USCG is taking us from TX to Coos Bay!! Advice? (Portland: houses, transfer)

[texasRN]

My husband and I just got orders that we are moving from Corpus Christi, TX to Coos Bay, OR. I have never lived anywhere else but TX and I'm really nervous! I am a pediatric nurse and was wondering what the need is for nurses in Coos Bay?? Does anyone know that avg salary for nurses in Coos Bay? I'm 23 and he is 26, how is the night life/young crowd? Are we in for a big shock once winter rolls around?? (Texas=60 degree winters!!) Any advice on ANYTHING that involves Coos Bay would be a great help!!
Thanks!

[seashelly]

No problems. Your extended Coast Guard family will look after you in the community. Relax and enjoy the adventure.

[Terryj]

You'll find the weather isn't anything like Corpus Christi, much cooler. Winter storms are very common on the Oregon coast, but don't let that deter you from enjoying it. In my opinion, the Oregon has the most beautiful coast line of any state. I'm sure your new Coast Guard family will fill you in on the night life in Coos Bay. Enjoy the adventure, you might find you like Oregon much better than Texas, just don't expect Oregon to be Texas. Welcome to Oregon.

[PNW-type-gal]

The coast there is beautiful and rugged - cliffs, dunes, amazing rockscapes. The downside is that the water is very cold and you don't have the long shallow beaches.

I have a special place in my heart for Shore Acres, just south of Coos Bay - it's where a lot of the geology programs take undergraduates to torment them about learning to map sedimentary features.

[esya]

I wish someone would transfer ME to Coos Bay! It will help you enjoy both places more.

[Waterlily]

I moved to this area because I liked it. There's nothing to be scared about. It will be a smaller city than you are used to, but the people are friendly. There is some demand for nurses. There is a hospital, and medical center. The pay would depend on your qualifications but I've heard the pay is good for a RN nurse. Good luck with your move, and enjoy the scenery!

[Wicked Felina]

Hi, txRN

I live in Portland, so I don't have any first hand knowledge of the Coos Bay area, other than driving through it on Hwy 101.

I thought this link looked interesting. They've got a neat inter-active map showing med. facilities, coffee houses, markets -- well, a whole lot!

Oregon Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Directory

Also, I found this thread - from 2007! - with lots of varying opinions, of course. One poster who had relevant comments as far as activities goes is Tiffela. I believe she and her hubby were near your ages when they moved to Coos Bay. And they love it there!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/orego...ay-area-4.html

I was around your age when I moved to Oregon from a huge city. I guess you could call it a 'culture adjustment', but I didn't expect anything to be the same, so I had no negative feelings about it. Like others have said, be open to the adventure of exploring a new part of our country, because it is gorgeous! I'm sure you'll be fine ~

PS: No one's addressed the "nightlife/young crowd" issue. Tiffela, anything good to say????

[Nell Plotts]

Here is a link to Coos Bay Hospital openings: https://jobs.bayareahospital.org/Scr...bOpenings.aspx

If you have worked in a hospital before you know that often you need to start in the department with an opening and transfer later.

[seashelly]

Originally Posted by SeeBee

Hi, txRN

I live in Portland, so I don't have any first hand knowledge of the Coos Bay area, other than driving through it on Hwy 101. .......

.......
PS: No one's addressed the "nightlife/young crowd" issue. Tiffela, anything good to say????

Maybe probably, because we're all trying to ask in a very nice way. "What's 'Night Life'?!?"...lol. We are a very small close community area with always something to do it's just maybe not at night. Might take some adjusting. It's all about priorities. You'll love the Bay Area.

[tiffela74]

lol...awwwww...Im feelin LOVED!!!
Night life eh? .....uh......uh......hehe?? To be honest, even coming from living before in a larger community (Tigard, Beaverton.. and a few other places in Oregon) we have never been much on going out and partying or anything like that. So I dont feel deprived. Theres really not a lot of club activities or such around here, at least sure not that I know of! There is always the casino, its open 24/7 and typically has something or another going on. We prefer more to either spend time as a family, or get togethers w/friends. I know a few of the coastie families, they are for the most part, a friendly and open group. If youve got kids, I know they have some playgroups going on, mingling in w/us lifers here in CB.
My family and I are really never bored here. Theres pretty much always something to do. Might not be what youd find in a big city!! but we enjoy it. And before you get the thoughts that its like one long camping trip out here, dont worry. I am probably the biggest Anti-Camping person you'll ever come across and I am in bliss living here. One the occasions where I have an overwhelming shopping craving, I'll head to Lincoln City to the outlet malls, or to Eugene, where theres pretty much everything. We have terrific unique stuff that goes on here, like one of my all time favs, the BlackBerry festival! hooorrray for that! All these awesome little booths that line the street in a street fair, selling everything from blackberry lotions to blackberry fudge. And all locally made. Of course, theres stuff too that has nothing to do w/blackberries, just fun and funky items.
Winter is a rollercoaster. We just had the most glorious January!!! I think I wore a sweatshirt 2x in the month. I take my kids out to the busstop every day, and was in need of an umbrella, ONCE. The, come Feb. once we were all spoiled, it snowed the other afternoon. Only for about 2 hrs, and it didnt stick, but it was kinda weird. My mom always freaks out that we're gonna freeze out here, and bought the whole family Columbia jackets in the Titanium line. In the last 5 1/2 yrs we've only used em a handful of times. It does rain here, but its not a constant downpour. Thats such a myth! we can go for weeks w/o a single drop. Then of course, one day, the heavens open up and it pours off and on for most of the day. We times where it does rain, every day, but maybe only for an hour here, or 20min. there. Fog, yes, but mostly only on the bay. It can be a fogbank along Cape Arago Hwy and you drive up 1/2 amile inland, and its clear. I know, i used to live right on the bay on CapeArago, and when going into town for something, it would be clear a few block inland. Of course, it usually burned off by midmorning but there it is. If youre interested, theres a webcam right on the bay, its under coosbaywebcam.com I think just google coos bay webcam. You'll find it. and some links to various stuff around here. TheWorldlink is our newspaper, and kcby is the newstation. Do you have kids? I can sure help out on that end for stuff for them. anyhow, go ahead and ask away, I'll be more than happy to help as i can.
btw, i wasnt ignoring your posts or anything, i was gone since friday. Just got back.