Californians who've relocated to Oregon - weigh in (Portland, Tualatin: environment, relocating)

[halfmoonbaygal]

Originally Posted by DSMOM

Hi Halfmoonbaygal...

There are adaptive PE specialists in the Eugene/Springfield area. As I said before lots of people move to Oregon from out of state because of our awareness & available services for the special needs population. The U of O turns out more special ed teachers/workers than any other university/college/whatever in the US. My old boss moved here from NH just to get her special ed degree.
As far as airports go PDX is the major one here but we also have the Eugene Airport out toward Junction City. It's maybe a 15 or 20 minute drive from Springfield depending on whether you take the freeway or go through town.
As far you getting a job here in APE? We need people in all facets of special ed...the demand is so high here it's unreal. I'll fix my settings so you can e-mail me. My name is Val & I'm pleased to met you.

Hi Val--nice to meetcha and I appreciate your post. I went to University of the Pacific for my Masters and teaching credentialing programs. A couple of my professors were from U of O and they were my favorites (Chris Snell, Mike Wright) and lots of Oregonians go to that school, for some reason. I can't think of a more different place to go. Stockton is somewhat yucky, although the people there were so nice.

I'm very glad to hear that I might be able to get a job as an APE specialist. That's my first love and choice, but if I have to take a general ed P.E. job, I can do that to. And kids with special needs will be welcomed in MY class! Does your son receive APE services or is he fully mainstreamed? With the push for inclusion (and rightfully so), an APE specialist often becomes a consultant for the general ed P.E. teachers. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

As far as PDX vs. a more regional airport, my husband is a United Airlines retiree, so we fly ALOT. We also pony up cheap plane tickets and companion passes for our 4 kids, two of whom have kids of their own. So, direct flights are always nice--and much cheaper and more convenient. I hear wonderful things about Eugene and will definitely tour the area, as well as Portland and environs, as well as Vancouver. I can't wait to get up there and look around. I was in Bend and Portland when I was a kid, but that was a looooong time ago!

[bobmulk]

Suncat, apparently his attitude escaped you. No one likes someone to come in and disparage another's home. Oregon is not for everyone. Neither is California, Maine, New Jersey, Alaska, etc. Moving's comments are distasteful and reflect an immaturity to accept that perhaps this ISN'T California. Most people would be offended if someone dissed their home. The people in these threads are, for the most part, thoughtful seekers of information, not attitudinal, immature and disrespectful.

[PortlandNative]

Originally Posted by moving again and again

How to tell if someone is an Oregonian:
Have them quote rap lyrics and get the artist wrong. It's Notorious B.I.G you hippie. Stay in the woods! And I'll go back to cali, back, back, to cali, cali.

Jeez, where do I start.

One - I am not a hippie. I am a financial analyst; I have a short haircut; I own five suits; I own nothing tie-died; I even voted for a Republican once (for county sheriff).

Two - I distinctly remember being in high school in the late 1980s and listening to "Going back to Cali" by LL Cool J on a vinyl album. I even remember watching the Colin Quinn satire "Going Back to Brooklyn" video on MTV.

Three - Since you were quite insulted that someone automatically assumed that you are a female, you should think before assuming things about me. You assumed I'm a hippie (I'm not); you stated that I should "Stay in the woods" (I live in the suburbs); and you imply that because you thought that I was incorrect that I am an Oregonian (I was correct and I actually live in Clark County, Washington).

Lastly, the quick temper you displayed along with your lack of knowledge on the subject and insulting me (with no basis, whatsoever) plays right into being perceived as a stereotypical jerky Californian.

[CalculusE.]

I moved up to Oregon as a 13 year old kid with my family. I've visited the bay area several times over the years to see family and friends and more and more I prefer oregon. Once my dad died, I really lost any interest in going back even for a visit. San Jose and Frisco just don't interest me. The culture, the cost of living, just the attitude don't match me anymore.

I did get my fair share of crud from kids when they found out I was from cali back in the late 90s. I consider myself an Oregonian though since I've lived here for over half my life now, gone to school here and work here. Its not perfect here but I think I'd have a hard time moving out of the northwest to anywhere else.

[snuggarelli]

Hi calculus e., thanks for bringing that perspective of a student being discriminated against for being from cali. I hadn't thought of that, and by the time I can move up there, my DD will probably be 11 or 12.

I am hoping though that the kids will be nicer than the kids at her current school. I am so frustrated with her current school that I am thinking of forking over the money to put her in a private school. We sent out a whole bunch of invitations for her bday, and only one of her classmates said she would go (but later rescinded because her mom and her decided to go to acting camp instead). I don't know why my DD is having such a rough time; all the teachers and daycare people think she is really a shy, sweet kid. She's already been discriminated against because she's "not asian enough" (she's 1/4 Japanese) by her classmates, and I wonder if they also discriminate against her because she is struggling academically (the school is VERY academic to the point where the kids go to tutoring to be ahead and parents actually ask for homework during breaks or long weekends). Whatever the reasons, it makes me angry. I keep yelling in my head, "I was here first!!! I grew up in San Jose before all you people came here to strike gold! How dare you be so judgemental!" I know people everywhere are the same though. So, I wonder if she is going to have a rough time in school in Oregon as well.

However, it seems like Oregon is different than California. It seems like people might be more down to earth and less about "status." The comment that someone made that Portland has a slower pace than SF was encouraging for me.

A couple of episodes of House Hunters showed the area around Portland. My DH was so excited, since Oregon looks like it has lots of trees. We miss the trees and the 4 seasons. I lived in CT for 4 years while in college (after most of my life in CA), and I just loved the Fall. My DH is from VA, but I don't think I can move back there (crazy MIL). We've been looking for that "forever home" here in California, where I can stay home and we're surrounded by trees and the seasons. But, i'm not sure what it took to realize - hey we do have a neighbor state north of us who actually might have the things we are looking for. I have never been to Oregon, so I'm really wanting to buy plane tickets for a couple of weekend trips the next couple of months, Thanksgiving, and maybe part of Christmas. But dang - those tickets from Oakland are expensive! We usually pay that amount to go to VA. Any tips or tricks on when or where to buy tickets to portland?

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by snuggarelli

A couple of episodes of House Hunters showed the area around Portland. My DH was so excited, since Oregon looks like it has lots of trees. We miss the trees and the 4 seasons. I lived in CT for 4 years while in college (after most of my life in CA), and I just loved the Fall. My DH is from VA, but I don't think I can move back there (crazy MIL). We've been looking for that "forever home" here in California, where I can stay home and we're surrounded by trees and the seasons. But, i'm not sure what it took to realize - hey we do have a neighbor state north of us who actually might have the things we are looking for. I have never been to Oregon, so I'm really wanting to buy plane tickets for a couple of weekend trips the next couple of months, Thanksgiving, and maybe part of Christmas. But dang - those tickets from Oakland are expensive! We usually pay that amount to go to VA. Any tips or tricks on when or where to buy tickets to portland?

There's a lot of world between San Jose and Portland. I don't think flying is the best way to see it. If you get on the freeway, you can be out of the city in only a couple of hours. Northern California has a lot to offer. Look around.

If you motor straight on through, Portland is about an 8 hour drive from San Jose. Call it 10 hours with a child in the car, and it would be an ordeal.

If you really need to fly to Portland as cheaply as possible, contact a travel agent and tell them that's what you want.

[Westward]

I second driving vs flying. The drive through Oregon is one of the most beautiful in the US. You might also want to check out the Medford/Ashland/Grants Pass area on the way. Unless you wanted to breeze through in a hurry, I'd spend the night there and leave for Portland the next morning. There is so much beauty to see around the Rogue River. The rest of the towns between Grants Pass and Portland are not as interesting, imho, unless you have time to kill.

[snuggarelli]

8 hours might be hard to do on a Fri PM to Sunday PM trip which is why I was looking to get tickets. My goal was (and it just might not work out) to visit during each season.

I kind of wanted to know for example, what is it like in the summer (gold/brown like Cali or green)? Is it humid or dry? Is the weather just right where you can leave your windows open all day?

How good is the Fall (although if we don't go in October and just go during late Nov - it sounds like we might miss it)? I like lots of maples and reds, yellows, and purples like CT with a nice bite of chill in the air during Halloween.

Jan/Feb - Is the winter like VA where the snow is manageable, but plants/trees are pretty dead? Is it too cold like Newport RI where there is a freezing **** cold wind chilling you to your very bone? Or is it a more temperate cold like VA?

Apr/May - And then again sometime in Spring to see how the climate is, although I think most states are pretty glorious this time of year. I also wonder if there might be some awesome running trails in the woods. I miss running in the forest and feeling the bounce of soft earth like I did in CT.

And again, I'd like to visit just to see what living there might be like. There is no perfect place, but man, Oregon is sounding pretty close to what we're looking for.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by snuggarelli

I kind of wanted to know for example, what is it like in the summer (gold/brown like Cali or green)? Is it humid or dry? Is the weather just right where you can leave your windows open all day?

Unirrigated grass turns brown. There are lots of green trees and bushes. River banks stay pretty green, and except for Portland, most towns leave their streams natural. Sadly, there are half a dozen creeks running through downtown Portland that have been paved over.

Windows open all day mostly happens in May, June, September and October. This year, July has been cool and moist, but that is unusual.

Originally Posted by snuggarelli

How good is the Fall (although if we don't go in October and just go during late Nov - it sounds like we might miss it)? I like lots of maples and reds, yellows, and purples like CT with a nice bite of chill in the air during Halloween.

You won't see much color in Oregon hardwoods. The rain washes all the color out, and the leaves just turn brown. First frost normally doesn't happen before first rain in the fall, except in the mountains. There can be some glorious mornings in the fall, which I think most people spend on the freeway, so they miss them.

Originally Posted by snuggarelli

Jan/Feb - Is the winter like VA where the snow is manageable, but plants/trees are pretty dead? Is it too cold like Newport RI where there is a freezing **** cold wind chilling you to your very bone? Or is it a more temperate cold like VA?

Think San Francisco but wetter. All of Western Oregon has a marine climate. Think wet. Winter gardens will provide kale, chard, etc. pretty much year round. I get along well with an assortment of winter hats and Camp-Dry on my coats. Most days in the winter, a light jacket is adequate, though Portland is at the mouth of the Columbia Gorge. The Gorge is a vertical slice through the Cascade Mountains that dumps a lot of arctic air into Portland. The east wind can be bitter, and Portland has more than its share of ice storms.

Originally Posted by snuggarelli

Apr/May - And then again sometime in Spring to see how the climate is, although I think most states are pretty glorious this time of year. I also wonder if there might be some awesome running trails in the woods. I miss running in the forest and feeling the bounce of soft earth like I did in CT.

Portland has over 5,000 acres of old growth forest inside the city limits. Forest Park is the largest municipal park in the USA. I think you will find what you are looking for.

[Bart_3500]

Originally Posted by snuggarelli

Yep - this is why I want to investigate as much as possible. I've lived in Connecticut (liked the 4 seasons there) and Virginia (did not like the humidity there) as well. When I came back to Cali I swore I would never leave again. But, financially it's tough here (we own a house in the Bay Area and it is really crippling). Plus, I missed the fall foliage/seasons. My husband is from VA and he misses the trees (he feels like CA is the desert). So, we're thinking that Oregon might be the happy medium. However, I am kind of freaking out myself because I keep wondering if it'll be a good move or not - so I totally get that.

My wife is in the same boat! We have 3 acres up in the Redmount/Terra Bone area and she keeps coming up with reasons NOT to move. She can't retire until the first of May so plans are on hold until then. I don't want to make a move up there in the winter time anyway. I'm retiring the middle of November this year and plan on taking on a high paying job working at what I like to do until she can pull the plug then it's up the Crooked River Ranch and start building.