I'm Tired of Obsessing Over This - I need help! Considering Big Move to Oregon from MO. Portland Area or Southern Oregon (Eugene: best town, insurance)

[Melissa E]

Originally Posted by thehamster

Culturally and politically, Ashland sounds like a good fit for you and your boyfriend. And the climate is far, far better than Portland's. As for housing, it isn't cheap in Portland either.

Yes the climate is one thing keeping that area on our list!! And the scenery is awesome. Didn't get a great first impression of the culture there ... but it was just a first impression, and could definitely change! And it was the setting of the movie Coraline ... lol!! Those parents in that movie seemed like so many we met in Ashland, too, lol!!

[Melissa E]

Originally Posted by thehamster

"If you want quite a bit of sunshine and don't mind the cold in winter, you might seriously consider Bend"

I've lived in Bend for 24 years and trust me, it isn't as sunny as the Chamber of Commerce wants you to believe. Take a look at the charts for sunshine in Bend and Portland on this site and you won't see much difference.

Storms roll in from the Pacific, the clouds dump rain west of the Cascades and snow on the Cascades, and then are mostly dry by the time they reach Eastern Oregon. So we don't get as much precipitation but we still get the clouds.

Bend is mostly cold, gray and dreary in the winter, and the winters are eight months long (mid-October to mid-June). So if climate is a concern to you at all, I would recommend Ashland / Medford over Bend by a mile. My wife and I are looking forward to retiring in that area.

BTW housing is much cheaper in Medford than in Ashland.

Yep I agree for sun the choice for us would be Medford Ashland area for sure!! But it's a sacrifice one way or another. We'll have to see where life takes us. Thanks

[Melissa E]

Originally Posted by JMWS

Also you might think about exploring neighborhoods in Portland that function like small towns. Multnomah Village, Sellwood, and others have the feel of smaller towns but you are close to entertainment and jobs and don't have to spend an hour of your day commuting. SAD is an issue in all of Oregon, I think, because its location on globe makes it have major differences in daylight between summer and winter. Light therapy sometimes helps.

I may look into those. I just want a close community feeling, close to fun things to do and lots of culture, ect.! I will definitely be purchasing a sun lamp when we move to OR!

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Melissa E

I may look into those. I just want a close community feeling, close to fun things to do and lots of culture, ect.! I will definitely be purchasing a sun lamp when we move to OR!

Hi Melissa, just a word of advice. If you think you may have SAD when you move here, don't just purchase a sun lamp. There are special lamps designed just for that problem. I don't think sun lamps help.

I think a doctor has to prescribe SAD lamps. I know you can get them from medical supply places.

[Melissa E]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Hi Melissa, just a word of advice. If you think you may have SAD when you move here, don't just purchase a sun lamp. There are special lamps designed just for that problem. I don't think sun lamps help.

I think a doctor has to prescribe SAD lamps. I know you can get them from medical supply places.

Oh good to know that, thanks.

[bluebird39]

Just a quick note. Glad to hear you may be moving to OR. We are too (again) :-). I lived in S Oregon for many years, and while I don't think I'm THAT affected by SAD, I grew up in the deep South, and my first few winters out there were tough.

That said, the number one thing that helped "lift the fog" for me (no pun intended) was exercise. I think the best thing I did was join the YMCA and start taking regular classes. That was before I was in the hospital field, and I know how unpredictable those schedules can be, but after I started working all of those weird hospital hours, I'd started doing early morning walks at the RV mall before stores opened when I could during the winter. I had a walking buddy or 2 also. I think exercise with other people was incredibly important for beating SAD.

Good luck. You'll do FINE!

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by Melissa E

Yea, we figured LO was way too expensive for us.
I actually love country type of people - farmers are my heroes!! I think farmers are the most awesome people ever. By rednecks I just don't want too many small minded overly religious, ect. You know what I mean...Ashland was definitely not for me, though I did like it's downtown area. I didn't find Ashland diverse at all!! I like Subarus, too, but geez I saw like 60 Subarus when in Ashland! lol, everyone acted the same, it seemed, ... but of course that was just first impressions, and it has some great points, as well. Mike and I were counting to Subarus and laughing so hard!! Thanks for the reply!

I know you think this was a first impression, but having lived here for years, it is accurate. Ashland is a ghetty for exurban wealthy people from San Francisco and LA. A lot of bright and successful folks to be sure, and progressive too, but most made big $$$ in the California real estate bubble. So a whole different culture there than elsewhere in Oregon, except Bend, which is very similar, for the same reasons. You will also probably find housing in Ashland very expensive, unless you have a big inheritance or some family money. Also, there is a definite shortage of young professionals. Plenty of college kids, and retirees but young families have had a hard time buying homes here for about a decade.

On balance, it is safe, artsy, good restaurants, and excellent hiking all around.

[Melissa E]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

I know you think this was a first impression, but having lived here for years, it is accurate. Ashland is a ghetty for exurban wealthy people from San Francisco and LA. A lot of bright and successful folks to be sure, and progressive too, but most made big $$$ in the California real estate bubble. So a whole different culture there than elsewhere in Oregon, except Bend, which is very similar, for the same reasons. You will also probably find housing in Ashland very expensive, unless you have a big inheritance or some family money. Also, there is a definite shortage of young professionals. Plenty of college kids, and retirees but young families have had a hard time buying homes here for about a decade.

On balance, it is safe, artsy, good restaurants, and excellent hiking all around.

Thanks for the reply. I guess first impressions usually are right. I wouldn't mind living in Medford going over to Ashland some days to shop and stuff, but just really isn't for me.

[Hawk J]

Originally Posted by Melissa E

Thanks for the reply. I guess first impressions usually are right. I wouldn't mind living in Medford going over to Ashland some days to shop and stuff, but just really isn't for me.

Come On Up over heer to the mountains Melissa darlin'.

We'll let y'all into our Texas Hold'em Poker games...

[malachai23]

Originally Posted by Melissa E

Oh good to know that, thanks.

Hot cocoa works wonders too

Then again, Hawk's mountain Hold-em games sound like a great way to beat the Oregon winter blues as well! hehe