does oregon have less sun than seattle? need to move out of seattle (Portland: condo)

[veggiecook]

Local new englander, newly married. I've lived in Seattle for the past 4 years and love the proximity to the mountains, water and general liberal attitude. I feel like Seattle is too big for me now and am seeking that quaint small town without the ignorance and lack of jobs, which I'm sure is rare...I'm a vegetarian cook, he's in IT and we want to open a B&B one day...but my main goal is finding a liberal, supportive community that isn't all standoffish like the folks in Seattle. 4 years here, and I've been an active friend and it's so hard to get people to just make time for you in this city,even when you know they are not busy...
that's my biggest issue with seattle, and i've learned it's a distinct seattle thing. i also need more days of sunlight out of the year. what's it like outside of portland but i've heard it's not much sunnier there in the winter than seattle? i've decided i don't mind the cold in the winter if i can have a little sunshine. hood river? i do NOT want suburbs...something like skagit valley in washington, but less overcast. I dont mind rain, i just miss the sun and friendly people...
we are both rock climbers and like a little bit of a social scene...we plan on having kids in a few years and i just don't want to settle down somewhere and not be able to make any friends like in seattle...
my dream place: sunshine! access to swimming holes, hiking, rock climbing, farmer's markets, food co-op. supportive of vegetarian food/lifestyle. humidity is rough on my husband (he lived in ct for a summer and that was it!) i am flexible to either coast. i'd like to have a few acres but be somewhat close to a liberal town with some diversity
anyways, let's discuss and i welcome all advice. i need to leave this city before i get sucked in and regret not taking action...

[Waterlily]

Portland may have a little more sun than Seattle but there's not much difference. Since you are looking for a liberal area with farmers markets I'd suggest perhaps Eugene would be a good fit.

If you want even more sun then you'd need to go to eastern or southern Oregon. The only problem is that it's not liberal there. Hood River is,but beyond that it's not.

[freedom]

Ashland seems to be what you are describing. There are outlying areas.
I know of 5 acre homesites that are under 180k. they look over a lake and are 5-10 min. from downtown.
The challenge with Ashland is it is $$$. They have a development moratorium, so only infill and existing lots can be developed.

Lots of Veggites, Vegans, and enviros surrounded by sunshine, mountains, fresh air and they have lots of biking, hiking, skiing, etc...wrapped up in a theatrical college atmosphere. Beautiful parks, and no Walmarts.
Is that liberal enough?
Best wishes

Freedom

[tdekany]

Originally Posted by veggiecook

Local new englander, newly married. I've lived in Seattle for the past 4 years and love the proximity to the mountains, water and general liberal attitude. I feel like Seattle is too big for me now and am seeking that quaint small town without the ignorance and lack of jobs, which I'm sure is rare...I'm a vegetarian cook, he's in IT and we want to open a B&B one day...but my main goal is finding a liberal, supportive community that isn't all standoffish like the folks in Seattle. 4 years here, and I've been an active friend and it's so hard to get people to just make time for you in this city,even when you know they are not busy...
that's my biggest issue with seattle, and i've learned it's a distinct seattle thing. i also need more days of sunlight out of the year. what's it like outside of portland but i've heard it's not much sunnier there in the winter than seattle? i've decided i don't mind the cold in the winter if i can have a little sunshine. hood river? i do NOT want suburbs...something like skagit valley in washington, but less overcast. I dont mind rain, i just miss the sun and friendly people...
we are both rock climbers and like a little bit of a social scene...we plan on having kids in a few years and i just don't want to settle down somewhere and not be able to make any friends like in seattle...
my dream place: sunshine! access to swimming holes, hiking, rock climbing, farmer's markets, food co-op. supportive of vegetarian food/lifestyle. humidity is rough on my husband (he lived in ct for a summer and that was it!) i am flexible to either coast. i'd like to have a few acres but be somewhat close to a liberal town with some diversity
anyways, let's discuss and i welcome all advice. i need to leave this city before i get sucked in and regret not taking action...

I have to dissagree with Ashland due to the people who reside there. Way too snooty. Even in a vegetarian restaurant the workers act like they have just won an Oscar. In my opinion, Portland is the best place in Oregon. Wonderful people who actually smile. Eugene is 2nd, but the city itself doesn't have much personality if you ask me. Very nice people though.

[veggiecook]

What do people think of Hood River? Is it snooty? I know the tofurkey factory is there as well as wineries...
Ashland sounds nice too, but I've heard it's becoming a retirement mecca--is that true or does the college keep people in their 20's and 30's there?
I've always enjoyed Portland, but don't want to live inside the city, I'm looking for a fun community but want to have a few acres to myself to develop the B&B or have some goats. Is that too utopian? Near a big city but living a rural life?

[Alexious]

Originally Posted by veggiecook

we are both rock climbers and like a little bit of a social scene...we plan on having kids in a few years and i just don't want to settle down somewhere and not be able to make any friends like in seattle...
my dream place: sunshine! access to swimming holes, hiking, rock climbing, farmer's markets, food co-op. supportive of vegetarian food/lifestyle. humidity is rough on my husband (he lived in ct for a summer and that was it!) i am flexible to either coast. i'd like to have a few acres but be somewhat close to a liberal town with some diversity

I don't mean to be a cheerleader for my own town, but you just described Bend, Oregon to a T.
Ever heard of Smith Rock State Park for climbing? 30 minutes away.
Vegetarian lifestyle? Yeah. That's covered. There's more organic grocery stores here than you can shake a stick at.
Sunshine? How's 300 days a year sound?
Diversity? This is the main thing that has changed here recently. I just moved back after living in Klamath Falls for 10 years. There is a lot more diversity here (both ethnic and political) than when I lived here last. We even have an independent, left-leaning newspaper (SHOCK!) like those big fancy cities!
Of course, the catch is that buying a house here is outrageous. However, the little known secret is that rent is quite cheap! It sounds like you want some land with your home... you might look around in the smaller towns surrounding Bend like Redmond, Prineville, or La Pine.
edit: Forgot to add that Bend now has a pretty active live music scene as well.

[britgirl]

Originally Posted by Alexious

I don't mean to be a cheerleader for my own town, but you just described Bend, Oregon to a T.
Ever heard of Smith Rock State Park for climbing? 30 minutes away.
Vegetarian lifestyle? Yeah. That's covered. There's more organic grocery stores here than you can shake a stick at.
Sunshine? How's 300 days a year sound?
Diversity? This is the main thing that has changed here recently. I just moved back after living in Klamath Falls for 10 years. There is a lot more diversity here (both ethnic and political) than when I lived here last. We even have an independent, left-leaning newspaper (SHOCK!) like those big fancy cities!
Of course, the catch is that buying a house here is outrageous. However, the little known secret is that rent is quite cheap! It sounds like you want some land with your home... you might look around in the smaller towns surrounding Bend like Redmond, Prineville, or La Pine.
edit: Forgot to add that Bend now has a pretty active live music scene as well.

Totally agree with Alexious.......I have been to Bend and loved it for the sunshine - stay away from the Oregon Coast, it is liberal but you will have 9-10 months of grey. Check out my other post about the Oregon Coast and you'll get my drift.

Bend is great though, nr mountains & rock climbing, diverse & trendy, plenty of sunshine, decent shops & resturants, a farmers market etc etc.....Seems to be the best fit plus you'll be close enough to Portland International Airport (PDX) for flying. It is pricey though. I can guarantee you will hate the coast because of the weather alone. I do and would head to Bend in a heartbeat but our jobs are here on the coast. You could always buy an RV or Travel Trailer and come to the coast often. You would be doing the opposite to us, we like to head inland for the sunshine and heat.

[tdekany]

Originally Posted by veggiecook

What do people think of Hood River? Is it snooty? I know the tofurkey factory is there as well as wineries...
Ashland sounds nice too, but I've heard it's becoming a retirement mecca--is that true or does the college keep people in their 20's and 30's there?
I've always enjoyed Portland, but don't want to live inside the city, I'm looking for a fun community but want to have a few acres to myself to develop the B&B or have some goats. Is that too utopian? Near a big city but living a rural life?

Ashland has lots of young people but I'd never live there.

Near a big city but living a rural life?

That is what we had in mind & Portland fits the bill. What an awesome city.

[swokm]

Hey there... I also lived in Seattle for 4 years in IT (a native Rocky Mountain guy though) and also eventually gave up on establishing or joining a real community. Whew, I was one day away from sinking my savings into a condo before I woke up. Post-boom Seattle seems friendly enough from the outside, but is just a little... hollow? arrogant?... something. Anyway, I did like the city itself (best skyline ever, great beer, walkable) and fought off the rainy-day-blues well enough. After a respite back to the Rockies, I've been looking at Portland/Corvallis/Bend.

The OP says, "I just don't want to settle down somewhere and not be able to make any friends like in seattle..." BINGO! I'm single, but the exact same applies. In my exploratory trips to Oregon, Portland and Corvallis seem to be more open (and I notice the Willamette Valley seems to grow LOTS of fresh organic veg and I'm a fierce carnivore ), but that might be just because Bend is booming with brand new communities. However, you say "rock climbers" and all I can think is that Bend is for you! Most of my college friends were into rock climbing and Bend just has that feel to me. Reminds me a little of Boulder, Jackson Hole, Missoula, etc. The exploding house pricing makes me think twice about Bend but it doesn't look like Portland or even Corvallis are slowing down all that much either.

Personally, if I find a good IT job with good chances of eventually affording a house walkable to downtown I'd move to Corvallis, Bend, Portland in that order as I don't mind small towns. I'm about to give up on Corvallis job market though.

I'm an outsider, so this advice is probably worth its cost, but the only think I would stress is avoid Eugene. I'm sure it is someone's favorite or hometown, but with the grayer skies, grass seed, drug/crime problems, etc. I don't know, it just feels sad and the only person I know there is desperate to move upstate. I don't know if "liberal" is code on this forum or something, but I think that Eugene, Corvallis, and Portland are all quite liberal. Bend seems to be liberal with a conservative element that is about half retired owners of $1million+ homes and half cultural import from the rural east half of the state. Oddly, I never hear much of anything about Salem.

Sorry for veering off-topic now and then -- good luck, veggiecook!

[JakeDog]

I'd recommend Bend or even Davis, California if you can afford it.