How do Oregonians feel about outsiders? (Portland, Eugene: appointed, for sale, how much)

[DBNN]

Question?
My husband was born and raised in California!
He has lived in Oregon for 8 years now.
He married an Oregonian(me).
Had two children born in Oregon.

What is he?
Oregonian ?(or)Californian ?
How many years do you you have to live in Oregon?
Forgot to mention:My husbands brother,sister,and mom moved to Oregon too!
Nice my kid have their Aunt,uncle and grandma close by.

[Des_Demona]

You're an Oregonian if you live in Oregon... it's a state of mind and locale... not a legal time period. To be a resident to apply for college as a resident of Oregon and that sort of thing they require 90 days some places... 8 years? Oregonian.. for sure. He'll always be a native Californian tho because that's where he was born. But it's a state of present living and how you think of yourself above all else.

[Deezus]

This whole discussion is interesting to me, because I've been dealing with the whole your not an Oregonian unless you were born here since I moved the Oregon. I relocated from California (yes, another of us) to Oregon 8 years ago to go to college when I was eighteen years old and have lived in the state ever since. My family's roots in Northern California go back over 150 years to the Gold Rush period(or even more with some Native American ancestry), and most of my family still lives here. Yet apart from my family, I really have no connection to California whatsoever. My entire adult existence has revolved around Oregon; I really have no idea of what's happening in California these days.

What's funny to me is when someone who has spent their own life in Oregon asks me where I'm originally from and then immediately have some misconception of what California is to them. I tell people I grew up in Santa Cruz and the Sierra Nevada and they immediately they start thinking of LA. Which is humorous to me, because growing up in Northern Cali, we always had negative impressions of Southern California just like Oregonians think of Californians. And I've only been on 5 trips to LA in my entire life, while I've know every nook and cranny of Portland and Seattle.

I've never experienced much outright hostility, except for two strange experiences. Once, while waiting for a parking spot at the Mt Ashland Ski Area (which it about 20 miles from the California border), an old man sat in his pickup until I drove on. Upon moving forward, he immediately backed out and said to the driver behind me, he "just didn't want some f***ing Californian to get his parking spot".

Another time recently, at a show at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland right down the street from my house, I was having a conversation with a guy from Vancouver (Which is in Washington, not even Oregon), when he asked me and my friend where we were originally from. My friend replied he lived in Los Angeles, although he was originally from Eugene and was born in Brookings on the Oregon Coast. The guy just looked at my friend like he said he was a Nazi and starting bringing up his stereotypical ideas of Los Angeles people. Then he asked me where I was from, and upon replying that I was born in California, he shot back "Make sure you tell everyone it rains a lot here and sucks," (which I told him is what I tell everyone in California anyway) before he walked off angry and sullen.

That being said, Oregon is a very beautiful place with very polite, nice people, much more so then most of California. However, if you're moving here from somewhere more urbanized and fast-paced where people are used to being more outspoken , (Cali, the Northeast, Chicago, etc), don't start talking about Oregon in any sort of negative manner, because the locals here can be ever so sensitive if any newbies criticize their state. I've almost got into fights with people after saying one joking offhand remark about some small town in Oregon. Anyone from Cali should realize that a lot of Oregon natives, (mostly the uneducated ones) blame the changes of Oregon squarely on the shoulders of Californians.

It's funny because in Portland these days it seems like everyone I meet is from New York or the Midwest or some Ivy League school. Of course there is going to be a lot of ex-Californians in every western state. There are 37 million people in California, that's about 12% of the entire US population. You could take Idaho, Oregon, Hawaii, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada and the total still wouldn't equal California. In the end I'm not an Oregonian and I don't feel like like a Californian, but who cares. This is America, we're all free to move whevever we please(just ask the Native Americans).

[PDXsailor]

If you move to the westside of Portland, you will feel right at home with all of the other Californian transplants. Just don't tell people you are from California.

[Des_Demona]

So like I said on another similar thread I've been doing a survey of Oregonian opinions about their attitudes toward Californians and I've gotten a lot of mixed responses but it's obvious that the influx of Californians does affect a lot of them or they "hear" a lot of rhetoric about it. I'll put my results here and these are exact quotes from the people I surveyed from Oregon. The ages are all different but most are in their 30's to 40's. Here are the responses I've gotten so far:
---------------------------------

"Portland - I have noticed that some people make general jokes and negative comments about Californians coming to Portland. If i say jokingly "Hey i was born in Cal! I'm one of those Cal imports" then usually whoever is making the joke/negative comment gets super apologetic. I would never go back to LA I love it here."

Mia - im 27. "i have no opinion of californians. it wouldnt matter to me, you know if they worked and took care of their family and things like that. i dont know any californians."

"I'm 42. We don't like the Californicates coming to our state because they bring Big City Ideas with them and want to change our state into what they just left. If they wanted to come here and adapt to the way Oregon people live, it would be fine, but they bring their big cars, big families, big money and try to change us. We resent it! They don't know how to drive unless they are attached to our bumpers, they can't communicate unless there is a cell phone attached to their heads while driving and they are just plain rude."

"People in Oregon do not like people from Cal because so many have moved there and in some areas have caused the property values to go crazy"

"It isn't as true now as it was twenty years ago but Oregonians, even non-natives, do not like Californians. There used to be a sign on Interstate 5 just over the border that read "Do not Californicate Oregon" and the first thing you do when you move there is switch your license plates to take the stigma away"

"Because Oregon is the greatest place to live, we simply do not want dirty mined, water polluting, smog making and over developers of land moving into our state. We are a relaxed tree-hugging state. People from Cali, in general are overbearing, loud, rude and don't care about the environment. Plus they think we should all speak Spanish."

"Portland: Californians bug. They totally are making our cute little city grow. a few years ago, people always waved when cutting in front of me (driving). Now, 1 in 10 maybe will wave. Californians are narcissistic, don't even notice that others have rights too. I wish Portland was still small and it's all the Californian's faults. Also, our housing prices are outrageous - also their fault, because they can come up here and buy whatever they want after selling their overpriced California houses"

(older Natives) Creswell – Native – "No problem at all with Californians"

(Older Oregonian) Portland - "Being a transplant is never easy, because of the much held attitude by "natives" that somehow they are better because they were born and raised here. (or wherever) This isn't an Oregon phenomenon, it happens everywhere. Just try moving to the "south" and see how it is there. I am not transplanted here from California, so I cannot speak directly about the attitudes about transplanted Californians. I have noticed there does seem to be animosity toward Californians, and not just people from so. California. I have friends that live in other states, (Montana and Colorado) and there seems to be healthy disdain for transplanted Californian's there as well."

30-40 y/o’s - Oregon City / Milwaukie – Transplant from 1981 – "attitudes aren’t as bad as they used to be – CA’s need to learn how to drive"

30-40 y/o’s - Only notices the rising house prices but doesn’t necessarily blame CA’s – she thinks everyone is "treated well on an individual basis but overall the housing price increases have alarmed Oregonians."

30-40 y/o’s - Clackamas – From So Cal originally and loves Oregon – "Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly – no problems"
-----------------------------
I should note that 23 of the people who READ my survey (the survey was marked read) did not reply with a response either way. (Maybe they saw I was from CA and didn’t like me haha). The most severe responders of anti-Californian opinions were from my more “anonymous” survey so perhaps the ones who were not anonymous thought better of saying nasty things about Californians. In any case, it's true we are looked at with a suspicious eye so we need to make an effort to prove Oregonians wrong and be as Oregonian as possible when we move. It's only polite when you enter someone's home to do as they would do and behave yourself so it makes sense that if you move you should get involved in their culture, not try to make things more like it "was back home" and try not to complain or drive wrecklessly.

[tiffela74]

hey Des Demona, I think youre gonna do just fine. Truly. Youve got a terrific attitude, and you sure sound like youve got an "Oregon Mindset" lol ya, you'll definatly convert easily. lol And hey, look at this too, youve already got friends here ready to welcome you to your new home! Im one of them, and im wavin atcha!!
btw, I still wave people in, and wave at them when they let me in. The other day though, I waved one in, smiled and everything, and they cut in front of me fast, and flipped me off!!!This after I had slowed way down, and gave them a couple car lengths to get in!! I was soooo mad!! Im sure they could hear me yelling from inside their car too! lol I shalnt say what their licence plate said. lol But hey, maybe it was a native Oregonian who just bought a car from another state and hadnt changed plates yet. lol Hey, we have born and raised here buttheads too. lol
Whats your countdown to move date btw?
Tiff

[DBNN]

Hey Des Demona,

My small town had a store for sale on Main street. This store has been around since 1891. A family from California bought it..........................
What a nice family. She wrote a wonderful article in our local newspaper thanking everyone for making her feel so welcome and how much she enjoys the town and people. The family lives above the store and the store is run by only the family. They are all smiles and such happy people.
Welcome to Oregon Des Demona!

[Clear2land]

Originally Posted by DBNN

Question?
My husband was born and raised in California!
He has lived in Oregon for 8 years now.
He married an Oregonian(me).
Had two children born in Oregon.

What is he?
Oregonian ?(or)Californian ?
How many years do you you have to live in Oregon?
Forgot to mention:My husbands brother,sister,and mom moved to Oregon too!
Nice my kid have their Aunt,uncle and grandma close by.

You can never be a Native Oregonian unless you were born there. If you currently reside there, you are an Oregonian. So all of you are Oregonians including the Aunt, uncle, and grandma. Native Oregonians are you and the two children born in Oregon.

Much to much is being made about this here on the Forum. The question is can you live happily ever after in Oregon and the answer is yes. People are going to complain about the weather no matter where they live. Even Floridians complain about the heat and humidity. Even if you lived on one of the islands in the Caribbean, local residents are going to be complaining about something. Even some of the people in Hawaii are complaining about their weather. If you want perfect weather, you are going to have to follow the Sun.

I think Californians are resented by a select few for their lack of friendliness, the cars they drive, homes they purchase, and for just being in Oregon. Net-net two thirds of the people moving to Oregon are from other states. You don’t see them complaining about them do you? Let me give you a difference between an Oregonian and a Californian. I was in the Vet’s office yesterday and there was a gal inquiring when the dental hygienist would be there to clean her dog’s teeth. The office assistant behind the desk said, “she is scheduled to be here at noon.” Then the California lady with the dog said, “why was I asked to bring my dog in at 9 am then? You were not there to hear the tone of her voice but it was not kind. An Oregonian might have said, “would it be okay with you if I bring my dog back at 11:45? Generally, the office opens at 8:30 and I’m sure was told she could bring her dog in at anytime after 9 am. In any case, this hubbub or flap over Californian should stop. I have met many Californians that I consider friendlier than Oregonians. To hear them talk, you would think they are perfect and they are not. I have seen junk strewn all over their yards, drive cars that should be junked, and treat their neighbors horribly. You have already tasted a bit of that on this forum. Oregonians are far from perfect but Oregon the state is a great place to live.

[Brett]

I think that most often you find the attitude you bring with you.

[Des_Demona]

Originally Posted by tiffela74

hey Des Demona, I think youre gonna do just fine. Truly. Youve got a terrific attitude, and you sure sound like youve got an "Oregon Mindset" lol ya, you'll definatly convert easily. lol And hey, look at this too, youve already got friends here ready to welcome you to your new home! Im one of them, and im wavin atcha!!
btw, I still wave people in, and wave at them when they let me in. The other day though, I waved one in, smiled and everything, and they cut in front of me fast, and flipped me off!!!This after I had slowed way down, and gave them a couple car lengths to get in!! I was soooo mad!! Im sure they could hear me yelling from inside their car too! lol I shalnt say what their licence plate said. lol But hey, maybe it was a native Oregonian who just bought a car from another state and hadnt changed plates yet. lol Hey, we have born and raised here buttheads too. lol
Whats your countdown to move date btw?
Tiff

LoL sorry you got cut off by another Californian... we are pretty big as*holes when we drive I must admit. I am guilty of the same but it's because I deal with other people like the one you speak of everyday and night that I'm on the road. If someone let me in or did something nice no way would I react that way. That's crazy... I bet you anything they thought you were flipping them off first because nobody in California really waves and we sure do flip each other off a lot so they probably mistook your intentions. It's unfortunate how we can be so clouded by our perceptions based on experience that we jump to negative conclusions like that. I guess miscommunication happens everywhere when two very different cultures or lifestyles mix.

To answer your question, I'm aiming for moving next year in September. I want to be debt free when I move! I'm coming for a visit in a few weeks though from Dec. 27th-1st of January. I want to get a feel for the winter weather. I think I'll be checking out Corvallis, Eugene (where I'll be staying with friends), Ashland (maybe), Portland (definitely) and perhaps the falls that were recommended to me. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to visit the coast but if I do happen to have extra time on my hands I'll let you know!