Inconsiderate Californians (Portland, Eugene, Sandy: real estate, tornadoes, vacation)

[freedom]

Originally Posted by PureHapa

Westward, thanks for your insightful post.

I'm yet another Californian who will likely cash out and leave within the next few years. I've taken trips to Florida, Tucson and Phoenix, and Reno so far to check out different areas. FLA and AZ are just too hot - I'm an outdoorsy gal. Reno looks good - I love the western US geography. I'm taking another trip there in 3 weeks.

I'm not worried about how others perceive me - I'm a military brat who has traveled a lot in my life and always made do wherever I was. To me it was an adventure, and the move out of Cali will be another one.

I actually love Cali, but I would like to have more land and more animals. I'm in Los Angeles county at the beach - it will be dang hard to leave that. But there aren't any homes in the county that have even a one-acre lot (well a handful but they are $$$$$$).

I've stayed away from Oregon because of the gloomy weather - but is that ALL areas?

I came from So. Cal. and now live in So. OR., been here 14 yrs. never thought of the weather as being gloomy. We have 4 beautiful seasons, each has a unique aspect to it. There are some years that have more rain than others, some that are very dry- by OR. standards, I don't care to much for the very dry ones, but Mother nature knows best.
Grants Pass where I live has a motto of " Its the Climate" and it truely is.

[Kathleenh54]

I just finished reading a book about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. In some areas of California, unofficial roadblocks were set up to 'discourage' those fleeing its ravages in places like Oklahoma. They were the despised 'Okies'. Just goes to show that the poster who said the whole country is full of people blaming newcomers for problems was onto something. It's part of our history. HAH.

Oregon is a lovely state but don't expect too much in the way of services. Jackson County shut down its libraries a month ago, although there is a referendum coming up in two weeks to see if they can get reopened. Prognosis is grim. Josephine County may have to close its library doors as well. The 'independent' denizens of the state won't tax themselves to make up for the discontinued timber subsidies. Only serious criminals are put in jail. Ashland is overflowing with homeless people.

If you don't need schools, adequate police and fire protection or libraries, come on over, the weather's fine!

[freedom]

Could be time for a sales tax, and cuttin a whole lot a trees. We have alot of trees here.

[swokm]

Speaking from experience, some of those "Oakies" and Texans that moved to another state ended up being pillars of the community in their new towns (ie. my grandparents).

I think it would help if some of those that were ticked off about Californians "ruining" their state would explain exactly what they mean? Just curious. I know sometimes it is just a matter of too much too fast for the local culture to absorb and survive even if the people are willing to adapt to local politics and traditions. I'm from a state of 350,000 people total, so I don't usually get that reaction; there just aren't enough of us moving to matter (though I've moved a lot)!

I could definitely see if permiculture, xeriscaping, and natural habitat were the prevailing goals of one particular community, you might get in a wee bit of trouble telling people how ugly and sloppy their yards are, how they need more garden gnomes, picket fences, tree sculptures, etc. But if you moved there, then I would hope that you'd know better! After all it's still (barely) a free country.

The closest I could come to empathizing is in Wyoming, where 20 years ago most males (and a fair number of females) in the state proudly viewed themselves as a respectful hunter/fisher and careful conservationist of the natural environment. Later, a batch of new arrivals demanded that all hunters hated the environment. That didn't go over too well, the NRA started being involved, and shared view of conservation got lost in the argument. Recently, another energy boom imported a ton of new folks came in that don't like to hunt (though there have apparently been a few small herds just massacred for "sport" and buried with a bulldozer) or care about the environment, nor do they pay taxes as they plan to move away when their job is done. The boom/bust cycle is as old as the country in Wyoming, but the last cycle has changed the politics and priorities of the culture in my part of the state much more quickly than ever before. When the cycle busts, those that slaughtered and littered and broke in my tax-starved community will leave, but some will be entranced and stay to help us fix and pick up and re-grow even as we tighten our belts.

I think you always need new people to come in and help sustain and grow your community. Too many, too fast that don't even want to be there in the first place -- you're in trouble. But if they are willing newcomers, you can "educate" and "encourage" them to do the right thing with local zoning laws, building codes, tax structures, etc. Whatever that "right thing" is for you. Help them be considerate by setting and enforcing the ground rules.

But hating on people just because of their birth location, regardless of what they bring to the community, sounds pretty stupid and self-defeating to me.

[SandymonicaUSA]

My father moved us from the SF Bay Area to SW Portland/Lake Oswego in 1963 and I lived there raising my two children until 1997 when we moved to Miami Beach for my husband's career and then a year later moved to West Los Angeles. I am a free lance designer and can "do my thing" just about anywhere, but being a lover of blue skies and sunshine, although I was unhappy to leave my grown daughter in Portland, i was very happy to leave the endless days of grey skies in Oregon. We live now in Santa Monica and I find that probably because of the nice weather in So Cal. people are much cheerier in general. I have been here in So Cal almost ten years now and have NEVER experienced a case of road rage like I did almost everytime I drove in Florida and frequently in Oregon as well. People here in So Cal DO drive faster but it's because they have things to get done (like I do), but they rarely pull out in front of you causing you to have to slow down like I experienced all the time in Miami Beach, Florida (a driver's nightmare!) and Oregon too. Maybe because so many immigrants here in So Cal are happy to be here instead of where they came from that they are considerate drivers. I hate driving in Oregon and of course, Florida. I am a pretty self sufficient artist/designer, so don't mind having neighbors who keep to themselves most of the time "doing their own thing" like I prefer to do. Most people are cordial when we meet on the elevator or parking garage, etc. I found living in Oregon that people are much more "clicky", preferring to spend time with large groups of friends as opposed to the lifestyle I enjoy one on one with my significant other or a special friend or relative. The big group mentality has never appealed to me. Also because I am petite 5'3", I felt dwarfed by the big people in Oregon towering over me everywhere. In So Cal, I am average or taller than many women and even some men here.

[tiffela74]

Eh??? Im not getting the "big people inOregon towering over me everywhere" at all...now my best friend is 4'11" and most people are taller than her, but shes not freakishly standing out. My mom is 5', my aunt is almost 5'1", im the tall one in the family at 5'4" my tax lady, my realitor, and my daughters teacher are all smaller than me. I often feel, well, tall. Although, I know many people both taller, and smaller than me. I have heard many many complaints about Oregon and Oregonians, but you are the first ive ever heard to be quite so.....creative. hummm. anyhow...

Did you see the article, I know its posted up in the Portland forum, how Oregon ranked last (meaning BEST this time) in road rage in a recent study? This included the major cities across America. I thought that was interesting.

As a note pertaining to the entire thread, I could care less where you came from, thats terrific if you loved your previous state, by all means, Id enjoy to have you share the great things you miss. Its neat to hear about other places. But if youre here now, try to be positive about your new home and new neighbors. Learn about and enjoy all the wonderful things Oregon has to offer. Meet up and make new friends w/the great people who live here. Most of us are chosing to live here, we love it here, and its really irritating to hear someone moan on endlessly about how terrible it is here, how much they hate this or that or them about it here. Those who exagerate and just sound ridiculous with some of their complaints. Yup, youre going to meet up with some rotten people here. Some were born here, some moved her. Some people are just ugly on the inside because of who they are. not much you can do about em, but boy, we also have some great people here too. Oregon isnt some fantasy land. We dont get these incredible deep blue lakes, endless green forests, miles and miles of flowers and clean air for nothing. It rains here. Why yes it does. Much more than it does in, oh, say...Arizona. (which btw, is quite beautiful in its own right IMO) but come on man, just because you cross the border into Oregon, doesnt mean youre coming into an endless shower. A curtain of grey doesnt need to be parted to walk into our state. Im sure many of you have seen pictures of Oregon with *GASP* blue skies. Umm, that does happen more than a day or two here. yes, it does rain quite a bit in the winter, but hey, we're also not snowed in for 5months in a row either!
anyhow, come with a good attitude. If you find its not for you, then by all means, move to your happy place. Everyone has their own picture of paradise. Just come with reasonable expectations, not too many negative comparisons against us, and a friendly smile. you'll do fine. hey, many many many people here in Oregon, sure werent born/raised here. Its a fast growing state, so theres obviously a lot others who like it here.
Best of luck!
Tiffany

[Waterlily]

Well I am 5' 1" and I don't concern myself with how tall everyone else is. I would not move somewhere because people are short or tall. It just doesn't matter. Very often younger people are taller than older people. My daughter is not short at about 5'5" but she is down there in southern California. I guess that must make her tall down there. Ha!

Yes I have to agree with Tiffela74. I don't like people who come on the forums just to complain about where they live and whine. If you don't like where you live then you can move.

I don't mind the rain as it keeps everything fresh and green. It's springtime and there are lots of flowers blooming now.

[CantWait2Bthere]

Yeah....what's the deal with how tall folks are? I have seen some interesting observations noted here but never about 5'3 being tall here in California. That's kinda funny.

[rgates2000]

The funny thing is I'm getting ready to make Oregon a whole lot taller. I'm 6'10", I hope I don't scare anyone off. I don't bite, hard.

[CantWait2Bthere]

Originally Posted by SandymonicaUSA

Also because I am petite 5'3", I felt dwarfed by the big people in Oregon towering over me everywhere. In So Cal, I am average or taller than many women and even some men here.

GOOD NIGHT rgates2000! Are you the real reason Sandymonica left Oregon? Stop trying to scare the short Californias away. I think I can take you on though, at 5'8 you still might tower over me but I have this trusty little sling-shot.

Just kidding. Maybe.