Thinking of moving to Oregon Coast (Portland, Coos Bay: apartments, house, to buy)

[aaammmyyy]

Originally Posted by Ingamar1960

Husband works for Wal Mart, so looking in the Coos Bay or Newport areas, which would be better for a child that loves to dance, and sing, and is in band? We have some of it where we now live in California, but it is limited, and we are in an area of California that requires a lot of driving to anything cultural and is just a little bit too small for us, we don't want a huge city, but just a place with more things to do in a smaller radius, like not having to drive 35-40 miles to go shopping or to a theater. Also, if anyone knows what the pay rate is in those areas at Wal Mart? My husband is a Lead Floor Maintenance. Oh, by the way, when I was really little, about 4, I lived in the Willamette Valley on a cherry farm, Thankyou so much!

The oregon coast is great, but there is alot of rain. The forests are great!

[esoteric counsel]

Hello. This is my first post, although I've been reading the various ideas and responses for the past few days. My partner and I are seriously considering moving away from Arizona to Oregon, possibly the coast, in the next few years. But, I've been doing some research and am concerned about the economy. We work as professional mental health/behavioral health counselors. What is the atmosphere regarding counselors in Oregon? (In Arizona they are not too friendly). Would a private counseling practice be well received in one of the northern coastal towns? I've read that Lincoln City and Astoria are nice. And if so, would we be able to make a living or, is there not a welcoming environment for this type of business? Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.

[RockyMtnr]

I live in Lincoln City. I've been up and down the coast a bit - moved here Feb 07.
There seems to be no coastal "Mecca" - just a series of small towns of different sizes ... most too small for competition except in the very basic restaurant or motel businesses. While you might land a position with a county, city or regional agency it strikes me that there are not enough people who actually live at the coast from which to build a private practice in any competitive market. There are a lot of tourists - but from what I've seen, all the towns are homey, small towns with little or nothing going on except the antique store and bar/seafood house.
However ... they no longer have any "State Hospitals" in Oregon ... oughta be able to scare up a few good clients somewhere!
Also, it's older at the coast. Older folks. Retirement paradise. What base you have to draw from isn't planning on moving off somewhere else, for the most part.

[cvanripe10]

I read the coast rains -all the time-. Maybe a break in july or august but for the rest of the year, non stop gloom. Some people might like that. I like gloom, but not all the time. I could be wrong though, but that's what i've read.

I live in Jersey atm and want to move to Oregon. At first i wanted to live on the coast. Then i thought about it. Here in Jersey, no one lives on the shore. But everyyonee goes there in the summer. It's typically a vacation spot.

So after reading these forums and about Oregon, i decided the coast isn't somewhere to live but to vacation. If i lived in Oregon i'd probably live in Bend and vacation on the coast in the summer.

[tiffela74]

lol....well, Ive been having to water my lawn, cuz it just hasnt rained in quite awhile. I know the new neighbors have someone thats been coming to water their fruit trees and shrubs so they didnt all die from lack of water before they completed their move from Cali. Its been quite lovely here these last several months. Definate t-shirt weather. Blue and lightly breezy. So as for the nonstop gloom...well, its not true. BUT I know there are some people who do NOT live on the coast like I do, that say it rains here all the time. How they would know since they dont live here Im not sure...Hummmmmmm.......
anyhow, Bend is beautiful...my folks are moving there. They just get the added bennie that they can vacation on the coast and see the grandkids at the same time.
Best of luck to you!
Tiffany

[cvanripe10]

Where do you live on the coast??? Astoria?? Goonies was a great movie.

[tiffela74]

Im down in Coos Bay....I loved Goonies too.
dont get me wrong, it does rain here, in the winter time, it rains quite a bit, but at least we're never snowed it! lol In the winter months, the rain is here for a good part of the time! There are days w/o, sometimes a few in a row. lol but we have months of it where it doesnt rain. I have a dead flowerbasket in my front yard to prove it...i forgot to water that one! oops. anyhow, I think we've got til roundbouts Nov. then winter will move in. Personally, Im gonna make the most of the beautiful weather and lack of tourists and spend some more time out on the beaches! Love it when I dont have to share em! lol j/k.
Tiffany

[seashelly]

(I find it kinda funny how people in general over-react to "it rains ALL the time" along the Coast when what I find more uncomfortable is the wind.) By the way, another bright sunny day today so I'm headed over to the beach for a few hours. When you live along the Coast, who needs gyms. Climb a dune, walk the beaches for miles, gather pounds pretty rocks along the way for weights, cast out a rod in the surf, fly a kite, skimmer board and meet the most interesting people in the process.

[Kathleenh54]

We found a solution to wanting to be on the coast for part of the year but not wanting to live through gloomy winters - we are buying a camper. We'll take it to an RV resort where we can stay for weeks at a time if we want. Then, when we don't like the weather anymore, we can go home to Ashland where it's usually sunny.

[Waterlily]

I spent about an hour watering my yard the evening. That's because it's been so dry here. It is nice to still have sunny days without so many tourists. I enjoy this time of year.
Owning an RV would let you live two places so that would be alright. I hope you enjoy camping on the coast Kathleen. The big storms usually start up in Nov.