Eugene or Vancouver? Need your thoughts (Portland, Corvallis: apartment complex, condos, hotel)

[artichoke63]

Hi Everyone,

I’m a 43-year-old single woman. I have two senior rescue dogs and an orange cat. I work from home over the internet, so I can liver wherever I want. Even my phone lines plug into the internet. If I was sitting in a hotel in Moscow, my clients would never now.

Currently, I’m living in an expensive neighborhood in Los Angeles. It’s a nice neighborhood. It’s safe. Lots of coffee shops, restaurants, shopping nearby. I’ve lived in this city off and on for years, and I’m ready to leave. My rent is very high, and I don’t get much for what I pay. I’m tired of taking my dogs for a walk on the sidewalk. They miss the sights, sounds, and smells of the earth, and so do I.

I’ve been searching all over for a new home to live in. I recently flew to Austin, TX, and Raleigh, NC. Austin is a great town with loads of personality. I was a bit put off by how commercialized the poor little city is becoming with it’s high-rise condos and all those giant apartment complexes. But what I really worry about is the oppressive heat in the summer. I don’t even like the summer in Los Angeles. I like rain, thunderstorms, big trees, cooler weather. That said, I’ve lived in place that are hot. I’m sure I’d survive and adapt.

Raleigh was gorgeous. The trees and countryside tear your heart out. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. But Raleigh was so white and cookie-cutter with nothing but chain restaurants and stores. When I saw that Walmart sign looming over me at a strip mall, I got scared. Aside from that, I’m worried about living in the South. I’ve always lived in liberal areas. I like diversity and open-mindedness. I like organic foods and vegetarians. I think I'd feel lonely in the Bible belt.

Another thing about me, I’m not a wild party person. I spend most of my time alone, reading and writing and taking care of my animals. A walk through the woods is what I love. Trees calm my soul.

Okay, so here's a rundown of what I'm looking at. I’m making a decision for good or bad within the next 30 days.

1) I could move back to Northampton Mass. I lived there before. Loved the countryside, woods, trees, thunderstorms, and all four seasons. Problem was, it wasn’t near any real center of commerce, so you got a lot of dreamers and want to be artists in the town. And there were a lot of crazy people and homeless kids that hung around in the center of town. I think this is because Northampton had a huge mental hospital that closed down years ago. Some of its residence never left town. Also, it's a big lesbian town with a dearth of heterosexual men. I rarely went on a date.

2) I could move to Austin, Texas. It’s affordable, and that’s what I’m looking for. It’s fun, great music scene, but the long hot summers give me pause.

3) Seattle, WA looks like an interesting place. Too expensive though. I could never afford the houses in the area. Portland, OR is also getting pricey for homes. I need an affordable apartment. I'm tired of throwing money away on rent.

4) Eugine, OR: I like the sounds of it. I like the organic foods, hippie culture. Sounds a bit like Northampton, MA. I like that it's near a college too. And I like the liberal attitudes that prevail.

5) Vancouver, WA: Hmmm? What's this? I've heard a few people mention it. I’m starting to look at this as well too. Maybe closer to Canada? affordable?

Thanks everyone. All thoughts/comments welcome.

Cheers,

Artie

[PNW-type-gal]

Vancouver, for the most part, will be the "white" and the "cookie cutter" you didn't like about Raleigh. There are neighborhoods (the downtown area, the Cascade Park area) where that's less true, but for a city this size, Vancouver has a surprising number of very busy WalMarts and plans to build another one. Most of Vancouver is bluish- to white-ish-collar, family oriented and suburbia-oriented.

Eugene and Corvallis are both college towns, with Corvallis being the "hippy dippy"-ier (in the better sense of the word) of the two - college towns often have a more interesting variety of home-grown little shops and eateries and a generally energetic feel.

If you look around the Hawthorne/Mt. Tabor area or the NW/Thurman area, in Portland, you'll find little shops and large parks with dog parks for walking the dog. The rents are higher there, but the quality of life is good, too.

[Pen Cap Chew]

I disagree about Corvallis being the "hippy dippy"-ier over Eugene. Did you really mean to say that? Corvallis is much more conservative than Eugene any day.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by Pen Cap Chew

I disagree about Corvallis being the "hippy dippy"-ier over Eugene. Did you really mean to say that? Corvallis is much more conservative than Eugene any day.

I only spent a few months in each town (doing research work as part of a grad degree) but that was my impression. Corvallis seemed a little looser and Eugene seemed like it could change its name to "Go Ducks! Incorporated."

[Pen Cap Chew]

My sis is moving out of corvallis because of the lack of hippies. She's lived there about 3 years and can't find any hippy folk, just "dumb frat boys" haha. So off to Eugene or Portland for her in a few months when she can quit her job. If you want hippies, Portland and Eugene are really the only choices.

[artichoke63]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Today in Los Angeles, I decided to take my dogs for a walk through Griffith Park to see some trees and running water, such as a little tiny stream in the area. We fought the traffic all the way over there. Parked the car and went for a walk. Suddenly realized my car keys were missing. Spent the next hour retracing my steps asking everyone, "Did you see any car keys." Finally a 9-year-old hispanic girl found them for me. Bless her heart. I was in such a state, I gave her a hug and then pulled out a bunch of dollar bills and stuffed them in her hand. I was ready to cry. I was so stressed out in general. (I found the money actually while on the ground looking for my keys, so I was happy to give this little girl the wad of bills.) So back I went to my car with my dogs in tow. Fought the traffic again all the way home. Wanted to stop at Pinkberry to treat myself to a nice cup of Green Tea Frozen Yogurt, but there was no where to park and the line was coming out the door. Continued home and am now exhausted. What a lot of work just to see a tiny piece of nature. I can't take this anymore. I just want out of Los Angeles. Living here and the cost of living here is so stressful. What kind of life is this?

Anyhow, anymore thought opinions on Eugene? I think I read somewhere that houses can be bought for around $200,000. Do the houses have basements? I love the earthy smell of basements. It reminds me of my childhood. Anyhow, I've just got to keep pushing forward to get out of Los Angeles. Everyone please think good thoughts for me.

P.S. I made a mistake. I meant SPOKANE, WA, not Vancouver. Oh, well. I was reading that Spokan is a very white area too with not to much restaurant diversity...

Happy Easter,

Artie

[Waterlily]

Most of Oregon is pretty white. There's a bit of a mix in some towns.

I like Eugene myself. It's fairly busy with some traffic downtown but nothing like L.A. There's plenty of places for shopping,parks and colleges.

Now the $200,000 probably won't buy a big,nice house. I know it wouldn't most places in western Oregon. You may find something for that price.

[Stonecoldharbours]

White and cookie cutter...LOL! Ok! What does cookie cutter mean excatly? I know what white does! Seriously, I am thinking bout Portland and Vancouver too, but first I need to know what cookie cutter means here, is this bad? We are an causcian family that is laid back, friendly and would like to live in a nice area, low crime and good schools, I would like to know if you live in Vancouer, do you have to get there by going through bad areas? I rather not do that, I rather live where its nice, I been told to stay to the NW and SW areas, but will consider Vancover, but first what is cookie cutter? Thanks!

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by PghPaNative

White and cookie cutter...LOL! Ok! What does cookie cutter mean excatly? I know what white does! Seriously, I am thinking bout Portland and Vancouver too, but first I need to know what cookie cutter means here, is this bad? We are an causcian family that is laid back, friendly and would like to live in a nice area, low crime and good schools, I would like to know if you live in Vancouer, do you have to get there by going through bad areas? I rather not do that, I rather live where its nice, I been told to stay to the NW and SW areas, but will consider Vancover, but first what is cookie cutter? Thanks!

"Cookie cutter" (to me, anyway) means large suburban tracts where the houses look a lot alike (these tends to be suburbs built in the 80s and up) and generic strip malls that you could find in any city anywhere.

For Vancouver, look in the Cascade Park, East County, Hazel Dell and Salmon Creek areas.

[janb]

You like big trees and thunderstorms.... Western OR and WA have very few thunderstorms, and you might hear one or two rumbles per year, and a couple of flashes, but very few spine tingling crackles.

Not sure the east side of PNW is much different, but they do have numerous lightning caused forest fire.



janb