are these things in the medford area (Portland, Eugene: rent, health insurance)

[princhepesa]

movie theaters
bead stores
shopping mall
guitar stores
organic markets
health food stores
parks (good ones)
festivals
horse stables
anything unique
concerts

thank you !!!!!!!!!!!

[OregonAndy]

You can find all that stuff in the Medford area.
You'll have more selection of organic/health food in Ashland though.
The Jackson Co Expo gets some decent concerts in the summer. Eugene, Bend, and Portland are all within 4.5 hours, they have a greater selection of music.
Festivals & parks, look no further than Ashland. Lithia Park is fantastic, so is Bear Creek Park in Medford.
Medford's got all your typical big box shopping that just about any decent size city has, as well as a few unique places in Jacksonville, Grants Pass, and Ashland.
Lots of horse facilities in the Gold Hill, Eagle Point, Sam's Valley areas.

Let me know if you have any other questions, I lived in Medford and Central Point for 22 years before moving up to Portland.

[princhepesa]

you have been so helpful. thank you. i actually do have a few other questions. my friends and i are all in our early 20's and we really like the feel of that area and are considering moving there this summer. how is this area for younger people and continuing education? compared to florida (daytona beach) the rent there seems way cheaper, but maybe your wages are much lower. i'm still researching, but any extra advice would be great. also if you know anything about health insurance, how is the market there? i am about to start working for a company called United American. my other question would be is there any waldorf schools in this area? i would like to study at and work with these schools. again thank you!!!

[OregonAndy]

To be honest, the Medford area isn't really a hot spot for yound excitement. I'm 27, and it's one of the reasons my wife and I moved up to Portland. Housing is about the same cost as it is in Medford, and there's a lot more to do, but the weather sucks up here compared to Medford. Southern Oregon has 4 distinct seasons, and rains about 50% less than it does in Portland.
We may move back, or possibly to Bend, when we have kids.
If you're convinced Southern Oregon is the place for you, I would say Ashland is your place. Southern Oregon University is there. Lots of cool bars, pubs, coffee shops, and a more hip scene. Think of Ashland as a mini San Francisco/Portland/Seattle.
It is more expensive then Medford too.
I really don't know anything about the insurance or Waldorf Schools, sorry.

Hope this helps.

[princhepesa]

no, you've been so helpful! when my friends and are were researching we liked this area best because of how close it seems to cali, the beach, portland, etc. kind of like right there in the middle of it all. if we estimated right the beach is about an hour away and portland about 3???? it's hard to determine because roads could be different, or traffic bad. also when we were looking up housing it seemed to be cheaper in a place called jacksonville. is this close to ashland? how is this area?

thanks!!

[OregonAndy]

The beach is about 1.5-2 hours away, it's a real nice drive though. You actually dip into California for part of the drive, and go through the Redwoods.
Portland's about 4.5 hours away.
Medford's kinda halfway between:
Portland & Sacramento
Seattle & San Francisco
Vancouver, BC & LA
You can see why the old name for the city was Middleford.

Eugene and Bend are 2.5 - 3 hours away too if you head N & NE.
Reno's about 4-5 hours away if you head SE.

Jacksonville is actually pretty expensive, it's a old mining town about 10 minutes outside Medford, and 15-20 minutes outside Ashland. But like all areas, you can find a deal. The people in Jacsksonville are pretty stuffy, and set in their ways.
I would suggest Phoenix or Talent. Both are about halfway between Medford and Ashland, about 10 minutes to each.

[Kathleenh54]

Oregon Andy, your advice is great. Also, Ashland does have a Waldorf School. If I were a twenty-something again (sigh) the place for me would be Ashland. It's a bit more expensive than Medford or Jacksonville but it's worth it and the reason is that there's more to offer.

Good luck, Princhipessa.

[princhepesa]

Good luck, Princhipessa.[/quote]

thank you so much for your advice. i really appriciate it. looking up info on oregon has me so excited to move! i can't wait. thanks again

[onthefence]

I live outside of Jacksonville close to Medford. I came here from Los Angeles, and honestly, if I weren't running back and forth all the time from L.A. to here, I don't think I could handle it here. But when I return home from the bright lights/big city, I'm glad to be back. As far as night life, Medford is changing. The downtown area is just beginning to experience a revival, and along with that comes the wine bar, tapas bar, organic salad bar, upscale clothing, etc. However, Ashland is definitely the place to be for any kind of respectable night life. Wouldn't want to live in Ashland, though. Used to, and most of the people who moved from Ashland to here feel -- I don't quite know how to express this -- that Ashland is too full of itself and too one-dimensional. There's no ordinary folks in Ashland. They all seem to be into some sort of mystical trip of healing and self-transendence. Also, it seems like every dread from every corner of the planet earth has come to live in Ashland, and a lot of them are living out of their vans and who knows where else. Mind you, if it's night life you want, Ashland is a quick drive from Medford. And compared to L.A., Ashland's night life is downright folksy.
Regarding organics, Medford is scheduled to get the largest co-operatively owned grocery in Oregon in less than one year.
For what it's worth, my two cents...hope they help.

[lvsnow]

Avoid moving to Medford if you can, kind of an arm pit (my opinion). Ashland is great, grew up around there and went Southern Oregon University for a couple of years. Tons of cool people (real hippies still),excellent food, local shops, then there are the chains of course. It's a bit expensive and a little tough to find work but if you have that worked out it's great. Good Luck