Thank you Oregonians (Ashland: home, employment, neighborhoods)

[shesgone]

I just wanted to thank all of you people that have been *more* than helpful to all of us wanting to move to your beautiful state.

I have spent the last month reading everything I could, from the "gloomy" weather to finding the perfect neighborhoods," etc.

And after one month I have come to a conclusion.

I am absolutely in love with Oregon. Yes, I'll take the "gloomy" weather and in that I'll find a better way to cuddle up with my hubby. In that I'll be able to have an excuse to have our two mini-dachshunds cuddle up on the sofa with me too!

I'll take the neighborhoods and look into where we should be.

You see, from when I was a little girl I was always in love with Oregon. It has always been my dream to move there and now I have someone to share my love for your state with, and I'm so happy that he is as much excited about being there as me!

I've been watching the news reports and sat glued to the computer screen as I observed all the damage that this relentless storm has left behind. A friend of mine said to me, "Are you crazy? Don't you know what's going on up there? Haven't you seen the storm stories on tv?" I chuckled to myself and said aloud, "I'm also aware of "The Big One" that could hit any moment here in Los Angeles, but my husband and I have stuck it out for 21 years...

I'm 50 years old now and I'm more than ready to come home to Oregon. Right now my husband and I are looking for employment and as soon as we find something we are MORE than out of this state.

I apologize to all the Oregonians that have suffered the "wrath" of the idiot Californians that have moved there. Maybe it's because I'm a transplant here, that I never considered my self an "Angelino." <<<shiver>>> Gosh...I hate that word... We will not be coming there with a mindset of "change" - we will simply be coming there with a mindset of "home."

My husband and I have visited Oregon for 3 years straight, and everytime it was time go leave, I felt a tug on my heart. Yes, we've visited in Summer *and* Winter so we know what it's like. And do we still love it?? Yes, most definitely.

Maybe it's because I am Native American that I appreciate the land, the climate, the people, and all of the wonderful heartfelt smiles that we have encountered every single time we were there in your state.

Nothing beats the harmonies of the trees when they are singing as the wind blows through them, nothing beats the sparkle on the rivers, lakes and creeks - as if tiny beings were carrying sparkling lamps to light the waters just for our enjoyment.

Oregonians, you have a beautiful jewel filled with beautiful people and I hope that we will be welcomed there when we arrive to share the warmth and love that you all possess.

Pilamayaye ~
(Thank you)

[Kathleenh54]

Pilmayaye, that is lovely sentiment. I hope you find success in following your dream.

Be prepared though, for people to be less than welcoming when you tell them you're moving from LA. We only lived in the Ventura County area for five years before moving to Ashland. After a few minutes of chitchat, people hear my slight NY accent and smile indulgently. Like, that's okay.

My husband is a Brit so I have him talk to people on the phone. Everyone loves his accent. Nobody loves mine, but it marks me as a non-Californeo right off the bat.

It's not that they hate us, exactly, but there is some resentment. Forewarned is forearmed, right?

[PDXsailor]

You do know that we staged that storm to keep people from moving here

[Igor]

Originally Posted by PDXsailor

You do know that we staged that storm to keep people from moving here

Yes, but you were not supposed to tell anyone!!!!!

Shesgone, my best wishes to you on you upcoming move. Safe travels!

[Clear2land]

Hi Shesgone:

I was touched by your story and upcoming move to Oregon. There is nothing like the smell of Pine in the damp air. You didn’t say what you do or where you will live but I sincerely wish you all the best. I could tell by your story that you and Oregon are going to be a perfect match!

Dan

[shesgone]

Originally Posted by Kathleenh54

Pilmayaye, that is lovely sentiment. I hope you find success in following your dream.

Be prepared though, for people to be less than welcoming when you tell them you're moving from LA. We only lived in the Ventura County area for five years before moving to Ashland. After a few minutes of chitchat, people hear my slight NY accent and smile indulgently. Like, that's okay.

My husband is a Brit so I have him talk to people on the phone. Everyone loves his accent. Nobody loves mine, but it marks me as a non-Californeo right off the bat.

It's not that they hate us, exactly, but there is some resentment. Forewarned is forearmed, right?

Absolutely true.

Luckily the only thing that gives us away is our license plate. Although it is a personalized plate, it still has "California" on it...hehehe...

I really can't say I blame folks for harboring some resentment. I know exactly what it's like to have loads of people move to your state making it theirs and at the same time pushing you out! So in all honesty I totally understand their anger.

That's why my husband and I never considered ourselves Californians and it's never been a secret that we were just stopping off here for a while - even though it has been quite a few years! Yet, we never called this place "home" because we've never seen it as such.

[shesgone]

Originally Posted by PDXsailor

You do know that we staged that storm to keep people from moving here

Awww heck! And I thought it was the Creator sending the bad weather so that all the Californians would run back here to the "sunshine" - thereby making more room for me and my hubby *there!!* LOL!

[shesgone]

Originally Posted by Clear2land

Hi Shesgone:

I was touched by your story and upcoming move to Oregon. There is nothing like the smell of Pine in the damp air. You didn’t say what you do or where you will live but I sincerely wish you all the best. I could tell by your story that you and Oregon are going to be a perfect match!

Dan

Thank you, I know that smell quite well and long for it very much - along with the morning smell of sweet cedar filling the air. These are the times that I love to go outside and play one of my Native American flutes - when everything is quiet and the mountains begin turning pink, then orange with the welcoming of the sun...<sigh> I do miss that so much...

As far as jobs that we're looking into, we both have years of Senior Administration under our belt. Right now we've been working at the same university for about 10 years, but prior to that we've worked within the private sectors for more than 25 years in the same kind of positions. My husband is extremely talented in Computer Support. For me, I'm more of the department coordinator/ administrator, aka - run the whole shebang and gets the job done - kinda gal.

Since our kids have all grown up and moved away, we're not concerned with being near schools. We follow the traditional indian way, so we're not needing to be close to churches. I'm not addicted to shopping and malls, so there's no need to live close to those places. We're not the "entertaining" or "partying" types so we don't need to live around the "in" places with the "flocks" so that we can be with the "in crowds."

Basically, we're just looking for a quiet neighborhood to grow old in and to enjoy the beauty around us - somewhere that is not a "boom town"... although, by reading many of the posts here, it sounds like nowhere is safe anymore from the impending population explosion.

Most of the people we know consider my husband and I to be a bit boring because we don't do the "night-life" thingy here in CA. But to each his own I guess...

So, if you have any ideas of neighborhoods that you think we might fit, please feel free to PM me, it would be much appreciated.

Aya waste ota ye, (Many blessings to you)
Frankie

[babycoleslaw]

Shesgone,
You sound like a wonderful person and I'm sure Oregonians will be more than welcoming....
I'm from TX originally but spent time in upstate NY and am now in the midwest and will be relocating to Oregon next summer.
I spent summers on the St. Lawrence river for 25+ years and your description reminds me somewhat of that area.
In fact, the Northwest reminds me a lot of upstate NY but w/o all the cold and snow!!!
Best of luck to you!!!! Maybe I'll hear your flute one of these days....

[Waterlily]

I'm glad you like it here in Oregon Shesgone. It is a beautiful place. It kind of sounds to me like possibly a smaller town might work well for you.
There's more rain in western Oregon and less in eastern Oregon. We get lots of rain on the coast but not much snow. I guess you'll just need to decide on the kind of weather and size of town you'd like.
If you don't have one then buy a map of Oregon. It'll help you get an idea of where all the towns are located. You see we are not really that crowded, just the big cities are a bit crowded.
Good luck in your search.