need info on Oregon--I'm picky! (Portland, Eugene: home, public schools, allergies)

[westerners]

We live in Pennsylvania, and are looking at a job in Eugene. Small problem...I worry about the gray days, the overabundance of rain, and allergy problems. I have a young child with asthma, and I suffer from allergies, and worry about our lifestyle. IS there a place in Oregon that isn't boring--there is shopping, museams, parks, etc. sunny days, and it doesn't rain all the time! Does this place exist, or do we need to go elsewhere?

[Silverfall]

It doesn't really rain a lot here, it "spits" a lot. We do get downpours but that is the occasion. What happens here on gray days is that we get periods of sunshine, we get a lot of beautiful rainbows as a result. It doesn't rain all of the time, but I will conceede that is a matter of perspective.

Coming from Illinois, where things are barren and cold in the winter, I will take the rain anyday. Our summers are not humid, and we have seasons here, which I like.

My hubby has asthma and allergies and they are better here than in the mid-west. I think it depends what your allergies are. I know some people get more aggrivated ones here and asthma gets worse.

I also guess it depends on how you define boring. Most people move to Oregon to be close to the outdoors. If you are not outdoorsy, then Portland would pretty much be your bet for cultural activities. Shopping is relative as well. You won't find Vera Wang or Prada stores here, but there is plenty of shopping in any of the major cities.

[Ducks77]

Pittsburgh and Cleveland have as many or more cloudy days than Portland and Eugene I heard.

[seashelly]

(Westerners, consider wood smoke from both home heating and field burns in that area.) Just a thought that you might not want to overlook.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by westerners

We live in Pennsylvania, and are looking at a job in Eugene. Small problem...I worry about the gray days, the overabundance of rain, and allergy problems. I have a young child with asthma, and I suffer from allergies, and worry about our lifestyle. IS there a place in Oregon that isn't boring--there is shopping, museams, parks, etc. sunny days, and it doesn't rain all the time! Does this place exist, or do we need to go elsewhere?

If someone is picky - they need to pick it.

That means spend a couple of weeks out here and choose for yourself.

In landscape design, if I encounter picky people, I ask them to go to the nursery themselves and tell me what they like.

That's often the best way to go.

Seeing is believing for many folks.

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by seashelly

(Westerners, consider wood smoke from both home heating and field burns in that area.) Just a thought that you might not want to overlook.

Amen, Seashelly, the smoke drove my allergies nuts and was something I hadn't considered before moving to Oregon.

[StealthRabbit]

Better weather a bit further south in Roseburg, less smoke from burning, pollen may be an issue with forests, and asthma / allergy IS an issue in Portland area (molds)

Bulk of SW OR 'culture' is in Ashland

ask for info on "the worst time to visit" and come spend a week during that time

Maybe AZ or NM would be a better choice? but, they each have their problems too...

[mvt]

I've lived in Eugene for 20 years because UO is fine and so are the public schools. Truly natural food is abundant. Proximity to mountains and ocean is good. I-5 is growing ever more crowded. Sprawl is sprawling. Oh - you asked about the rain. Yep, it spits, seldome pours in buckets. It IS gray from Oct. to May w/ occasional sunny moments/days. Air quality is poor. If you want definitive answers on insolation, go to a scientific site; you can have insolation w/out clearr, bright sunshine. Here's the big IF- the gray says are very dreary, spending time outdoors helps. Painting walls sunny colors helps. But, I am giving up. The air quality and winter darkness is too much. I spend several weeks near Boston several times a year (have for past 7 years). Also I spend time in Maine. In my experience, the air and light are much much better in NE. I'll miss the wonderful food in the Willamette Valley but not the climate.
mvt

[DavePautsch]

I grew up in Pennsylvania (about 45 miles NE of Harrisburg). After 23 years in the Navy we ended up here in the mid-Willamette Valley (Albany/Corvallis) and this is really a LOT like home for me. Heck, even some of the town names are the same (Harrisburg, Lebanon, Millersburg, Lewisburg...).

My memories of PA involved lots of snow in the winter and humidity in the summer. In the mid-valley, we get less snow (occasional, but I don't even OWN a snow shovel) and less humidity. In fact, I actually prefer the weather here over PA (at least you don't have to shovel rain...ohhhh my back!)

As far as the allergies, Linn County IS the grass seed capital of the world so many people DO have an issue with that...but that doesn't answer your question about the Eugene area.

We adapted to the "gray" days and got used to the rain. It took about a year. You can let it stop you from doing things...or you can just deal with it. After your first year here, experiencing the magnificent springs and summers...it gets easier to deal with the winter.

However, you can't get TastyKakes and Lebanon Bologna is very rare thing to find so, as a PA transplant...be forewarned.

Good luck with your move.

[rooftop65]

Dave- Go elsewhere I think. Eugene has 30 to 40 inches of rain every year. It has endless gray and fog all winter long. I lived outside the city in the rural surroundings for 20 years. I love Eugene for its liberal atmosphere. Some of the best people live there. Lots of activists! The summers are great! Never gets really cold, but is very damp. Bad for people with allergies because of mold and grass pollen. DAMP MOLD are key words here! If you enjoy far out liberal people, political causes, great shopping experiences and excellent restaurants with many choices, some culture but still small town atmosphere and hippies - This is your place. Go to the Oregon Country Fair in the summer. It is really a "trip"! For your children there are really good public schools - some of the best in Oregon!
rooftop65