Lesbian family relocating (Portland, Eugene, Salem: sales, car insurance, how much)

[momto6]

We are considering relocating to Oregon from Florida. We are a lesbian family with 6 children ages ranging from 14years-7months. Ideally we would like to live in an area with good schools, affordable housing (with some land) that is diverse. Finding secure employment is also a consideration. My partner is a home health administrator (RN) and I am and administrator in a human service organization (MSW.)
I have just started my research and would appreciate any suggestions. Also, how do taxes and insurance (property and vehicle) compare.
Thanks

[Lootmeister]

Can I ask you a question without your firing off at me?

What does any of your request have to do with being a lesbien?

Why do you feel that you need to announce that?

Just curious.

[tj7run]

I would say if you are looking for areas that would be accepting of you then I would look in the Portland area or Eugene. Both cities are diverse, and more accepting. Oregon has a lot of smaller country communties that are not so accepting.

[tangerinepuddle]

I would say you are making a great choice as far as an area to relocate to with much acceptance for alternative lifestyles - especially if you move to the Portland area. I relocated here about a year and half ago, and have never felt more accepted - and surprised at how much "family" is here.

As for jobs, I would imagine securing an RN position and an MSW position would be fairly easy - check out the big healthcare providers around here (Providence, etc.) as well as OHSU. One word of advice - do your best to secure employment before arriving, or have a bunch of money saved up to get you through at least four months - the job market is VERY competitive. I would say the cost of living here is maybe slightly higher than most of FL (with the exception of South Florida)......and the two areas are light night and day in almost every aspect - scenery, weather (be ready for a lot of grey skies in the winter) people, outdoor activites, the downtown, (we are completely opposite of suburbarn sprawl!!! the public transit system (it rocks here!) political views, etc. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me!

[Silverfall]

momto6, I would definitely stick to the valley and go with the larger cities. You'll get the most affordability here in the Salem area, but it is a little bit more conservative.

So I would look at Salem, Eugene, and Portland. Jobs are very competitive here, and if you are able to get work before moving that would be the best. Our property taxes are high here, but we don't have sales tax. You are going to pay taxes one way or another, so it just depends on whether or not you want to bleed it slowly in sales tax or pay a lot at one time.

Out of the 50 states, our education system tends to rank in the 35-40th range. Measure 5 was a big hit to our school funding, so as you are looking, look at the Oregon Department of Education School Report Cards to look at schools.

Land is at a premium here since we have the Urban Growth Boundary, so if you want land, you will pay for it. Affordable is relative, so maybe you can clarify what you think is affordable?

[esya]

I think this is a legitimate question, and one that would be hard to get info on. Both Vermont and Oregon are perceived to be somewhat rural feeling, somewhat liberal, and close to the coast. Although I would think Maine is more of a match if you disregard the cold--which of course someone from Florida would not be likely to do.

If I was looking for the information, I'd log onto those recent political primary websites and find a county location that was as blue as I could find, and then search for the local membership groups in the state to ask questions.

If I had kids, acceptance or at least tolerance of my family would be crucial. Even if you don't send your kids out to announce it to the teachers, it is very alienating to be "different" or not have your parents accepted in your school age or older social scene. Would you have asked the same sort of question if the person had asked about a non-traditional religious lifestyle? Or a family that had grandparents or cousins living with them? Etc.

As a hetero I also have struggled my entire parenthood with being dumped into some sort of "mom" role that didn't fit and I am very glad to be nearly done with that part of my life, as much as I love my children.

I can't answer your question, but I wish you the best of luck.

[greengrayblue]

Hey there,
I am also a lesbian mom in healthcare. I recently interviewed in Salem and Portland and have decided to move to Salem. I had some serious concerns, mostly about my kids having trouble in their school (not from malice so much as teachers with limited experience with diversity and how to meaningfully incorporate it so as not to make the kids involved feel left out or alienated) and with their friends for having lesbian parents. I only had a day there but I came out to everyone in sight, at the hospital, and around town, to anyone I felt that I could reasonably raise the issue, and discussed it frankly with anyone I thought could contribute a meaningful opinion. Overall, I received reactions ranging from casual acceptance (my favorite) and surprise/slight awkwardness but no incivility/hostility/genuine discomfort. I do think Portland would be more tolerant/inclusive but I think with a proactive work on our parts (i.e. speaking to his teachers, actively networking with other gay families) that Salem would be a very nice, safe, affordable place to live.
Good Luck!

[mrkool]

Originally Posted by esya

As a hetero I also have struggled my entire parenthood with being dumped into some sort of "mom" role that didn't fit and I am very glad to be nearly done with that part of my life, as much as I love my children.
.

So you "love" your children, but are glad that you are done with the motherhood role?? I read this over and over, and it makes no sense. If the "mom role" didn't fit, what a shame (for your kids) that you were a mom.

[Bendite]

Originally Posted by momto6

I have just started my research and would appreciate any suggestions. Also, how do taxes and insurance (property and vehicle) compare.
Thanks

According to an article I found, the effective property tax rate in Florida is 1.72% and in Oregon, it's 1.55%. Oregon has rate limitations that are fairly unique. Taxes in Oregon very much will depend on location and how many bonds and other charges are accessed locally.

When we moved from Colorado to Oregon, we were pleasantly surprised at how much lower car insurance was. That might have something to do with living in a rural town (Bend) as opposed to a large city (Denver), but I think overall the rates are lower here. It costs us $85 a month to insure our two cars (we also have homeowners with our carrier, so the rate is a little discounted).

[hummingbird3]

Think seriously about your change in lifestyle before moving here because it is drastically different. I relocated here from Southern California (born here, raised there) 5 years go. I have to say that after 6 winters I am very unhappy about the winters here. Have been snowed in (Portland area) 4 out of 6 winters, and now have Seasonal Affective Disorder really bad. I get sluggish, don't want to go outside, etc. You have to realize that people HIBERNATE here bigtime compared to sunnier places. Also, it's really far north. The days are only 7-1/2 to 8 hours of sunlight for a few months per year. I did not think that would affect me but it does. In So Cal the sun is always up by about 6-6:30, but here it gets light at 7:50-8:00 a.m. for 2 months at least. It gets dark at 4:30pm for 2 months at least. The bonus is that the days are from 5:00am until 9:30pm in the summer months, which are glorious. Every year they make up for the long, cold, dark and wet (and snowy!) winters.

As a former Southern Californian, I never dreamed I would hate these winters so much. It's very very beautiful here, and liberal, and you can wear anything and be anything you want without anyone looking at you funny. (For the most part.) But there is a reason why it's so beautiful here. Rain, water, snow. You have no idea! I never understood why people want to be 'snowbirds' until I had been here a couple years. Now I'm dying to be one for 3 months per year (From December 15 to March 15). As a funny aside, I briefly thought of moving to Florida recently but decided against it for various reasons.

So ask around, check it out and make sure you really know what you're getting into. Oregon is completely different that Florida!!