Appreciating Oregon? (Portland, Salem, Bend: house, unemployment, college)

[Wicked Felina]

After posting about Oregon in this forum, and having to describe the state and Portland, I find myself pleasantly surprised. I've lived here for over 20 years and was becoming complacent about all the natural beauty around us. I guess that's just natural though.

Lately I find myself saying to self, dang, Oregon really is one of the most gorgeous places I've ever lived. Bountiful food, pleasant weather, decent people, goofy tax system (can't be all good)...I've come again to appreciate what we have here.

Now, I've gone through periods where I felt like if I live in a city, I might as well live in NYC. I'm not too keen on the continuing population growth here, but there's simply no getting away from that where ever one lives.

I'm just wondering if there're any of you who have had a turnaround, or maybe who have never misplaced their appreciation for Oregon?

Yes, there are downsides to any state/town/city. I already know what those are.

I'm happy to be here and happy to be able to enjoy where I live -

[Nina-in-Ashland]

Originally Posted by SeeBee

I'm just wondering if there're any of you who have had a turnaround, or maybe who have never misplaced their appreciation for Oregon?

Yes, there are downsides to any state/town/city. I already know what those are.

I'm happy to be here and happy to be able to enjoy where I live -

I'll raise my hand. Moved away from Oregon to Charlotte, NC in Feb. 2007 - now I can't wait to get back out there. I'm originally from the east, and thought moving back would feel more like home to me - ha. I can't stand it here after living in southern OR - I miss that spectacular climate, no humidity, beautiful scenery and mountains, no traffic, and so much to do outdoors. DH and I are so excited to get back out, we're 1 3/4 feet out the door! - just need our house to sell or rent, and we plan to make it back out by October. It's a long drive, but I will be smiling all the way.

[Oregonbeachlover]

Originally Posted by SeeBee

After posting about Oregon in this forum, and having to describe the state and Portland, I find myself pleasantly surprised. I've lived here for over 20 years and was becoming complacent about all the natural beauty around us. I guess that's just natural though.

Lately I find myself saying to self, dang, Oregon really is one of the most gorgeous places I've ever lived. Bountiful food, pleasant weather, decent people, goofy tax system (can't be all good)...I've come again to appreciate what we have here.

Now, I've gone through periods where I felt like if I live in a city, I might as well live in NYC. I'm not too keen on the continuing population growth here, but there's simply no getting away from that where ever one lives.

I'm just wondering if there're any of you who have had a turnaround, or maybe who have never misplaced their appreciation for Oregon?

Yes, there are downsides to any state/town/city. I already know what those are.

I'm happy to be here and happy to be able to enjoy where I live -

YES!!!! I grew up in California and when I go back, I cannot wait to get home to Oregon. I think Oregon is the most beautiful state. I live on the coast now, and this is my heaven no matter what other people say... the ocean on one side, hills, mountains, green trees on the other side...it is so beautiful! Everywhere I look I see beauty. I used to live in the country outside of Salem and always thought "it is so beautiful with ALL THE SHADES OF GREEN!" Some people get complacent...it is easy to do when you see the beauty day after day, but I try not to. We are so blessed!!

[morningstar77]

Yes, it's a beautiful state. And I'm sure many of us will miss it dearly when we have to move out because we can no longer survive here. Our unemployment figures are dismal. How are many going to make? You can't live on beauty alone.
We love our unspoiled beaches the most. And if we have to move, I'll just be heartbroken.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by morningstar77

Yes, it's a beautiful state. And I'm sure many of us will miss it dearly when we have to move out because we can no longer survive here. Our unemployment figures are dismal. How are many going to make? You can't live on beauty alone.
We love our unspoiled beaches the most. And if we have to move, I'll just be heartbroken.

Agree 10 times over. Also the fact that if one is a senior citizen in-patient hospice care, living facilities and other amenities offered by other cities to seniors are either not available here or in very short supply. I am not ready for those yet but at age 63 I have to be thinking about them.

Oregon and all its beauty is for young people able to earn the large sums of money it takes to survive here.

I will miss the beauty but as moringstar says "You can't live on beauty alone."

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by SeeBee

Yes, there are downsides to any state/town/city. I already know what those are.

Sorry folks, I thought this covered it. My point is not that it takes a lot of money to live here, but that we are surrounded by astonishingly beautiful scenery.

My concerns about staying here are much the same as yours, Minervah. But that will not stop me from appreciating the view of Mt. Hood when I'm driving down Columbia Blvd, or driving across the Glenn Jackson and appreciating the Gorge for its natural beauty.

And if I move, by choice or not, I believe that I will find beauty in the desert or a large city or wherever. I'd at least hope to continue appreciating being able to enjoy life wherever I land. Lord, please just don't land me in Nebraska [too flat!] ~

[HonuMan]

I think it's natural to start to take for granted what you're used to. I've lived in Oregon for 12 years, and I still sometimes am amazed at how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful state. I never felt that about my previous 25 years in Atlanta. I didn't hate Atlanta or Georgia--I just never felt connected to the area. I need to be surrounded by spectacular natural beauty, and Georgia, to me, is merely pretty.

Anyway, I'm periodically tempted to try living somewhere else, just for a change of pace. I don't expect any place to be better than Oregon, just different. I had a potential job opportunity in NYC a couple years ago, and was excited by the chance to live there for a few years, but as it got closer, I started thinking that I didn't really want to leave Oregon and the lifestyle I have here. Fortunately, the job position didn't get funded and was canceled, so I didn't have to make a decision on whether to take it. My wife is from Hawaii, and we'd both like to retire there if it's financially possible, but if it isn't, we're more than happy to stay here and continue appreciating Oregon.

[mmcguy]

.... the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence....

I moved from Oregon to Alaska when I was young, then moved back to Oregon for college. I then moved back to Alaska for work, then to Washington State for more work (but spend vacations every year in Portland and on the Oregon coast). I will be moving back to Oregon (Bend area ) when I retire in just a few years).

The grass was ALWAYS greener, and I just kept coming back to my Oregon.

[dsh1127]

I love it here, and have never stopped appreciating it! I have not lived here all my life, but moved here in 1990. I fell in love with this state the first time I drove through on a trip to Seattle. Within 1 year I moved here! My dh did grow up here, moved away for a year when he was about 18, but ended up back where he belongs!

I remember visiting my mom in Arizona, and her talking about enjoying the "mountain" behind her house - - - - - Sorry, but this mountain was a dirt hill in comparison to our mountains! I agreed with her about her "mountain" and quietly giggled to myself later - and was (again) very glad that I lived in Oregon!!

[mdvaden]

It's not by accident that my business website includes up to 500 photos in albums from around Oregon, and the perimeter.

Ocean, mountains, forests, rivers, fields, waterfalls - all within minutes to hours.