Californians who've relocated to Oregon - weigh in (Eugene, Lake Oswego: mortgage, loans)

[snuggarelli]

hey Larry - thanks for the details on the seasons. Newport RI has a freezing wind too since it was on the sea. I remember dressing with flannel and long johns and trying to find a place to have some cocoa with a fireplace. I also remember the ice storm that hit CT where there was such a thick plate of ice on my windshield I couldn't chip it off. Geez - I hope it's not that cold!

[snuggarelli]

Hi Bart,
Yeah, it's tough venturing into the unknown. I've moved many times, so this is why I really want to be sure (my husband refuses to put pictures up till I quit getting the ants in the pants). I moved to Virginia for 2 years, and that was a tough move for us. Not only did I have a mental MIL to deal with, but also I had a hard time fitting in socially. I must've been too laid back; they all thought I was from Hawaii for some reason. But boy did I like the colonial houses and the Fall!

Has your wife been up to Oregon a lot? Has she always lived in California? I tell you, it's not a bad state to live in if it wasn't so expensive and if there weren't so many people trying to strike it rich. I have told my husband that the gold rush mentality is still here with people coming from all over, and the gold rush had some shifty characters and wildness.

Plus, whenever I say to someone something about wanting to visit Oregon, they say that Californians have bad luck up there - look at that Asian dude with his family and the old couple. "If you go up there, you might not come back."

But, I know that I just need to see it with my own eyes, smell the air (does it smell like dust like California or like trees and earth like Virginia), and I'll know whether it's the place I've been looking for.

[hotskoz]

I'm not exactly a Californian. I am more of a COW since I have lived all over California, Oregon and Washington. I was born in Washington but then lived in Oregon until I was seven, then it was back to Washington. I ended up in Southern California shortly after I graduated and lived there about seven years. When I returned to Oregon to live the insurance agent tried to charge me a California driver surcharge. I told him he was crazy and found a different agent. Anyway, I love Oregon but still have a fondness for the Puget Sound area. I would never go back to Southern California though. I prefer peace and quiet....and trees.

[UltraVioletMama]

I have lived in Oregon since 1978, beginning with living in Southern Oregon and relocating up to Portland in 1987. It is gorgeous here, but as a working middle class person, you pay for it in your income taxes. Sure there isn't a sales tax, but all those who come here out of state enjoy the great tourism while the working Oregonian pays high income taxes. If the state could somehow manage to lower our income tax while introducing a sales tax, it could bring some relief to the working Oregonian.

Portland is a great city, I embrace the culture here, but I will never be able to afford a home of my own-and yes, I am a college graduate with a solid job. Because of the quality of life that others have found here, it has driven the cost to own a simple home out of my reach in the near future. I have definitely seen a larger gap in the haves and have-nots. Part of this I think is due to Metro.

People here are definitely not superficial, and we are very independent yes. I love the unique craftsy-artsy vibe here, the environment encourages different streams of art.

Our mass transit is excellent, you could live anywhere in the metro area basically and get around without a car (especially on the east side).

Several years ago, I briefly moved away from Oregon to try a new state-Phoenix. Quite the opposite scene, but I did come back just as soon as I realized how much I missed the seasons and trees.

Each place has their pros and cons, even Oregon.

[snuggarelli]

Hi Hoskoz and Ultraviolet,

Thanks for the perspective. Never heard of a "driver surcharge" lol.

Yeah I saw a househunters episode in Portland where a young couple (early 20's) was looking for a home in the $900k-$1mill. Is that an accurate picture? I couldn't believe my eyes. I was sitting there thinking they must be trust babies or something, because I can't even afford a house like that in California with our combined income.

Also, my bro-in-law went to portland for a convention, and he kept commenting that there were a lot of homeless kids there trying to sell weed. Is that true, or is that more in the more unsafe neighborhoods or something?

[jessgo]

I am also moving to Oregon from Southern California. My husband is already there, we are waiting for escrow to close on a house in Tualatin. I noticed that people in Oregon are way more laid back and not as uppity as Californians. I've lived in California my whole lfe(29years) and swore I'd never move. I visited for a whole week last week and loved the freshness and the enviornment had no smog! Yay! Now my only problem is finding a good school for my son with Autism.

[Rosa canina]

Also, my bro-in-law went to portland for a convention, and he kept commenting that there were a lot of homeless kids there trying to sell weed. Is that true, or is that more in the more unsafe neighborhoods or something?

Portland has a significant population of "homeless kids" who are trying to survive.

And yes, they are in the "unsafe" neighborhoods.

Anywhere they are is unsafe for them.

[CalculusE.]

Originally Posted by snuggarelli

Hi Bart,
Yeah, it's tough venturing into the unknown. I've moved many times, so this is why I really want to be sure (my husband refuses to put pictures up till I quit getting the ants in the pants). I moved to Virginia for 2 years, and that was a tough move for us. Not only did I have a mental MIL to deal with, but also I had a hard time fitting in socially. I must've been too laid back; they all thought I was from Hawaii for some reason. But boy did I like the colonial houses and the Fall!

Has your wife been up to Oregon a lot? Has she always lived in California? I tell you, it's not a bad state to live in if it wasn't so expensive and if there weren't so many people trying to strike it rich. I have told my husband that the gold rush mentality is still here with people coming from all over, and the gold rush had some shifty characters and wildness.

Plus, whenever I say to someone something about wanting to visit Oregon, they say that Californians have bad luck up there - look at that Asian dude with his family and the old couple. "If you go up there, you might not come back."

But, I know that I just need to see it with my own eyes, smell the air (does it smell like dust like California or like trees and earth like Virginia), and I'll know whether it's the place I've been looking for.

Ahh, I'm not surprised sillycon valley types might say that. Honestly, despite being pretty mucha city boy myself I find it hilarious when folks say things like that about James Kim and his family. To be blunt, people who don't pay attention and think a road is jsut a road, get themselves into trouble. The flat lands are not the same as mountain country and winter weather means winter driving. Unless you're prepared and well versed in the local area, stick to the main roads. Sadly many city folks don't learn that even when you can drive up to Tahoe/Yosemite from the bay area and see it first hand. Heck, you can get into easy trouble goofing around the santa cruz mountains. Common sense to me, says a blockable/closed road, even if the chain was taken down, in bad fall weather says "stay out" unless you're in a 4x4 with supplies. Another thing that is really just related to driving common sense is, those back roads may look like shortcuts but they're often not. Just a tragic sad story all around but thoroughly preventable.

[snuggarelli]

Originally Posted by jessgo

I am also moving to Oregon from Southern California. My husband is already there, we are waiting for escrow to close on a house in Tualatin. I noticed that people in Oregon are way more laid back and not as uppity as Californians. I've lived in California my whole lfe(29years) and swore I'd never move. I visited for a whole week last week and loved the freshness and the enviornment had no smog! Yay! Now my only problem is finding a good school for my son with Autism.

Good luck Jessgo. Let us know how it goes and how you like living up there.

[snuggarelli]

Originally Posted by CalculusE.

Ahh, I'm not surprised sillycon valley types might say that. Honestly, despite being pretty mucha city boy myself I find it hilarious when folks say things like that about James Kim and his family. To be blunt, people who don't pay attention and think a road is jsut a road, get themselves into trouble. The flat lands are not the same as mountain country and winter weather means winter driving. Unless you're prepared and well versed in the local area, stick to the main roads. Sadly many city folks don't learn that even when you can drive up to Tahoe/Yosemite from the bay area and see it first hand. Heck, you can get into easy trouble goofing around the santa cruz mountains. Common sense to me, says a blockable/closed road, even if the chain was taken down, in bad fall weather says "stay out" unless you're in a 4x4 with supplies. Another thing that is really just related to driving common sense is, those back roads may look like shortcuts but they're often not. Just a tragic sad story all around but thoroughly preventable.

very true - highway 17 up to Santa Cruz has very dense forest, and I think it would be dumb to go off highway around there. And you're right Tahoe and Yosemite has some interesting areas. On our way to eloping in Tahoe, my DH almost ran off a cliff taking a turn at 50 mph instead of the 15 mph recommended on highway 99 (we decided to take the scenic route, and boy did we). So, I can't imagine what the circumstances would've been if there had been snow on the ground.