Moving from SoCal to Willamette Valley?????????? (Portland, Salem: sales, lease, townhome)

[SoCalCroozer]

My wife and I are thinking of maknig the transition from Southern California, Orange County to Dallas, Oregon in the next 6 months to a year. We are not originally from SoCal. We have been here two years and although there are so many things we love about it, we are trying to start a family and all her family is back in Oregon and mine is back in St. Louis, MO. So we'd much prefer OR to MO.

Right now we are renting a townhome and our lease is up in January. It's just us two and no kids. I'm 30 and she is 33. Her family lives on 80 acres in Dallas. She grew up there. We both have great solid jobs with good income here in OC. I'm an RN and she is in retail management. I have two years of acute care hospital experience so I'm not too worried about finding a job, preferably with Salem Hospital. We plan on living with her parents possibly for a while so we can save some money for a house.

Her family is great but I still have my reservations about moving in with the in laws. I also have some reservations regarding the culture shock going from SoCal to a small town. We both love to visit and it's kind of our dream to live in a small town. But our dream and reality are two different things. I really like Portland and the surrouding suburbs so that's always a possibility. Like I said we have no kids yet and think OR would be a better fit for us to raise a family instead of the culture in SoCal.

Any advice? Maybe others who have made the transition? I know the OR economy is one of the worst in the country right now. I've also heard the public school system is not as great as CA because of lack of sales taxes etc. Is that true?

[Silverfall]

California schools rank worse than Oregon in general. Smartest State 2006-2007 is just one link showing rankings by state.

I wouldn't bet on getting a job here as a nurse. It is difficult even for nurses these days. Since you guys are portable without kids it might make sense to live with the inlaws while you figure out if you want to live closer to Portland.

[SoCalCroozer]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

California schools rank worse than Oregon in general. Smartest State 2006-2007 is just one link showing rankings by state.

I wouldn't bet on getting a job here as a nurse. It is difficult even for nurses these days. Since you guys are portable without kids it might make sense to live with the inlaws while you figure out if you want to live closer to Portland.

I'm not betting on it but with my experience, ACLS/PCCN/NIH stroke certification, 2 years acute care on a telemtry unit I've definitely got a leg up on the competition. Plus I'm a tall young good looking male LOL.

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by SoCalCroozer

I'm not betting on it but with my experience, ACLS/PCCN/NIH stroke certification, 2 years acute care on a telemtry unit I've definitely got a leg up on the competition. Plus I'm a tall young good looking male LOL.

Actually the ACLS and PCCN are pretty much run-of-the-mill standard credentials for hospital-employed RNs here. You might be able to find work, but you should expect to start at the bottom (meaning night shift) and spend a year or more there.

The advice you'll get over and over on this forum is that NOBODY with solid work should try and make a discretional move during a recession...or a "jobless recovery" of an economic contraction. Better to wait until the unemployment numbers start to trend in the opposite direction.

There are also some important you-can't-go-back lessons about geographic proximity to family. While you may suffer estrangement from family when far away, and the pleasure of visits may engender thoughts of being closer, beware overcompensating by moving right into the community where you have family. A bit of geographic space is a very healthy thing for family relations. I can't tell you how many relationships have been destroyed by excessive family gathering.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Steve97415

I can't tell you how many relationships have been destroyed by excessive family gathering.

I always need a vacation after I visit my family

BUT I can also say that if they were 1-2 hours away that would be perfect. We could drop the kids off for an overnight every so often. I think it depends on how well you get along with the family. When our kids were really young it was so hard seeing other friends with family in the area getting some really nice support from their family members. Ours are several states away.