thinking about Coos Bay from Iowa (Portland, Bend: transplants, house, construction)

[J&Lst]

Wow great information. Thanks guys. I've stayed in Yachats several times. Yes--breathtaking.

I noticed north of Newport seems to have a lot of traffic along the main highway, but not so much to the south. Is the traffic pretty thick as you keep heading North along the coast? (of course, this was in July when I was there).

Thanks again.

[Waterlily]

Well the whole coast does get busy during summer. That's tourist season. The northern coast is closer to Portland so they get more traffic.

[sidepassing]

In 2000 I moved to Coos Bay and built an expensive all cedar house on waterfront property overlooking the bay and ocean. In my 65 years I consider this the the worst decision I've ever made. Granted, the view is beautiful, but that's all. While the Oregon coastal areas are beautiful you often have to view that beauty through garbage (old stoves, tires, sofas) discarded along the roadways. If you didn't know that you were so close to the ocean you would think you were in Appalachia. The constant wind and frequent fog are only two of the problems. It's next to impossible to find workman in this area who are dependable and will do a quality job. To be more succinct, there is no work ethic. I finally stopped all construction projects. The general attitude in this area seems to be regressive. One only has to pick up a copy of the local paper, the Koos News, to know what I'm talking about. Recently, a new and very expensive airport was completed here. Several days before the grand opening, the major airline servicing the airport announced that they would cease operations at the new airport within weeks. This leaves two flights a day and only to San Francisco. Not long ago the railroad stopped rail service to coos Bay. The tracks are rusting. Bus service in to town stopped several years ago. All of this comes with high property taxes and very little service to show for it including police protection. Currently, I'm planning on relocating to the Midwest. Friends who lived in Coos Bay for many years moved a year ago to Rochester Minnesota and love it. They also were very unhappy with Coos Bay. I hope you don't regret moving here from Iowa.

[pdxtokc]

Hi there. I live up North, but thought I would give you an idea of job perspective since I am also a Pharmacist. Like many other parts of the US, Oregon has a huge shortage of pharmacists. You should have no problem finding a job. I worked for Kaiser Permanente (an HMO) for many years before moving to KS last year (now have moved back, long story). Loved working for Kaiser. Now I wanted more flexibility so I'm working for myself using one of the many temp services available for Pharmacists. I get a list in the morning and evening and pick where I'd like to work. There are always numerous jobs available all along the coast as well as all over southern Oregon, Central (Bend, etc) and in and around Portland. (they pay drive time and mileage). In fact, I've worked at a couple stores that rely soley on temp help since they haven't been able to find a full time Pharmacist. Anyhow, thought I'd give you my input. Hope it helps and good luck in your season of change!

[tiffela74]

I moved here a little more than 5 yrs ago and am thankful for that decision each and every day.
We too, had a house right on the water w/bay and ocean views. But had a totally different front. No garbage or waste any where along the entire stretch as far as we could see, either way. And this was right on Cape Arago.
Ive never seen any stretch at all where theres old stoves/sofas and such....where is that?
look up the Coos Bay web cam too, it shows a stretch of view along the bay w/a glimpse of the ocean too....
the fog/wind is not constant. If that were true, I wouldnt have been able to see everything from whales migrating to the Tall Ships sailing by.
And we've been quite happy w/the police here. We had an attempted burglary not too long ago, and the PD response in time, effort, and professionalism was exceptional.
But hey, each have their own experiences.
I guess...Lucky me.
Tiffany

[sidepassing]

Tiffany, you must not be traveling off of Cape Arago highway into Barview or the roads leading over to Coastal Highway 101. Since I've been here my impression of the area is that people simply do not care and that is reflected in the condition of many of the yards and houses. You were lucky with the police response. A neighbor and I were told by our security company that the police would not respond if our burglar alarms went off. When my neighbor did have her car broken into (in her yard) and items stolen the police mailed her a form to fill out and send in. They never came out. I might point out that my yearly property taxes are between $5,500 and $6,000. I'm not saying that the Oregon Coast isn't beautiful, it is, but beauty only goes so far. I have listened to a wide range of complaints here including complaints on medical care and the medical facilities. I have one final observation. Yesterday, the main local paper, The World, had a front page article (above the fold) entitled "Egyptian (theater) starts ... restroom fundraising." The article described the effort to install a first floor restroom in the theater. Inside the paper another article entitled "Steak fire sparks a one-acre blaze on North Bend lot" reported on a fire started by a transient who used a shopping cart to create an outdoor grill to cook a steak on a lot across the road from the area's major shopping mall. What does this tell you? The fire department found the steak but not the transient so all was not wasted.

[Oregonbeachlover]

Sidestepping, what you are saying is really the state of the world, not limited to coastal cities. We have had police or medical issues through the years living in the valley, which we have not had living on the coast.

I still say, with all the wonderful volunteers, our
beach clean up day (s)" make for much cleaner areas than other places may enjoy. As far as better neighborhoods, or not, doesn't almost every town/city in the country have that issue?

[tiffela74]

well, like any other city in America, there ARE areas around here that I do not venture into. I will totally agree that there are some very trashy, poor, nasty areas. There are homes that have more trash piled in the front than the local dump, and a few streets that you couldnt GIVE me a house along, But no more than there are in any other city/town Ive ever lived in or visited. And I never did see any of this large trash blocking any bay/ocean views. And it wasnt even along the stretch where all the larger more expensive homes are. Public land directly in front of me. As for the occasional garbage that some idiot would toss out, if I didnt get to it first, then another one of the neighbors did.

As for the security company. I used to work for one of the major ones in the US and can tell ya, theres a lot of PD depts. that wont respond unless its a verified actual. Others will respond to 3 alarms, then no more unless an actual, then theres those that will respond to however many, but you'll be fined. Every PD is able to set it up however they want, or to city regs. and thats across the US. Heck, when I was working for em, I cant tell you how many times we'd have an alarm, we'd voice respond, find out it was an actual burglary, call the PD and they'd not go out until the actual was verified through someone on the home owners RP list with them. ANd that was across the US. So, pd not responding to an alarm, thats pretty standard anywhere.

I thought the restoring of the restrooms at the Egyptian was so that it would be easier for those who cant navigate stairs. Im not understanding where thats a bad thing? Maybe Im missing a point here? It HAS been a long day.

Ya, we were happy happy w/the PD response w/our attempted burglary. Heck, they were here before my husband got back from the end of our street from chasing the jerk who tried to break in on us!
And before anyone thinks Im getting special favors cuz im in a wealthy areas, please, let me giggle first. I dont think theres a house on our block that could get 200thous on a great day! heck, we paid less than 150x for ours! We are very not rich! darn it.....

I would have lost my daughter if the Drs here werent wonderful. And it was from a very rare and serious kidney disorder. Im thankful for them each and every moment of my every single day.

Ya, theres crap here. Theres some pretty nasty areas and some people I'll sure do my best to avoid. But all in all, its a lot less than Ive had to deal with in other city/towns.
Im still on the side where I think this is a great place to live.

Doesnt National Geographic agree with me too? Wasnt there just an article on us? Where the heck did Waterlily post that?

Tiff

[Waterlily]

Here is the article on the Coos Bay area. 50 Best Places to Live - National Geographic Adventure Magazine

Just a couple of days ago I drove out along the Cape argo highway to Charleston. I did not see any piles of trash. I guess a person can see whatever they want in a place. I like the fact that I can go from one small city to the next in just a few miles, or no miles when you go from North Bend to Coos Bay. It is an adventure living here in the Bay area.
All the coast seems like a beautiful adventure to travel along and see the wonderful views. Each city is different from the next; even neighborhoods are different.

[Nativegirl]

I have lived here (North Bend) for 45 years-born and raised. I have seen many changes to the area-some good/some not so good, but I think that for the most part this is a good place to raise a family. My husband moved here 28 years ago with his parents from San Diego to get out of the rat race there. The schools are good. There are areas around the community that need cleaning up and that are currently being cleaned up. You can't judge the entire area by the main street and definitely not by going traveling through Barview and Charleston. We have the largest hospital on the Oregon coast with good physicians and medical care.
I personally am wanting to relocate just because I want to do something different and experience more of Oregon. The weather here can be a factor and it seems that it has been more gray and less sun in the last couple of years.
Do your research, come visit and really check things out for yourself.