Moving from Southern California to Oregon (Portland, Beaverton: preschool, allergies, live)

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by Farmergrl

MY GOODBYES: I'm through with traffic, cutting eachother off, not using blinkers to switch lanes. Malls, fast food, WalMart. Kids who think they're the parent, bossy toddlers, scary teens. Spongy nectarines, musty tomatoes, cardboard fruits, limp vegys. Hormone laden beef, milk, eggs, women. Designer dogs, their clothing, bags, rinestone collars. Making wrinkles, sags, laughlines, small chests disappear. Concrete, stucco, asphalt, fake rocks, plastic grass. Zero lot lines, HOAs, city ordinances, no parking your RV on your own driveway. Neighbors who call the City Code Enforcer, Animal Control and police on you daily because-dammit- He pays taxes and demands to live in a Utopian, designer neighborhood! 5x3 plot of land for a "garden", tree trimming codes, fireplace emission laws, BBQ emission laws. Funny looks when you purchase bullets, seeds, a bible, boots. NOT having to buy bottled water, pool chemicals, upgraded landscaping every year, designer anything. G O O D B Y E .

PLEASE!! I gotta get oughta here!

Which towns shall I explore/fall in love with?

My thanks to all Oregonians; native or not, who share your precious resource with any one who chooses.

I know that you already know this, but much of what you want to say goodbye to is a part of city life, and a lot of it is part of every-day life anywhere these days. You won't get away from Wal-Mart without moving either to a town too small for one or a community that actively opposes them, which is likely to be a little left-wing for your tastes.

Depending on what you want for weather/size of city:
East side: Prineville, Pendelton, Tri-Cities, La Grande, Burns, Canyon City, Klamath Falls, Lakeview.
West side: Applegate Valley, smaller towns in the Willamette Valley

[Farmergrl]

Thanks for your help all! We are planning a drive up the 5.
When you say East & West sides, is that because of the mountains I see on the map? My map won't load al the way so I can't see the name of the range. Isn't one side better weather or something? I heard someone say something about the "Banana Belt" area of Oregon (one for Idaho, too!) What is that? Google pulls up Gold Beach...

Should we divert to the coast at Gold Beach off the 5 along the 101? Or is it pricey?

I dont mind rain and/or a bit of snow in the Winter, I don't like it too much all Summer, though. I'll take it to get the green I crave!!

[seahawksweetie]

Farmergrl-

I am with you on leaving So Cal. I'm originally from OK, grew up on a 1/2 acre garden, and totally understand the need for all 4 seasons. Especially how you described summer changing into fall.

We haven't decided on the Portland or Seattle area yet, but we are definitely through with SoCal.

Good luck to you on your pursuit of a little slice of heaven.

[jc4christ]

I grew up in So cal and have been in Medford for 5 yrs. I would definitely recommend East Medford if your comming from So Cal. I had a hard time at first because of the shopping or lack there of, but I really miss the beach!! The rain is not so bad, but what they dont tell you in the online city profiles is that even though we get less rain then Portland, there is a cloud cover that comes in the winter and spring and sometimes we don't see the sun for weeks!!! That has been very hard for me. However, it has been worth the move because we have definitelty had a better quality of life and this is an AWESOME place to raise kids!!!! Anyway we are headed to the East Coast and putting our East Medford house up for sale in September. We are located in the best part of town, best schools and on a cul de sac. Our house is about 2200 sq ft, remodeled 3 bedroom 2 ba W/an office off the master bedroom for 340k. We need to move near the beach and So cal is too expensive for us so were headed back East. Let me know if your interested.

[Jesuslovr]

I have lived in the Rogue Valley for several years now. It is a great place to live. The river is right there, the coast is a couple hours away. Mt Ashland and Mt Shasta nearby for skiing, several lakes and a small town feeling. I have moved away a couple of times once to Idaho and to Southern California. I missed it here too much. My favorite areas to live are Central Point just a few minutes from Medford, as well as Talent. Ashland is more expensive, but beautiful. Another option is just 20 minutes from Ashland in California. Both Hornbrook and Yreka are affordable and near the river and lakes. You wouldn't have to change the state you reside in, but still would be close to work.

[turnerfamily]

Originally Posted by Farmergrl

Thanks for your help all! We are planning a drive up the 5.
When you say East & West sides, is that because of the mountains I see on the map? My map won't load al the way so I can't see the name of the range. Isn't one side better weather or something? I heard someone say something about the "Banana Belt" area of Oregon (one for Idaho, too!) What is that? Google pulls up Gold Beach...

Should we divert to the coast at Gold Beach off the 5 along the 101? Or is it pricey?

I dont mind rain and/or a bit of snow in the Winter, I don't like it too much all Summer, though. I'll take it to get the green I crave!!

I've always concidered Brookings to be the "Banana Belt" due to the fact that it can be alot warmer than it's northern neighbors(8-10 degrees at times).But Gold beach is the first city to the north.

[genocide]

I just wanted to say a few things.
Let me tell you a few things that I have learned in my life, and maybe someone will benefit from it and stop arguing over an internet message board thread. Someone opened this thread asking a simple question, on where to move in Oregon, and you all have turned a simple answer into a confusing 3 ring circus. First of all, Los Angeles, Eugene, New York City, and some un-named no-mans-town are one in the same. They are places to live with homes and businesses and politics. All places are different. They all have different amounts of (and ideas for the best kind of) money, people, political laws and superiors, homes and real-estate costs... etcetera, etcetera...
Now, why is it that it matters who comes from where and what they bring with them to anywhere? You all have your own problems, alike or indifferent from these people you have never met but seem to have such big opinions about. WHO FREAKIN CARES? jeez... I am packing up my family as I write this and we are moving to Springfield tomorrow, and I checked this website the same as many other people have, to figure out more about where I am moving my family to. I have spent many of my days all around Oregon, and I was born and raised in California, and I just moved back from Tennessee, and what I found out was... its all the same, but Oregon is more beautiful than many other places in the US, and much more inexpensive, and it HAS the luxury of 4 seasons (instead of 95 degrees on x-mas day, and decorated palm...not pine... trees down the pch... lame) and it has everything everywhere else has all packed into one place. Its a growing trend for a reason, and there will be a lot more coming... I would learn to see the positives in it if I were you.
When I first came to Oregon as a professional snowboarder, I naturally discovered Bend first, and still, Mt. Bachelor is one of my favorite mountains in the country. I have spread elsewhere in looks of where I would love to live, and I would love it if when I came this weekend, people were more like they were all the other times I came out, and a lot less like you all. Jeez, stop it already.


****To let you all know that are here to find out some answers to real questions about Oregon... id google another website if I were you and forget about this one... there are not REAL oregonians that are complaining like these people do.... REAL oregonians are actually quite friendly, and have small town charm with big city heads on their shoulders. I dont know what is wrong with these people.****

[Saleen]

Just thought I would add my two cents.
I am not a 'Native Oregonian' but I have never been happier than where I am now in my small little town in NE Oregon. And yes...I DO live in the same small town that AeroAngel professes to hate so much. Statistics show that only 27.3% of the population of Irrigon is Hispanic, while 69.7% is White/non-hispanic. Frankly, I resent the allegations made about everyone being hicks, lowlifes, druggies, and everything else she called the residents of Irrigon, and I heartily agree...if she doesn't like Irrigon...MOVE! Her husband may have to work here, but that doesn't mean she has to stay. I know people who have divorced for less.

I will tell you something about the people of Irrigon and the surrounding area that AeroAngel doesn't know. When disaster and tragedy struck my life recently...who stepped up to help me? The good people of Irrigon and the surround areas of Hermiston, Umatilla, Boardman and Stanfield. I have been made to feel more welcome and even loved than I ever did in the town I grew up in (which by the way was NOT in California, and I have nothing against Californians, either.) and inundated with their caring, love and generosity!

People respond to what you give to them. If you are nice, courteous, generous and good, people generally will respond in kind. I think that AeroAngel is just receiving what she has cultivated. Look to the good and you just might find it. Look for the bad, and you will find that, too, but if you aren't even willing to make the effort, then expect that from those you interact with, too.

I love Irrigon, and the people here, and never want to leave. It IS my home, and always will be.

~Saleen

P.S. The scenery, the sunsets and sunrises are just as awesome as the people!

[Rosa canina]

Actually...

[quote]****To let you all know that are here to find out some answers to real questions about Oregon... id google another website if I were you and forget about this one... there are not REAL oregonians that are complaining like these people do.... REAL oregonians are actually quite friendly, and have small town charm with big city heads on their shoulders. I dont know what is wrong with these people.****[quote]

No, we are not. We are people and we're pretty much the same everywhere. Some of us are naturally introspective and non-outgoing and some of us can be friendly to a fault, and everything in between. Just like people everywhere.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by Saleen

I love Irrigon, and the people here, and never want to leave. It IS my home, and always will be.

Great pheasant hunting along the Columbia near Irrigon, interspersed with some potholing for ducks.