Eugene has BAD pollution levels! Where should I move to? (Sandy: home, rent)

[dachmom]

I did read that Hood River is very windy year round.

I do want to be close to jobs so the smaller towns are great as long as they have good job markets or are close to places with good job markets. I am professional by day and hippie mama on nights and weekends. I works from hojme and will continue to do the same thing from there, but my husband needs to find a job making at least $45k per year. He is a property manager for 6 housing developments here in AZ, but knows Auto Body work, was a limo driver, and would do well in any job where he would be dealing with people...very much an outgoing people person! So I just have to make sure we don't end up in podunk USA, or he will not be a happy camper!

1. Yes, Hood River and The Dalles are WINDY year round.
2. Unfortunately, there is not a good job market in The Dalles or Hood River
3. I used to live in The Dalles and my friends and I used to joke that we lived in a podunk town.
Hood River would be closer to Portland, your husband could commute to Portland for work (approximately 60 miles via the interstate).

[earthmama2organic1z]

Originally Posted by dachmom

1. Yes, Hood River and The Dalles are WINDY year round.
2. Unfortunately, there is not a good job market in The Dalles or Hood River
3. I used to live in The Dalles and my friends and I used to joke that we lived in a podunk town.
Hood River would be closer to Portland, your husband could commute to Portland for work (approximately 60 miles via the interstate).

What are some other non-podunk towns in those counties I mentioned, that are no more than 30 minute drive to a good area for jobs?

Thanks!

[seven of nine]

Wow, I like how our post folded in on each other and then doubled, where is Neo when you need him (Matrix) There are faults in Oregon as in all of the northwest, a pretty major one in downtown Portland. All new construction is rated now and any remodel has to be retro-fitted. It is like the weather, just can't worry about it, just have your family plan in place. I am more concerned about tusamis on the coast but that would not prevent me from vacationing there, life is what you make it. With your income needs and interest in gardening, keep looking towards the portland metro area, I should have mentioned colton, it is just prior to the gorge, it is all really beautiful, hey good luck.

[Bendite]

Originally Posted by earthmama2organic1z

Wow, thought we had you all sold on Eugene, do not rule it out, the pollution levels may be worse seasonally. Now for your other considerations the dalles may be the best for you or look up Stevenson Wa on the other side of the gorge, all gorge weather is rougher and harsher than the valley, and the other poster is right about the growing season, once you cross over into eastern Or it is a different climate. Have you looked at Mt. Angle, Donald, Woodburn, Albany? good luck

I was VERY sold on Eugene! Really disappointed! The areas around Bend aren't too bad, but I hear it is really mostly populated by CA people now and housing is rediculous...I have to stay around $300k or less, and want to be among the real Oregonians

I will check out these other cities you listed, thanks!

I am also in the middle of doing some research on the faultlines in Oregon. What are your thoughts there?[/quote]

There are still a few of us native Oregonians hanging out in Bend! What I've seen is a lot of money came in from CA from second home buyers and real estate investors. We do have our share of people from CA but all of Oregon has experienced the migration. "Real" Oregonians are as varied as the climate and there are some differences between those living on ranchland and those in the city and the rest of us in between. Once you choose your area, you'll find plenty of us wherever that may be.

We live in an area where the volcanic Cascades are still active (think Mt. St. Helens). In Central Oregon the South Sister has been growing a bump for a few years (not very scientifically put, but I don't remember the actual term). Eventually, it or one of the other mountains will blow. Fault lines go through the western part of Oregon down from Washington and into California. The ocean has earthquakes activity and there is a risk of tsunamis along much of the coast. Oregon has frequent little shakes and occassionally a big one but it's not something that people worry about. Every place has it's potential for natural disasters - floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes - guess we just have to choose our risk and hope the big doesn't happen on our watch!

[earthmama2organic1z]

BENDITE,

How safe would you say Hood River County is? Obviously it is close to Mt. Hood...I guess I need to check and see how "active" Mt. Hood is

If it seems relatively safe in comparison to other places, do you know if there are other neighborhoods in Hood River County other than Hodd River itself, where it is not as windy as Hood River?

Thanks again Bendite!

[PNW-type-gal]

Almost all of the Cascades are considered "active" and have hazard zones around them. Most of the potential danger comes more from debris flows and floods than actual full-on eruptions, but the reason the Hood River valley grows so much good fruit is that it's built on layers and layers of nutrient-rich volcanic material.

There are no "non-seismic" areas of Oregon, Washington, California. Earthquakes are a possibility in any of those spots. Unlike the areas of California that have transverse strike-slip faults, here in the NW, being "on" or "off" a fault line doesn't change much, it depends more on the location and depth of the earthquake plus the type of surface material in your area - and generally, fault "lines" are actually quite wide, it's more a zone than a line.

[Patti LeBlanc]

The Dalles is very beautiful, although the gorge weather can be very cold, & windy. Great if you are a windsurfer There are several nice towns between Salem & Eugene in the Willamette valley. The weather is mild, and the gardening is wonderful! Albany, Brownsville, Harrisburg, and Coburg are nice towns, centrally located.

[earthmama2organic1z]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

Almost all of the Cascades are considered "active" and have hazard zones around them. Most of the potential danger comes more from debris flows and floods than actual full-on eruptions, but the reason the Hood River valley grows so much good fruit is that it's built on layers and layers of nutrient-rich volcanic material.

There are no "non-seismic" areas of Oregon, Washington, California. Earthquakes are a possibility in any of those spots. Unlike the areas of California that have transverse strike-slip faults, here in the NW, being "on" or "off" a fault line doesn't change much, it depends more on the location and depth of the earthquake plus the type of surface material in your area - and generally, fault "lines" are actually quite wide, it's more a zone than a line.

Thanks for the response! I am kind of frustrated with my search right now, because while I don't want my daughters to be exposed to mass amounts of carcinogens because of where I choose, I also don't want to move them to a place where a mountains may very soon explore hot lava and ash.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by earthmama2organic1z

Thanks for the response! I am kind of frustrated with my search right now, because while I don't want my daughters to be exposed to mass amounts of carcinogens because of where I choose, I also don't want to move them to a place where a mountains may very soon explore hot lava and ash.

With the exception of some small towns high on the slopes of St. Helens and Rainier, pyroclastic explosions (steam and rock and sometimes new lava) and eruptions aren't really much of a threat. The bigger threat is from debris flows caused by slope failures (which may be triggered by something other than a volcanic event or earthquake). The bottom of a river valley that drains one of the volcanoes would not be a good place to put a house.

I'm pretty sure that the pollution levels listed by the site you mentioned are occasional maximums, not year-round conditions. It's true that during inversions (which can occur in the coldest part of winter and the hottest part of summer), the Willamette Valley, from north to south, can get a grimy brown-gray haze. But it generally doesn't last that long.

[mdvaden]

Start looking for lichens on trees.

An abundance of lichens is an indicator of better air quality.

If you see no lichens on trees - especially the older trees, suspect poor air quality.