Thoughts/Questions on Oregon after recent visit. (Portland, Eugene: live in, move)

[Hawk J]

For well over four lustrums we've happily lived at 2000' on the beautiful forested mountain with southern exposure. I haven't counted them but we get many sunny days during the year & very little wind.

I love the rain. It keeps the forests green & growing, helps with fire safety. The rain helps keep the waterways up, Salmon & Steelhead runs, spawning of the different species...

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by ManGoneADreamin

Some questions..
Is there a lot of older people in Oregon for some reason?

Well, first, "people' is a plural subject, so...Are there a lot of older people in Oregon for some reason?

Yes and no. On a statewide average, we rank 25th -- right in the middle -- for elderliness of population. But if you were to subtract metro Portland and Eugene from the averaging group, we'd be close to the top of the list. Economic conditions form a kind of demographic sorting filter. The youngest populations are found where employment opportunities are best. The oldest populations are found where conditions favorable to retirement are best. Oregon does better in the latter category than the former. The Oregon coast, in particular, is the "Palm Beach County of the PNW." Southern Oregon also attracts a lot of retirees (especially from California).

[ExNooYawk]

We just got new neighbors here in Ashland who moved from here to the north coast are a few years ago. They were happy but the wife felt there wasn't much to do up there. The husband probably would have stayed but was just as happy to do what his wife wanted, which was to move back here. They like to go to plays, are active physically and like to 'get out and about', we were told. They seem like very nice people. Who knows, the people who bought their house might have come from Ashland. To each his own, as they say.

[Terryj]

Do any of you remember the Oregon greeting cards that were out in the late 60's and 70's, they were addressing the perception of raining all the time in Oregon. One of my favorites was: "Oregonians don't tan, they rust".
I do seem to recall that it did rain allot more then than now, we also had cooler winters, more snow fell then as opposed to now, but that just might be me.

[BUBBA1994]

[quote=Terryj;11288416] "Oregonians don't tan, they rust".
quote]
THAT IS HILARIOUS!
Yeah, rain is MORE than common in Oregon.

[Dorineonthemove]

Originally Posted by Shorty77

Super Liberal in cities, conservative in rural areas
Coast is gorgeous but relies on tourism so the economy can be depressed there... also, it's super windy and rainy most of the time there, so it's not exactly a place for swimming and sunning.
I don't think there are a lot of older people in Oregon generally, just certain areas (like the coast) where there isn't a vibrant economy.
Oregon is absolutely one of the most beautiful states in the country--I've lived and traveled all over myself. It is full of outdoor activities, the air is clean. It depends on what you are looking for to tell you what the pros and cons are (some people prefer country living, some prefer nightlife).
There is really a lot of rain and very little sunshine on the western half of the state, which is where the most trees are. The eastern half is sunny and drier but has a more desert-like appearance.
The people can be really extreme, whatever their politics are.


Tell us what you are looking for and we can be more helpful.

Wondering if Klamath area is health conscious, alternative energy thinking, great restaurants, friendly to non-natives, positive attitude, how extreme is weather, are gardens and fruit trees possible, how expensive with regards to property taxes, cost of living and real estate (land no home 20-30 acres) . Have lived in PA (outside of Phili), Delaware, Virginia (presently and on/off 15 yrs), Iowa, Montana, northern NY west of Adirondack (13 yrs lots of snow and to -50 with lots of gray because of Lake ontario yuck!) Looking for 4 seasons, enough rain to grow own food, safe, friendly, adventurous, non-redneck (if obnoxious about it- like central-western Virginians) and not bible belt born agains, and within 45 minutes drive of good shopping (trader joe's, best buy, goodwill, world market, locally owned stores), pro-chiropractors, massage therapist and alternative health practitioners?? Trying to be specific on this family's wants don't care about schools k-12. We have a lot to offer an area and are looking for our fit!!!

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by Dorineonthemove

Wondering if Klamath area is health conscious, alternative energy thinking, great restaurants, friendly to non-natives, positive attitude, how extreme is weather, are gardens and fruit trees possible, how expensive with regards to property taxes, cost of living and real estate (land no home 20-30 acres) . Have lived in PA (outside of Phili), Delaware, Virginia (presently and on/off 15 yrs), Iowa, Montana, northern NY west of Adirondack (13 yrs lots of snow and to -50 with lots of gray because of Lake ontario yuck!) Looking for 4 seasons, enough rain to grow own food, safe, friendly, adventurous, non-redneck (if obnoxious about it- like central-western Virginians) and not bible belt born agains, and within 45 minutes drive of good shopping (trader joe's, best buy, goodwill, world market, locally owned stores), pro-chiropractors, massage therapist and alternative health practitioners?? Trying to be specific on this family's wants don't care about schools k-12. We have a lot to offer an area and are looking for our fit!!!

Klamath Falls is very much more a basic blue-collar town than what you're looking for (which you might find in Eugene). It isn't the Bible Belt, but culturally speaking, it's solidly within the State of Jefferson (research that if you don't know what that means). With regard to enough rain to grow your own food, remember that this is the West Coast: there isn't any place in Oregon that gets significant rainfall during the growing season; rain only falls from late autumn to mid-spring. I live where the average rainfall is 76" a year (and I've seen over 120" in some years) and still have to irrigate from June to October.

[JakeDog]

Originally Posted by ManGoneADreamin

WOW!!! To think I've lived all this time without seeing Oregon. Definitely the most beautiful scenery in the US. An amazing drive of awesomeness. Just so many trees and mountains!!

I stayed in Lincoln City with an ocean view room for pretty cheap. Great value when I think about other hotel rooms I've stayed in the past which were just as much or more expensive and didn't have the fricken ocean to admire from the bed................!!!

Definitely will want to visit again.

Some questions..
Is there a lot of older people in Oregon for some reason?
Does it snow on the coast areas or for some reason (ocean) does it not? I really don't know, so please no make fun!
Political mood of state?
What are the pro's and con's of living in Oregon?

On age- Oregon is right in the middle of states by age (Florida is the oldest, Utah is one of the youngest). Your perception is probably a result of where you visited. Outside of Portland, Oregon is very sparsly populated and recreational/tourist towns are more likely to be retirement communities. Also, a lot of the older timber communities are dying.
On snow on the ocean- it is rare because the on shore pacific weather pattern is "relatively" mild (most weather goes from west to east). The winters on the coast are brutaly wet and dark, however.
Political mood- depends upon where you are. Portland is very liberal, as is Eugene. Eastern, Southern, and MOST of Central Oregon is conservative, but more in a Montana way than a Mississippi way (if that makes any sense).
Pros/Cons depend entirely upon where in Oregon you live. Some parts are urban (Portland), some parts feel like they are a millon miles from a city (Enterprise/Baker, etc.), some are lively smaller towns (Bend). Further, some are wet (Portland), some are VERY dry (central/eastern). And what amounts to a pro/con depends upon your tastes. As a whole, Oregon has a lot of outdoor recreation and variety of topography and weather. On the whole, the state is a little less "hip" and "contemparary" than most parts of the country. Portland prides itself on being progressive, but it always feels about 20 years out of date. Other parts of the state are similar to Maine, Vermont, or Montana.

[Oregonbeachlover]

Originally Posted by JakeDog

On age- Oregon is right in the middle of states by age (Florida is the oldest, Utah is one of the youngest). Your perception is probably a result of where you visited. Outside of Portland, Oregon is very sparsly populated and recreational/tourist towns are more likely to be retirement communities. Also, a lot of the older timber communities are dying.
On snow on the ocean- it is rare because the on shore pacific weather pattern is "relatively" mild (most weather goes from west to east).

The winters on the coast are
brutaly wet and dark, however.

Political mood- depends upon where you are. Portland is very liberal, as is Eugene. Eastern, Southern, and MOST of Central Oregon is conservative, but more in a Montana way than a Mississippi way (if that makes any sense).
Pros/Cons depend entirely upon where in Oregon you live. Some parts are urban (Portland), some parts feel like they are a millon miles from a city (Enterprise/Baker, etc.), some are lively smaller towns (Bend). Further, some are wet (Portland), some are VERY dry (central/eastern). And what amounts to a pro/con depends upon your tastes. As a whole, Oregon has a lot of outdoor recreation and variety of topography and weather. On the whole, the state is a little less "hip" and "contemparary" than most parts of the country. Portland prides itself on being progressive, but it always feels about 20 years out of date. Other parts of the state are similar to Maine, Vermont, or Montana.

Just arguing (again) about coastal weather. We can have bright sunny (and even warm) days at any time of the year. In January, we had about 3 straight weeks of sunny days. Today, for instance, it was really raining and gray all morning. Later this afternoon, it became sunny and I sat outside and read. That is typical. The weather here changes in a heartbeat. We love living here!

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by Dorineonthemove

Wondering if Klamath area is health conscious, alternative energy thinking, great restaurants, friendly to non-natives, positive attitude, how extreme is weather, are gardens and fruit trees possible, how expensive with regards to property taxes, cost of living and real estate (land no home 20-30 acres) . Have lived in PA (outside of Phili), Delaware, Virginia (presently and on/off 15 yrs), Iowa, Montana, northern NY west of Adirondack (13 yrs lots of snow and to -50 with lots of gray because of Lake ontario yuck!) Looking for 4 seasons, enough rain to grow own food, safe, friendly, adventurous, non-redneck (if obnoxious about it- like central-western Virginians) and not bible belt born agains, and within 45 minutes drive of good shopping (trader joe's, best buy, goodwill, world market, locally owned stores), pro-chiropractors, massage therapist and alternative health practitioners?? Trying to be specific on this family's wants don't care about schools k-12. We have a lot to offer an area and are looking for our fit!!!

No, no, no, no, no. Klamath Falls is the LAST place you'd want to look. Absolute last. It's probably the worst town in Oregon. And out in the county there isn't much of what you're looking for either.