ANYTHING About Oregon (Portland, Eugene, Salem: apartment, rentals, health insurance)

[Jojim]

Dear All,

We are currently living in Florida. I have never liked Florida, but we seem to be 'stuck' here. I want very much to move and all I can think about is Oregon. I've had the honor of getting to live in all sorts of different places in my lifetime, but Florida is my least favorite. We are (very much so) tired of the heat and incredible humidity, hurricanes and whatnot . Anything about Oregon would be most APPRECIATED.
We are not rich, but I think my husband stands a good chance at finding a good job up there. He currently works as a clerk and an interpreter for the Sheriff's department here. I understand that Oregon is fairly expensive, but so is Florida. I've lived here for 15 years now, and I still can rarely afford Disney World, Busch Gardens, etc. I'd be happy to spend the rest of my days exploring the mountains, coasts and forests.
We currently spend about $260.00 a month on our electric bill---for cooling costs. Our bill is that high or higher for about seven months out of the year

Peace All,
The DragonLady.

[kalamos23]

I moved from Orlando to Oregon almost 3 years ago and really enjoy it out here. It does take some getting used to, but it is well worth it. Honestly, I wouldn't live near Portland if you are trying to get away from FL because the weather is pretty bad during the winter and the traffic is horrible. The Willamette Valley (more towards Eugene) is beautiful and the traffic is nothing compared to I-4.

As far as costs go, housing in the valley is very reasonable compared to skyrocketing housing around Portland if you are looking to buy. Renting is about the same, perhaps a little cheaper here.

Groceries will run you about the same from what I can remember of FL prices, although you will find fresher milk and eggs, etc. because Oregon is heavily agricultural, especially in the Valley.

You won't find many houses to rent out here with central a/c so be prepared to buy a window unit (or several!) for the month of August because you will definitely use it! Electricity runs my husband and I between 55 and 75 bucks a month, but we also both work, so we are only using it at night for heating or cooking, etc. We have a 1300 sq. ft. duplex just to give you an idea.

Spring in Oregon is to die for, really - it's absolutely gorgeous and after a rainy winter, is wonderful. Portland area generally gets more rain and cold and will stay dreary most of the winter and into May (and sometimes June!), so if you need the sun, you might steer away from it, especially coming from FL where you are used to more sun. Last winter when I was in Portland, we had 28 days straight of rain in January and I literally forgot it even could be sunny!

The mountains and scenery around Oregon are drop dead gorgeous, and the coast is unlike any that I have seen. It is definitely not a beach like FL, the coast out here is wild and not built up with condos and t-shirt shops ala Daytona. However, you can't really swim in the water, so that's a downer - it's just too cold. It is wonderful to go out to the coast in the summer when it is hot inland, because it is between 10-20 deg. cooler there usually. Newport has Rogue Breweries and my husband and I will go out there during the summer to see the coast and pick up some of their beer - it's apparently amazing, from what he says. I'm not much of a beer drinker so I don't know. Oregon in general has tons of microbreweries and a blossoming wine country between the coast and a little south of Portland.

The one thing that is very different here is that Oregon is really white. I had reverse culture shock coming from a middle class neighborhood where my family was the minority to a place where you almost don't see people of other races. There is more of a melting pot in Salem and Portland however, and it has gotten better but still quite a shock.

Hope all this info helps, let me know if you would like to know more - my husband is born and raised here so what I don't know, he might.

[princhepesa]

hi kalamos23,
i have a few questions for you too. i am a 21 year old woman from daytona and i am looking to possibly move to the oregon area in august for school. my schooling opportunities (as well as job) seem to both be located in eugene and portland.

i am sick of florida for the same reasons as everyone else is, but also because of the lack of culture that i so desperately crave. I am looking to study at the waldorf schools and i am currently studying to sell health insurance (second job to help with the move).

when you mentioned the Willamette Valley it sounded almost perfect.

i'm not too worried about cost of living because i know every place has it's pros and cons. i am looking to move to a place that is both very beautiful and pedestrian friendly, as well diversified culturally.

i would prefer not to live in a city, but possibly right outside of one. i am in love with the sun that is my only sadness about leaving florida, but i love the seasons and i want to be in a place that i can view the changes.

i also love to buy fresh, organic foods which are VERY costly and hard to come by in my area.

any more info you could give me about the valley or any place you might think suitable that would be great!

mostly i am trying to compare areas around or in portland, to areas around or in eugene.

Thank you!!!

[Waterlily]

Anything about Oregon huh? Well I'll just babble on and hope it helps.

Your eletric bill would not be that high here unless your were foolishly wasteful. I've lived more than one place in Oregon and I've never had an eletric bill that high. It is cool here more often than it is hot. In the valleys and the eastern part of the state it'll get hot for just a while. You would probably need some form of air condioning. Here at the coast we don't need any because it does not get hot. Inland areas you may see some snow in winter.

Portland is the largest city in the state and has more suburbs than any other city. Eugene is fairly large with just a few little suburbs. Check out a map to see them all. Cottage Grove is a small city not far from Eugene and a place to consider for small town life.

Salem is the capital of Oregon and close to the same size as Eugene.

I think the best thing about Oregon is the wonderful scenery. There are wild woods,lakes,rivers,deserts,mountains and an ocean.If you decide to come and go exploring in Oregon just keep in mind that some parts of the state are wilderness. Make you have gas in the car and carry supplies.

Come on out and visit the state.

[cornfed]

Good luck on your move and with your studies at the Waldorf School. I have heard excellent things about the school.

I lived in Eugene (three years) and now Portland (eleven years) originally hailing from Iowa and have been in love with Oregon for the entire fourteen years. It is a beautiful state with friendly folks and many incredible landscapes (however it is VERY White). There are many wonderful neighborhoods within Portland's Multnomah county that I can recommend for renting. Sellwood neighborhood, Hawthorne neighborhood, Belmont neighborhood and Alberta neighborhood are in the Southeast and are full of cultural opportunities and are fun areas for students. On the West Side of the river is NW 23rd and John's Landing. You can also check out the Pearl District. Sad to say that all of these places have gotten much more expensive since I moved here in '96 and rents and housing prices have increased significantly however you can still find comfortable, safe and relatively inexpensive housing. Check out the Willamette Week online or Portland Craigslist to get an idea on rentals, etc. You can just Google these names and hopefully that will work for you.

Outside Multnomah county you can check out West Linn, Oregon City and Canby as small and pleasant communities on the East Side. Lake Oswego, Tigard and Tualatin on the West Side are also nice communities. This extends commuting time into the city, however.

Eugene is just the right size that you can really live anywhere and get anywhere relatively easily. I didn't even own a car in Eugene and just biked and bused everywere...which was great.

Check out Organics To You in Portland. (google) My husband and I have subscribed for two years and you have your fresh, delicious organic food delivered right to your door on your set schedule. Weekly, bi-weekly, etc. You can select just a fruit box, a veggie box, or a mixed box and you can tell them which foods you prefer. It is such a time saver and they are exceptional!

Oregon has its gray days...so be prepared...but it more than makes up for the gray and rain with temperate weather and gorgeous landscapes.

Good luck with your decision.
maren

[princhepesa]

thanks for your advice. i am getting more and more excited with all the research that i'm doing. i am narrowing down to eugene or portland because of the teacher training there, but so many people are still recommending ashland and i really like the sound of it there too. i have a few monthes, but very strongly weighing all my pros and cons right now. thanks again!

[mcriz2376]

I live in Klamath Falls and it is unlike the rest of the state that some people are talking about. Oregon is great for a few reasons...great scenery, vast lakes and rivers, and close to just about everything. The state can be broken up into three distinct area's. One being the high desert starting in Bend Oregon, and working down to Klamath Falls and up to La Grande. These area's are very dry and have more severe weather in the winter. Snow is abundant. In the summer time these area's are great. There are lots of places to go hiking, boating, and almost anything that you want to do for summer recreation. Bend is the most expensive, but is one of the largest growing places on the west coast. Klamath Falls and La Grande are more reasonable in housing costs. These area's are very conservitive on a political note. This brings me to the second area of Oregon, the coast. The Oregon coast recieves tons of rain in the winter months but is wonderfull in the summer. My recomendations would be Gold Beach, Seaside or Florence. The winters are filled with tons of dreary conditions though. Im not to sure about prices of lodging there, but sure it is managable. Then you have the valley's. They pretty much start up in Portland and end in Ashland coving both northern and southern Oregon. These city's are based off of I5 and are generally pretty expensive to live in because they are bigger cities. They are generally more liberal. Anywhere you choose will be okay depending on what kind of enviroment you want. I love all of Oregon, and have recruited a few people from the sweltering hot Arizona state to live up here and they like it too. As of teacher training, I am currently gettting ready to go to SOU myself and love the program. I am going to be commuting from Klamath Falls, but find that it will be worth it and many of my friends have graduated from there with there MAT'S and have realy enjoyed it. Hopefully this information has helped!

[Jojim]

Dear All,

Thanks so much for all the cool responses, and 'Kal23', it is awesome to find someone so familiar with Florida. I-4 is still the same---and it still seems to be under construction ETERNALLY between Plant City and Lakeland. We don't venture out too close to Orlando very often, traffic is pretty insane out there. I've been lucky enough to live in all sorts of places in the past thanks to my time and my husband's time in the service. My ONE regret while living in California was NOT ever getting up into Oregon for a visit.

Currently, my whole family is on board with the notion of moving somewhere cooler the majority of the year. Now we just have to pull it off. I'm willing to sell just about everything I own anyway and start over---and I'm no spring chicken! And we're more than okay with living in an apartment, the rent IS cheaper in Oregon from what I've found. Between slightly cheaper rent and a less 'substantial' electric bill, it should really help. The thought of another summer here just makes me sick almost. I DO NOT wish to deal with anymore hurricanes either . Even the 'snowbirds' are leaving because the property taxes and the mandatory homeowner's insurance (which you can lose at ANY time.) is so outrageous. And, yes, I know about those earthquakes and that volcano.

Since we've lived here, my poor husband has been subject to terrible 'allergies' that he never had anywhere else. Anybody else???

Peace All,
the DragonLady

[broker2]

My husband is a police officer here in Grants Pass, Oregon. They currently have job openings -- here is the address for all the law enforcements job openings throughout the state. Good luck! Oregon is a GR8 place to live!
http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/CJIS/adminrules.shtml

[montanagirl]

hello..read this last post of yours..can you tell me or (or can anyone), how bad is the crime in the southern oregon area?
Any areas to watch out for and NOT move to?
I am interested in areas from around Ashland
(yeah, I know Ashland is very expensive but can move a ways out from there)
---to Roseburg and possibly even to Cottage grove Oregon...haven't been there since a child..
--which areas has the most sun?
Medford, statisically seems to have a lil less rain..but more concerned with sunshine than anything..
Thanks to all, I love this web site..seems we all get our queries answered!!
Montanagirl