young couple looking to start a family...where do we go? (Portland: low crime, home)

[CrystalLopez]

We are young newlyweds from (sucky) south florida who hope to start a family soon, and are looking for somewhere to put down some roots! I am a high school American History teacher (though i would like to go back to school and become a Geologist!) and my husband is a Pharmacist. I love the scenery in Oregon and i am determined to move somewhere i can experience all 4 seasons! We are not planning on moving into a cookie cutter neighborhood, but rather prefer to buy a lot and build an appropriate home (don't worry i am not coming to destroy your land - as an earth lover i have very good intensions for my future eco-friendly home) Can anyone give us some advice (pros/cons) to be aware of when we go check it out for ourselves? We would greatly appreciate it!

These are some of the things we would like:

-to be in walking distance of some things
-good schools
-good scenery/close or somewhat close to nature
-a nearby farmers market (i love to cook!)
-ANYWHERE NOT LIKE SOUTH FLORIDA
-low crime/safe area
-good place to raise a family
-a nearby mall (...or i will probably die)
-as far away from volcanoes as possible (my husband has this hilariously overwhelming fear!)
-friendly people, so we can make new friends!


...sorry about the super long post!

THANKS!!!

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by CrystalLopez

These are some of the things we would like:

-to be in walking distance of some things
-good schools
-good scenery/close or somewhat close to nature
-a nearby farmers market (i love to cook!)
-ANYWHERE NOT LIKE SOUTH FLORIDA
-low crime/safe area
-good place to raise a family
-a nearby mall (...or i will probably die)
-as far away from volcanoes as possible (my husband has this hilariously overwhelming fear!)
-friendly people, so we can make new friends!


...sorry about the super long post!

THANKS!!!

Well if you need a mall then you need to be in a larger city. I think there are friendly people all over Oregon. As a pharmacist, he will have limited choices. The choice places to work (as told to me by a pharmacist client) NEVER open up.

Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry Caldera, and Crater Lake are all "potentially active" volcanos and they run up and down the cascade range in the state. So you are going to have define "close to" a volcano.

Size of town would be helpful.

[CrystalLopez]

I prefer not to live in the very heart of a big city, but any size town will do. I would really just like to be in a comfortable, safe, and friendly environment. None of which can be found in Florida. I don't need a mall on my block, but if it were under an hour away that would be wonderful!

Geez, call me a fool, but i didn't know all of those are 'potentially active'! Oh well, i guess he will have to man up and learn to cope because Mt. Hood and Crater Lake are too beautiful. Sorry, we are from Florida and all we know is beaches and Everglades. We aren't too familiar with different terrain!

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by CrystalLopez

I prefer not to live in the very heart of a big city, but any size town will do. I would really just like to be in a comfortable, safe, and friendly environment. None of which can be found in Florida. I don't need a mall on my block, but if it were under an hour away that would be wonderful!

Geez, call me a fool, but i didn't know all of those are 'potentially active'! Oh well, i guess he will have to man up and learn to cope because Mt. Hood and Crater Lake are too beautiful. Sorry, we are from Florida and all we know is beaches and Everglades. We aren't too familiar with different terrain!

I think potentially active is defined as the potential to blow up in the next 1,000 years..Really it is such a non-issue.

We have farmer's markets pretty much in every town in Oregon. There is a lot of local produce here. We also have CSA's, which are community supported agriculture farms. I get organic produce once a week from May-Oct from mine.

I would look at Silverton, OR, South and West Salem, maybe Keizer, OR. In the Portland area I would look at the West Hills area, maybe Banks, Lake Oswego, West Linn as well.

[seashelly]

[quote=Silverfall;3504767]I think potentially active is defined as the potential to blow up in the next 1,000 years..Really it is such a non-issue. .....

QUOTE]

I don't know about that, Silverfall. There's a large bulge on South Sister Cascade Mountain Mt. Bachelor area buldging around 4 inches a year so it's currently being monitored.

[Silverfall]

[quote=seashelly;3505077]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

I think potentially active is defined as the potential to blow up in the next 1,000 years..Really it is such a non-issue. .....

QUOTE]

I don't know about that, Silverfall. There's a large bulge on South Sister Cascade Mountain Mt. Bachelor area buldging around 4 inches a year so it's currently being monitored.

All of those volcanos I mentioned are being monitored. I just don't think we should all freak out about the words "potentially active." If her hubby is paranoid about volcanic activity, it would pretty much rule out all of Oregon.

[tiffany2800]

I currently live in Bend, Oregon and love it here. Bend is a little ways away from Portland, but offers an amazing lifestyle. The schools are some of the best in the state, we can brag of one of the lowest crime rates in the nation, and the people are friendly and inviting. The cost of living is a little more than in other areas but you will surley get what you pay for. the community is open and honest and offers a great deal to residents, including seasonal festivals, parades, as well as our known Munch and Music festival and Bite of Bend.

Good luck on your search