celebration is a high point of the summer. Also, if you go there you need to stop by the Crazy Norwegian; they have the best fish and chips this side of the UK. I hope to move there one day soon. Eugene is also a great town that is large enough to have anything you need but it still holds onto that small town feel that I like. I was impressed by Eugene. -Benton

[Cornerguy1]

You just had to go and mention the Crazy Norwegian and get my tummy grumbling. Small, but worth the wait for a table.

Funny how most folks view Oregon as either the wild coast with apartment- size boulders littering the surf, or majestic mountains with green fir coats extending to their snowy caps.

Lovely as those places are, Oregon has a whole other character in the high desert east of the Cascades.

Try exploring the stark Steen mountains in June when you can climb high enough to still frolic in the snow.

Go sit in the Klamath National Wildlife Refuge marsh at dawn; watch, listen and be in awe as the mallards, canvasbacks, teal, scaup, Canada geese, Snow geese and other feathered critters start off their day.

Lay back in a chaise south of Klamath on a sunny August day and wonder at the dozens or more bald eagles who soar on the flyway above you.

Make the drive east on 140 to the top of Dougherty's Slide and enjoy the absolutely mind-blowing view of the vallies thousands of feet below.

Travel 70 miles east to west in December and experience a frosty 20-degree dawn in Klamath followed by a winter wonderland snowscape at Lake of the Woods and end with sunny 65-degree green grass in Medford.

Look on a map and notice Klamath is 2600 miles west; realize your mother-in-law is in Klamath .

Those who choose to explore only the post card images of western Oregon will gain much, but they will also cheat themselves of half of the states great beauty.

[SeizeTheJourney]

Originally Posted by Kathleenh54

We recently relocated to Ashland as retirees, with one daughter in high school. It's a lovely town and we're not unhappy with our choice but have found the 'locals' to be less than welcoming. We're not sure how long we'll last here. Anybody with matching socks and all their teeth are viewed as 'rich outsiders' for the most part.

Thank you for your candid post. This forum needs more real world reporting from people who have actually relocated to an area as you have to Ashland.

[ruralgirlz]

What mountain towns would you recommend in Oregon that would have a hospital nearby? We are both in health care and would like to live in a rural area near mountains...

Thanks in advance, Cheryl

[Clear2land]

Hi Ruralgirlz:

Here is a list of major hospitals in Oregon:

http://www.theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/Oregon.htm

And here is a list of rural hospitals in Oregon:

http://www.ohsu.edu/oregonruralhealth/rurhosp.html (broken link)

And you can Google for more. This is a great way to begin your search for a rural area in the mountains. Most are looking for a place and then a job putting a cart before the horse. You are putting your horse in front of your wagon.

Good luck!

Dan

[Brett]

To the folks in Ashland.

I have always found Ashland to be less then fully welcoming, and not typical of Oregon. It has had a HUGE influx of outsiders and seems very clique-ish to me. But I know people who love it there. Mostly they found their community through doing things they love- volunteering, theater, teaching. I hope that helps you find your place.

[ExNYr]

Brett, my post may have sounded a bit sharper than it was intended. Ashland is a lovely place and even if the locals don't love us outsiders, they sure are polite to us in public. Most of the new people I meet are interested in volunteer work and giving back something to this nice community. It doesn't jive with what I read about how the newcomers are trying to 'change things'. There's nothing here I'd change. I wonder if it's more of a perception than a reality among long-time Ashlanders and Oregonians in general?

[ExNYr]

Originally Posted by SeizeTheJourney

Thank you for your candid post. This forum needs more real world reporting from people who have actually relocated to an area as you have to Ashland.

You're welcome, SeizeTheJourney! Honesty is the best policy, right?

There are good things about most of the places on these boards and the not-so-good things don't make them 'bad' places to live, but as the old saying goes, 'fore warned is fore armed.'

[MurphyAllie]

In considering a place to move to from Miami, this is what I like about Oregon -

I have spent three to four weeks at a time in various parts of Oregon.

1. Oregon is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Each time I go there, I am taken in by the beauty of the place.

2. The people I have met (and worked with on film crews) are real people and very honest. (I am sure there are exceptions but this is in general).

3. Unlike other states I have spent time in, people in Oregon seem to really care about Oregon.

Also - I have been a Duck fan for many years.

[tiffela74]

ahhh man.....MurphyAllie, you were on my happy list, right up til your last line...a DUCK!?!?!?!? sigh. Well....3 outta 4 isnt bad. Maybe we can convert you yet. lol

I love the variaty Oregon offers. From the coastline, to the dry desert of Eastern Oregon. The mountains, and terrific skiing up at Hood or Bachlor, to the endless fields of tulips out by Forest Grove. I love our Crater Lake, and even more, Clear Lake and how you can drift right over a petrified forest and see it under the water. The creative and friendly folks at Saturday Market in Portland and all the incredible things they make. I like going from a grubby bumpkin one day, to a urban almost yuppie wanna be in NW Portland the next. Oregon allows me to be whomever I want to be when I want to be it. To go from a friendly pub of a mcminimums pub, or spend a day on a wild windy lonely beach. I like making new friends w/the people Im standing in line with, and the friendly waves from car to car when letting someone in during traffic. Im not dumb, I know theres negative here in our state, but hey, for me, the wonderful parts more than make up for the bad. I LOVE living here!
Tiff