Inconsiderate Californians (Portland, Phoenix: home, buy, public school)

[freedom]

Originally Posted by artichoke63

I heard someone say once that Oregonians were "insular and odd." He said that many people in OR have never left the state. It's not my opinion and I'm not sure what he meant by it, but maybe others have thoughts?

ARtie

Well, seeing as most Oregonians are Californians, they may not visit California as much, but Nevada, Arizona, and Utah are pretty well traveled.
As well, I think that PDX would not be thriving if no one left Oregon.

[Westward]

CantWait2Bthere, Oregon is so incredibly beautiful. It's hard to imagine it being anything but paradise. But I'd heard from a relative that OR had a drug problem, so I may have been looking for it rather than just noticing the usual.

Eugene was probably where I noticed the most people who looked like they were having a problem. I'm sure there are plenty of worse places in CA, but I was trying to make a point about how people perceive things in CA as bad, when there are alternate problems in other states.

I'm glad there are lots of Californians in OR. If I ever decide to move there, I'll be among open-minded, accepting people who can think for themselves.

[rouljack]

I live in southern Oregon and I don't know about the others that have posted here, but where I live most people are welcoming and friendly. Sure they might give you a once over, but they'll still stop for a stranger with a flat tire. Just because we aren't making 6 figure incomes doesn't mean that we aren't giving. This winter we had people actually inviting strangers into their homes when the passes were closed and all the hotels were filled up. How's that for friendliness?

[Bart_3500]

Well, this is my first post on this site. I live in the high desert of So Calif. I also own property outside of Bend, Oregon. I have plans on move there after I retire here in 254 more days (but who's counting ;-)
From my prospective, I'm looking forward to moving to Oregon and away from California. Being out in the desert, I'm not a typical coastal Californian. I was raised in the Long Beach/Lakewood area, but have been displaced from there for so many years that it doesn't matter. From what I've seen of Oregon, I like it. Oregon's high desert is about the same as Victorville, except it's somewhat cooler (by 20 degrees). My son lives in Cornielus and I think he's growing webbed feet. My out door activities and hobbies keep me away from there for the most part.
I found this site while looking for construction costs in the Bend area.
I wouldn't mind staying in the Victorville area except that the grow is such that the infrastructure is completely overloaded. People are getting too pushy. There are other reasons but I'll keep them to myself as I don't want to offend on my first posting here. I just hope that the outlaying areas of Bend will get me back to the simplier, quieter lifestyle.
Nice site here, I'll come back a visit it often.
By the way, with the water shortages down here, those clean cars and nice yards may turn to dirty cars and stone decorations.

[furyu]

I lived in Boston, NYC, SF and SoCal, now living along the southern coast of Oregon. People are pretty much the same, wherever you go; that is to say: different. Some are snobby, some are nice, some are a strange combination of both! You can't judge an entire area by the type of person that lives there because there are always exceptions. Even OregonWannaBe admitted that generality. I do agree with OregonWannaBe, though, that the overall mentality of Southern Californians is quite self-centered and I'd even go so far as to say their life style is highly artificial. Phoney. I used to call it the DisneyLand Mentality, where everything has to be just so perfect, fairy tale like, regardless of its monetary or environmental cost. Unfortunately, you will find people like that in Oregon but not en masse.

What I'm discovering though, strangely, is that we seem to attract that kind of person whom we dislike. I thought that by moving to this small rural town I'd rid myself of annoying people (those who are superficial, overbearing, obstinate, narrow-minded, intolerant, ignorant, etc., etc.). Guess what? They've here too! And they know where I live...

I've found the axiom/trite saying, "be the change you want to see" to be a helpful mantra during those moments I feel like strangling one of them.

And there are some wonderful people too, so it all balances out in the end.

Regarding the meth-problem: it exists, more here than down south, or maybe it's just more noticeable here. True too, meth does come up via I-5 from down south, somewhere, originating in Mexico. But don't forget that Oregon is the first and currently only state to make formerly OTC antihistamines and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine available only by prescription as of this year. That tells you the kind of meth problem Oregon has. In California these 'drugs' are behind the counter (BTC) now, and you have to show two forms of I.D. and swear you're not a meth-head prior to being given a ten-pill pack for $20, but at least you can still get it sort of spur of the moment. (I have allergies so I know all this from a "pure" but inconvenienced point of view.)

The meth problem is definitely a socioeconomic based problem. With exceptions, most meth-heads are in the lower stratum of our society.

[Westward]

I'm curious. Those of you who think that Californians are self-centered and living on a cloud, can you please tell me what city/county your experience comes from?

I lived in S.CA for a very long time, mostly around NW LA or farther out , and I never knew anyone but hard-working, decent people. Kids were always down to earth, even in ******** Village, neighbors fairly decent (except the ones from down under), and I can't say I ever knew anyone that hyped up about their clothes, looks, cars or anything even remotely like what I hear on this site. Sure there was an odd person here and there that thought his/her car was all that, but that doesn't mean that person thought that way of his/her self.

I've been in GA for 15 years, and the people here are quite pretentious compared to Californians. The house, the car, the clothes.... People wave to you occasionally on the road because they think you might be one of their n'bors, but back at the farm, they're talking about who slept with who at church, why so and so is a sinner, and who's going to be an outcast in the n'hood for being different. Because they're simply not as tolerant as CA, about anything. Except "those poor illegals" of course.

So, which Californians are you referring to?

[furyu]

With the exception of L.A.!

No, I can't speak to the calibre of people in L.A. but it's nice to hear from someone who does have a good opinion of those who reside there.

My experience was in San Diego and Orange County. The nicest people I met from those areas were the Mexicans. They were the down to earth hard working people. My neighbors in a middle-to-upper class neighbor in OC were pretty darn snooty for the most part, with exceptions of course (there are always exceptions).

And I wasn't just speaking of individual arrogance or attitudes of superiority, it's more the overall ambience created by the lifestyles of those who live there. To begin with, it's audacious for anyone in Southern California to cultivate large ultra-green weedless lawns yet the majority of the people who have homes in SoCal have these lawns (massive or not) that they water, and water, and water. SoCal gets 5-9" of rain in a good year and good years happen about once every decade. My neighbors not only watered their green lawns and other lavish plants on a daily, sometimes twice-daily, basis, but their driveways and GUTTERS too.

Another thing about the 'natural life' in SoCal: Everything has to be 'manicured' to look pretty. That included evergreen trees that were pruned from the inside out (it's called 'lacing,' I think)and because of this ridiculous pruning process, these trees would usually die within a decade. During their short life span most yellow and shed their needles. But all this manicuring, mowing, trimming and pruning keeps the illegal aliens employed.

They can never make up their minds either, about which trees to grow. Eucalyptus were all the rage for decades, then suddenly, poof! They all had to be cut down. Non-native. Well, shoot, only sage brush and hardy weeds are native! Ice plant... same thing: dug up the entire coast line to rid it of previously planted ice plant that thwarts errosion. Busy-work, I guess. Keeps massive government thriving.

Most of SoCal, with the exception of LA, is ultra-conservative politically.

I much prefer the natural environment that truly exists here in Oregon. What's left of it, that is.

So, Georgia... what about all the southern hospitality we hear about? It is all just a PR ruse?

[freedom]

Furyu,
there is 95% natural environment left in Oregon. Mans footprint is only 5%

[Pen Cap Chew]

I'm thinking 5% natural environment left in Oregon. Man's footprint is 95%. Get in a helicopter and look down.

[freedom]

Helicopters crash to much, Google earth is a much better indicator of where man's feet are and have been.

BTW, man is natural. We have needs, and this planet was built for us to enjoy and use. The builder can make more if we disrespect beyond the planets ability to recover. Man's nukes will most likely do this.
Not harvesting trees, building homes, freeways, damns, etc.... very small percentage of impact, compared to the upkeep, comfort and happiness they bring to man.