Commute--Portland to Keizer?? (Salem, Tualatin, Wilsonville: income, job, housing)

[mmoe]

I've just accepted a job in Keizer over the phone though I've never actually seen the community (I will be flying out it a few weeks to check out housing). Because of all that Portland has to offer, I'm considering making the commute perhaps from the edges of Portland to Keizer. Does anyone have any advice about what areas/neighborhoods of Portland would be good places to live for commuting to Keizer?

Or, if you think this commute would be ridiculous, do you have any suggestions for communities in between the two locations that might be more sensible? I just don't think Keizer is for me--I'm a 32 year old single male, very active on both weekends and weekdays when I'm not working and from what I've read about the Salem/Keizer area, it seems to be a bit limited, I guess especially when compared to Portland...

[tablemtn]

The problem is, that would be a lengthy commute down I-5. I-5 is frequently clogged at points (or as a whole) from before Wilsonville all the way into downtown Portland. People do it, but it's fairly inconvenient.

[bobmulk]

I live in Salem, near Keizer. I don't think the commute going South from Portland will be that bad. It's the commute going North into Portland which I did for fifteen years that really sucks. If you move to the southern reaches of the City of Portland, expect it to take 45 minutes to an hour. If you move to the southern suburbs, you could do it in half an hour.

I don't know your income but Tualatin or Wilsonville might be good places for you to move. Housing in both communities is very expensive.

You don't say what it is you like to do on the weekends. If you're looking for nightlife, you're right, not a whole lot here. However, there are other things, too. The wine country is right in our back yard. We have summer festivals--Bite of Salem, Silverton Wine & Jazz Festival, First Friday in Silverton, Salem World Beat Festival, Salem Art Fair, State Fair. There are a number of churches to get involved in as well as government and civic organizations. The Coast is an hour away. There's all sorts of outdoor activities--hunting, camping, fishing --in the Santiam Valley east of here.

Anyway, hope this helps.