What is the downside to living in Oregon? (Eugene, Salem: credit, relocate)

[stillawebfoot]

Having read through these posts I have a couple comments, but first, I am a native Oregonian who moved to So. Cal. after high school. My husband is a native CA. We both prefer a very different style of living than what we are surrounded with here in this suburb of L.A. but know he would not be able to earn even half of what he is now in any of the larger OR cities. My family is all still in Or. and I visit every summer. We would like to eventually move to a more rural area (in OR) mostly because it's where my heart is and where I'm familiar to. I grew up on a ranch in Yamhill County, and would prefer to go there or Polk Co. It will likely be 10 yrs. before we can do so but are considering purchasing property now; husband is more reluctant not knowing if it would be a good 'investment'.

Some of the things I read as a down-side in this thread are common to all cities (ref. issues in Portland) regardless of the state. Perhaps the biggest issue I would fight wholeheartedly against, is the potential-voting in of a state sales tax for ANY reason. Once instituted, it becomes a free-for-all to any legislative group who wants to get their share of the pie and to increase it in subsequent years. Perhaps to clarify, most will know that California schools in the public sector have notiously had bad ratings (I will not have my child in the CA public school as long as I can afford a private school.). What most here in the state don't realize is that the CA state sales tax was instituted in 1953 to SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS (as was the state lottery) and was somewhere around a .25% rate. Since then, the state sales tax has increased to 8.25% (here in L.A. Co, it varies in some counties), with each new increase often voted/legislated in to help support the schools in part, or to recover from the earthquakes, or to recover from the previous governor's energy fiasco, or whatever the reason. Bond issues are also voted in frequently "for the schools". In all cases, what seems to happen is yes, the new money goes to the schools, but the former money that WAS going to the schools gets re-routed to whatever other liberal special interest group barks the loudest. And the schools NEVER IMPROVE and remain crowded and the tax rate continues to increase. It was below 6% in 1972.

In the 30+ years I've been away, I've been disheartened to see the changes in Oregon, and I suppose that's because of the many liberal left-wingers of CA moving in. I'd like to see the farm land stay farm land, the ranch land stay ranch land, and the hills covered with trees (except where logged to support the logging industry - it IS necessary), but times change - the 1950's & 1960's are long gone. We had Californians moving in then too, and didn't like it much either - drove the housing prices up! But sometimes, the new Oregonians forget that their own parents or grandparents weren't Oregon natives either so I chuckle a bit when I read the comments about Californians.

[tenacity]

I agree with you on the disheartening changes. I grew up in Orangevale which is NE of Sacramento. It was a small horse town of of bout 2500 people. We actually used to have parades and tons of horses participate in our annual Pow Wow Days. We used to ride our horses into the American River and take them swimming. Those days are gone. Everywhere a house or building can go is what it is all about. shoppings Malls and I often wonder how many Kohls, Home Depots, Petco Staples etc.. do we really need?

We used to have this cafe called the Campfire Cafe. They were only open 1 day a week for breakfast and one or two evenings a month and hey were always packed. Great food and everyone knew each other. Unfortunately, its not like that much any more. Beaumont is was somewhat like that and the friends we've made here is partly why we've stayed so long. My husband just has a few years left to retire.. so we'd like to move on in hopes of finding another small town that we can be happy in. We are pretty easy going people and somewhat home bodies. I miss the trees having grown up in the foothills. We often call Beaumont, Blowmont because of the winds..So I'm not in favor of high wind. I miss seeing water in southern Calif. Northern Calif and Oregon have such pretty rivers and streams.The pace is too fast for me here and we can now see our neighbors.. We just need to wait till the housing market improves and I think we'll be moving on.

But, the end of Sept we will be in Oregon for 10 days.. so we hope to look around and see what areas are within our price range and what we like. so i appreciate your comments and if you have any other ideas.. I'd love to hear them.

[elcapitan]

Originally Posted by tenacity

We've heard that it's best not to say your from California.

If anyone in Oregon openly dislikes you simply because you are from California, I would be 99% sure that they are an ignorant bumpkin. Probably the same kind that expects government handouts but doesn't want to pay a dime in taxes.

Never be ashamed of where you are from. Period. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[pw72]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

That's not true in almost any part of Oregon. I think there might be a very rain-forest-y section out on the coast that gets that much.

Nope, check the facts. Portland and Salem come very close to 40 inches a year. Eugene is ever higher.

Here is the big difference. Instead of huge downpours, like many NW locations, the rain falls with less intensity, but greater frequency. This is why I cringe when I hear about Miami, New York, Chicago, getting more rain that the NW. Most of their rain falls quickly and with great intensity over short periods. In the NW, it is spread out from mid-October to mid-April.

[turnerfamily]

Originally Posted by pw72

Nope, check the facts. Portland and Salem come very close to 40 inches a year. Eugene is ever higher.

Here is the big difference. Instead of huge downpours, like many NW locations, the rain falls with less intensity, but greater frequency. This is why I cringe when I hear about Miami, New York, Chicago, getting more rain that the NW. Most of their rain falls quickly and with great intensity over short periods. In the NW, it is spread out from mid-October to mid-April.

I would agree but I would say the rainy season will go into mid June on average.Although we had .5 inches 2 weeks ago (Aug.)

[Rosa canina]

[quote]We've heard that it's best not to say your from California.[quote]

Everyone's from somewhere and there's no shame in saying that you're from Cali. What gets to people is an attitude sometimes seen in transplants of "we do it this way where I come from" et al. I wouldn't worry about bumpkins though; most of them are too busy working for a living to pay much attention to where you're from.

I'm a 4th or 5th or 6th generation Oregonian on both sides and spent much of my childhood in Tom McCall's back yard.

One thing that really got to me several years ago was when a subdivision was put in near some serious working farmland, and the residents of it started complaining of the noise and smells that can result from agricultural life.

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by tenacity

We've heard that it's best not to say your from California.

If someone asks where I'm from, I always say Southern California. I know there are many Oregonians that don't like Californians. In my experience, I've found that many Californians don't like living in Oregon after awhile. Sure it seems nice when you get here, it's a culture shock and you think everyone is nice but then reality sets in. Everything from the lack of jobs to the people. The pace of life is extremely slow. I'm not saying that's a bad thing though.

The rain and snow is nice, so there's a plus.

[trid2bnrml]

To me, the downside is not always being able to separate the cops from the crooks---it should be easier to tell who-is-who than it is.

Some of us aren't sure who to fear the most---

[iammarby]

Well Now.... The answer to your question would highly depend on what part of Oregon you were asking about.

Originally Posted by heavens54

Doesn't seem to be too much on the downside from what I hear...maybe lack of jobs? And too much rain for those who don't like rain...a little traffic in Portland at the usual traffic times. Anything else that really bugs you or others about life in OR?

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by trid2bnrml

To me, the downside is not always being able to separate the cops from the crooks---it should be easier to tell who-is-who than it is.

Some of us aren't sure who to fear the most---

Can you explain a little more?