Californians who've relocated to Oregon - weigh in (Portland, Roseburg: real estate, trip)

[kari0422]

Originally Posted by snuggarelli

You know educator, my husband lately has been saying how pretentious people are in the Bay Area. He is from the South, so he doesn't like how people are really into themselves here. I think the central valley is more friendly, but the air quality and commute is pretty bad.

I'm not even sure what dooney and burkes are. i think jimmy choos are shoes?

Also, I actually know people who have hired nannies, and I swear they should not have had kids in the first place. They seem to take no interest in them, and they are plenty rich where one of them could raise the kids.

Actually, that was one of my questions - is Oregon more liberal than California? I like it to be more middle ground - not too conservative nor not too liberal.

I'd like to have a yard again. I have a "paseo padre" house in Dublin which I paid a ton of money for, and I really miss having some place for my child to play and ride her bike. My husband promised me a house with a yard when he finishes his degree, but I'm not sure how we'll afford it unless our business starts doing well in addition to our 2 full-time jobs.

Yeah, I agree - I am one of those people shaking my fist at the traffic, just trying to get home, while everyone and their mother is trying to go to the mountains or delta with their skis or big boat. I also wonder how is it that people afford things here when pay does not measure up to cost of living. I guess everyone must be on the non 30 year loans, like me, just working to pay the mortgage and boy, forget retirement. I do know a lady who is moving to Baja California (El Dorado Ranch) because she said that it's too expensive to retire in California. That is one thing that I worry about is that I want to settle some place and retire in that same place so that my daughter can always come home. I also haven't been trying to have a child because I worry about how to afford having one, besides the difficulty in getting pregnant.

Boy - I really gotta find a way to make it out to Oregon, just to lay eyes on it. It sounds really beautiful. I love trees - naturally grown ones, not city-planned. I esp. love the fall color from my years in college in Connecticut. I've been trying to find an area in California which has lots of trees, and it is not easy. I mean, San Ramon and Danville look like they have trees from the road, but not sure if they really have it throughout the towns. My husband says he wants to live in a naturally occurring tree area, like his boyhood home Virginia. Oregon sounds like it has lots of trees.

I spent my first 17 years of life in CT's south coast(Fairfield), my next 16 years in Central VA(Charlottesville Area), and the past 11 months on the Oregon Coast (West of Eugene). I recommend that you look into your husband's boyhood. My husband and I are trying to sell our place and move to either VA or someplace neither of us has lived before. He grew up in L.A. and his work is "based" out of L.A., but he travels all over. My kids and I follow his travels in the summer months.

I really miss Virgnia though. Check out oregon, but check out Virginia also.

[kari0422]

Originally Posted by Educatorspeakingtruth

Snugg & Everyone else!
Come visit Oregon! You all are welcome! One really needs to see it with their own eyes to put everything into a proper perspective. Best months to visit are June-October. Hope you make it to Oregon sometime!

But you have to visit in during the other months too. That's how you get a feel for living through a winter here, especially on the coast!

[desdancer]

Gosh, I love S. California. I came here from Chicago 20 yrs. ago. My husband and I have lived on the coast for many years, and now will be retiring to the Palm Springs area, where homes are about 1/2 the price of coastal properties. While we do get 100+ heat July-Aug-Sep, it is usually very dry heat. Besides, we take our vacations during July and Aug to cooler spots. Most of the year it is gorgeous dry weather, beautiful mountains, 100+ golf courses and great shopping and dining, not to meniton you meet lots of interesting people coming here from all over the country, including Canada, Oregon, NY, Chicago and LA. I love it and don't plan to leave.

[gvc]

Thank you, Snugarelli, for all your questions -- and Thanks to all who have replied! I have spent days reading these forums, and I am more confused than when I started, although I've learned a great deal. I have ALWAYS had a romantic attraction to the PNW and thought I had narrowed it down. I'll start a new thread to tell you more about me and to start asking my questions.

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!

You HAD to have been in Northern VA.

I have only officially relocated once, quite a long time ago now, before returning to my home state. That was just across the river into Warrenton, VA. The area I was in has now been fully absorbed into NoVA. I'm sure I would not like it anymore. (I'm feeling butterflies in my stomach although my relocation is probably a year away.)

[snuggarelli]

Originally Posted by kari0422

I really miss Virgnia though. Check out oregon, but check out Virginia also.

Yep - I lived in Virginia for 2 years. It's a nice area, but too humid and hot in the summer. Plus, I have a psycho MIL there who likes to drop in any time of day uninvited. So, it's really not an option for us.

[snuggarelli]

Originally Posted by kari0422

But you have to visit in during the other months too. That's how you get a feel for living through a winter here, especially on the coast!

very true esp. when people say how it's gray the whole time between october through april. I was going to try and see it in november/december timeframe.

[Farmergrl]

And Oregon too full?
I'm getting antsy...everyone here in So cal is splittin for Oregon! I wanna go too! May have to move the "2 year plan" up a bit!
Maybe all us SoCal folks should fire up the RVs, SUVs, scooters, whatever you drive and take a visit to see what we're missing! Me and the Mr are headin out the day after Thanksgiving. We'll be doing the 5 corridor and then shoot over to Coer de Alene to see family.
I'm worried all the folks who did well in the real estate thingy here will buy up all the good stuff before we can get going. We waited too long and now the values are down.
We SHOULD have moved when the kids were little. I hope they're not beyond feeling the magic a farm can do.
Save a lil peice O Paradise for me!

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Farmergrl

And Oregon too full?
I'm getting antsy...everyone here in So cal is splittin for Oregon! I wanna go too! May have to move the "2 year plan" up a bit!
Maybe all us SoCal folks should fire up the RVs, SUVs, scooters, whatever you drive and take a visit to see what we're missing! Me and the Mr are headin out the day after Thanksgiving. We'll be doing the 5 corridor and then shoot over to Coer de Alene to see family.
I'm worried all the folks who did well in the real estate thingy here will buy up all the good stuff before we can get going. We waited too long and now the values are down.
We SHOULD have moved when the kids were little. I hope they're not beyond feeling the magic a farm can do.
Save a lil peice O Paradise for me!

You should do just fine, when Property values drop down there, they drop up here, so the trade in value usually doesn't change much.
Example;
CA; 1 million last yr. $800k this yr.


OR; $500k last yr. $300k this yr.

Same bang for the buck.
Benifits of living in Oregon priceless......

[Kathleenh54]

Originally Posted by moving again and again

You mean he stays stoned to make it in the NW.

LOL!

That said, there are a lot of stoned people on the loose and LA has a sufficient quotient of them (much as I, too, miss SoCal).

[LetsgoShane]

Oregon Sucks.

Go back to California & tell your friends. jk

Actually, Im part of the California invasion. I love Oregon. best move I could have ever made I was on the quick rise up the corporate ladder. Started in Los Angeles, got moved to Phoenix, then finally 3yrs ago ended up in Lake Oswego, OR. I absolutely love it and never want to leave. We like it hear so much that just last year I passed up another great promotion opportunity that would have taken me to Austin, Texas. I haven't met a single person here who wishes they didnt leave Cali for Oregon.