After learning the good, the bad, and the ugly of Grants Pass area... (Medford: house, schools)

[debbee]

...it still looks and sounds like a beautiful place to be! I have read and re-read every thread I could find about Grants Pass and surrounding areas, all of the great stuff and not so great stuff about living in GP. I really appreciate alot of the posts by freedom, Larry and some other members who helped bring a realistic balance to some of the extremely negative posts about this general area re: drugs, poor schools, constant rain and so forth. I would rather hear the downside of living in this area from someone who loves living here than hearing the downside from somone who hates it.

My family and I have our hearts set on relocating there as soon as our house sells. We have been in touch with an agent there over the last several months who has sent us all the info about the area.

I grew up in a small mountain town in Northern CA, Trinity Cnty 1500-2000 pop., hubby grew up in Southern Ca. when we met and married we settled in Redding CA for 10 yrs then moved back to the place I was raised in Trinity Cnty. Believe me when I say if you can survive and make a living in Trinity Cnty you can make a living anywhere! No, we didn't collect money from the government as many are stereotyped in the small mtn towns. We both worked - bought a humble little fixer upper and fixed it up enjoyed it for a little while then sold and moved to UT where we are presently residing and working. Don't ask me how we wound up in the desert I'm still asking myself that question!

After almost 3 yrs of hot dry summers 112 + for 3 months straight we are through with the desert!

So, we don't really want to move back to CA but Grants Pass climate and landscape remind us a lot of what we had in Northern CA-just reading about it gives us a home sick feeling.

We enjoy rural, less congestion, lots of out door activities, green mountain views, hiking, biking. Our 2 young boys are very active and love the out of doors. Huge shopping centers, malls and artificial entertianment of the bigger cities is not our thing.
All this said, I think we will like living in Grants Pass, don't you?

[Waterlily]

It sounds like Grants Pass could be the place for you but be sure to visit before you move. Look around other cities in Oregon to compare it.
I like Grants Pass but it's not really for the big city types of people. It is a small town. Still there is nice scenery,forest and the river going by town. Most of the things you'd need can be bought in the city of Grants Pass and if you don't find it then you can take a trip to Medford.

[freedom]

hope everything works in your favor.
THe housing market is ripe for a good deal to be had for you all, and only going to get better, so hang in there.
We are having a beautiful fall the leaves are starting to change.

[debbee]

Originally Posted by Waterlily

It sounds like Grants Pass could be the place for you but be sure to visit before you move. Look around other cities in Oregon to compare it.
I like Grants Pass but it's not really for the big city types of people. It is a small town. Still there is nice scenery,forest and the river going by town. Most of the things you'd need can be bought in the city of Grants Pass and if you don't find it then you can take a trip to Medford.

Hi Waterlily,

Thanks for your reply. We are definately not big city people. We've also put Grants Pass at the top of our relocation list because of it's geographical location. Presently we are about 1000 miles of driving distance from our family who resides in Northern CA. Grants Pass would put us about 250 miles from them...close enough to see each other more often but not too close for comfort

As long as my husband can find work there - he does full home cabinet installation-also experienced in all phases of building and assembling cabinets so hopefully there is enough of that kind of work in GP. With a BA in psych not sure what I could do there-surely there must be something otherwise I have lots of front and back office experince in medical clinics.

We are hoping to plan a visit there soon and we have checked out other places but so far GP still remains at the top- we heard the farther north you go the more rain you get. We love some snow and rain during the winter but not 6,7, or 8 months out of the year. We also love a good garden growers climate.

[freedom]

Debbee,

We have a large manufacturer called Masterbrand cabinets, it is the second largest employer in GP, they are on the corner of "J" and Mill st. They are advertising in the Daily Courier for open positions.
Also, Cabinet Crafters on "M" street may be a good fit. They have recently lost an installer, and they are a really great group of people, ask for Jim.

all the best.

freedom

[debbee]

Originally Posted by freedom

hope everything works in your favor.
THe housing market is ripe for a good deal to be had for you all, and only going to get better, so hang in there.
We are having a beautiful fall the leaves are starting to change.

freedom,

Thanks for the photo of the fall colors...GORGEOUS! We really miss fall. We only get 2 seasons in southern UT.

[debbee]

Originally Posted by freedom

Debbee,

We have a large manufacturer called Masterbrand cabinets, it is the second largest employer in GP, they are on the corner of "J" and Mill st. They are advertising in the Daily Courier for open positions.
Also, Cabinet Crafters on "M" street may be a good fit. They have recently lost an installer, and they are a really great group of people, ask for Jim.

all the best.

freedom

Thank You, I will pass this information along to my husband.

[Waterlily]

I just love that picture Freedom. Thanks for posting it. I'm going on a short trip through southern Oregon in less than a week. I'll be looking for some of those fall colors.

[girlbard11]

Originally Posted by freedom

hope everything works in your favor.
THe housing market is ripe for a good deal to be had for you all, and only going to get better, so hang in there.
We are having a beautiful fall the leaves are starting to change.

OH MY GOD! What an enchanted picture. Where exactly is this one?
WOW!

Is this the Grants pass area?

Thanks

[freedom]

Fortunately it is close. Right out the front door. We are about 10-15 mins from downtown G.P.
I'm glad you liked the picture. It took me 4 months to build the water feature and landscape it.