OK, what's the deal with Oregon..help? (Bend: car insurance, selling a house)

[delta07]

If you can find jobs in Bend, I would go for it. I just moved here from CO in July and absolutely love it. I worked for the FS for 5 years, but decided to go a different route in life. Bend is highly desireable with the FS/BLM crowd, so your bf may find it tough to find a job. However, with his experience, he may be competitive enough to be considered. Won't he need to have a job lined up before you make the move? That's how I remember the FS working. Unless he's a seasonal, in which case, you wouldn't be looking at a transfer.

Bend has a vibrant community, with art festivals, music festivals, and several small galleries in town. It is somewhat "resortish" so finding a job in sales, especially if you have experience, may not be as difficult as I have heard. And contrary to what you've heard, Bend has many, many rentals right now. With the housing market taking a dive, you may actually be able to afford a modest home. A lot of people who can't sell their home are renting them out right now. Just take a look on craigslist. You will see tons of houses for rent. Most landlords are being very flexible right now too. I found a month-to-month lease that allows me to have my 3 animals.

Other places to consider besides Bend would be Ashland, Medford, and Eugene/Springfield. I know other posts mentioned Redmond and Prineville, but I think you would find the towns too small and rural. They are more western type towns, than hip towns.

[Xplorer]

I think Bend would fit yours needs... I was a wildland firefighter for 2 summer right out of high school... Our home base was in Bend. There are a lot of crews there. Bend is large enough to where you can still do well in sales, also.

[Meegs]

Delta-
thank you so much for the insight! Your comments were very up-lifting and they actually made me even more excited! We are in the primary stages of our move. Hopefully a year from now we'll be there! We have a home in michigan to try and sell or rent, and he's committed to his crew for one more year-so once everything starts to fall more into place here we'll be there. I think your right with his experience he'll be in more of a demand (hopefully) and i have 6 yrs in sales, as well as a couple major's to fall back on so it seems as if we're on the right path. And from what you describe of bend it sounds almost perfect for the both of us!
Thanks again!

[Meegs]

hey xplorer- thanks for your help as well. As far as your expeirence with the fire crew in bend- do you know if they were type 1, 2 and or did they have the possability of smoke jumping, or is that more so in the redmond area? Also, is there positions there for single resources? Thanks in advance!

[bluebird39]

Hi there,

I know what you mean about being apart for lots of time. Do you have family in Michigan? That's a big issue that we never figured out how to solve. I have never lived in the same town, or even state as my family since I was 21, and after having kids, not having that support when DH was out on fires became very difficult. It's tough to have a spouse who fights fires!

What's even crazier is that we moved from Oregon to Michigan! We did it in part for DH's job, and to be closer to his family, plus with house prices as they were 2-3 years ago, we couldn't afford for me to stay home with our young kids in Oregon, and that became a HUGE issue. As you know, the fire world demands them 24/7 during fire season and at litterally a moments notice, so for me to find child care under those circumstances for my kids when I was at work and DH got called out on a fire, was impossible.

Michigan is so much less expensive, but I really miss the mountains and we're acutally thinking about moving back to Oregon. I love Oregon. It'll be quite a change for you, but I'd hope one for the better.

Bend is expensive. Its population has exploded, but there's a good reason. It's a nice place. I'm not as familiar with hot shot crews. My husband hates to fly, and so far has managed to avoid the helitack and jumping world. As for smoke jumping, he doesn't understand why anyone would jump out of a perfectly good airplane! He's more into the management side of fires now, which is a big relief for me. Cell phones and fire websites have made it so much nicer over the years too.

What agency does you boyfriend work for? Feel free to send me a direct message.

Also, has he looked into places like Missoula or Boise? Those are 2 big fire communities. I know California is paying top price for its state fire folks. They make tons more than federal fire folks, and seem to have a better gig going on. CA is $$$ to live in though.

Good luck!

Oh, and one thing I miss terribly here is the support I had from fellow "fire wives" in Oregon. Out West there is so much federal land and so many fed employees that fight fire, even if they're botonists or timber folks, that I always had a huge community of people out there who'd help me in a pinch when DH was out. Here in Michigan fires aren't as regular of a thing, and there's very little federal land, so it's been hard to get that kind of support... fellow gals to help out and hang with during fire season when our husbands are away.

[delta07]

I'm glad I posted my comments then! If you can, I would really try to plan a trip out the Bend so you can get a feel for the community. I don't think there is a smokejumper base out of Bend. For that, you'll have to go to Prineville. You could always live in Redmond and be between Bend and Prineville if that's what your bf really wants to do.

I know Bluebird mentioned Missoula, MT as well. That was on our short list as well. I love Missoula, have a sister that lives there, and would have picked it to live except that the weather in the winter tends to follow more of the PNW pattern than Bend. If your okay with gloomy skies and cold then it would suit you both well. It's a huge smokejumping community. Lots of work!

And Bluebird, I know what you mean about the support the lifestyle brings. I was a timber person when I worked for the FS, but I do miss that close knit community. You just don't get that with most jobs out there!

[rchguns]

Originally Posted by Meegs

So, here's the long and short of it all. Ive been reading NUMEROUS messages posted on this Oregon thread thing, and I'm thoroughly confused. I'm new to this, and just happend to stumble across this site and was amazed at how much it could potentially help us. But then I think I went over-board and read to much. So, I'm wondering if someone can just narrow it down for me.
So, we are moving from Michigan to Oregon in one year. And its a pretty nerve racking move considering we are leaving a lot behind us here, in hopes for a new future together there. We've settled on Oregon because we will be able to both work in our field, as well as continuing our love for the outdoors.But with such a big move there's a lot to consider so Id appreciate someones view from the inside to help us out.
What we need in a city-
1)In in sales, so therefore probably need to be around a "bigger"city
2.)my boyfriend is a wild land fire fighter (fights forest fires)-so he will need to be around a more rural area
3.)We want to rent a home in a safe,artistic,hip,diverse area, preferably with a downtown/hometown feel to it...
Help!
Thanks in advance!
we greatly appreciate the guidance!

Bend is the best fit for what you are looking for.
You say you are in sales ,what type , that could open other ares.
But you may want to look at Washington or Idaho . Spokane or Boise .

[gaiamarrs]

Hello Meegs,
My husband and I are in the process of moving to Bend and it seems that there are lots of houses available to rent. They range in price from perhaps $750 for a not-so-great small house to super expensive for big, "executive" houses up on Awbrey Butte. We are currently looking at a nice, cozy 3BR, 2BA on the west side (fairly desirable area) for $1100 a month.
Hope that helps...
GM

[ConeyIsBabe]

For affordability I'd say Grants Pass ! check it out

Yuppie & trendy would be Bend

My favorite choice would be Ashland - but most pricy of all

[Meegs]

gaimarrs-
Thanks for the housing info. That does help! Hope to see you in bend!