Thoughts/Questions on Oregon after recent visit. (Portland, Eugene: renter, how much)

[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?

[puerco]

I can't answer the first question. I'm sure there are some communities that are dominated by people over 50, tho.
Snow is very rare right on the coast. But because the Coast Range goes right down to the ocean it can be snowy on the hills. But for the most part the beach and the hills are snow-free. It's because of the 'warmth' of the ocean and the westerlies that blow off of it.
Oregon is a Blue state mainly because Portland, Eugene, and Corvallis are among the largest and most liberal cities. Southern Oregon and Central and Eastern Oregon are conservative areas. And Albany and Salem are a bit on the conservative side, too.
The only con I can think of is the 9-month rainy season in Western Oregon. I'm a renter so I can't talk about the tax situation.

[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.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by ManGoneADreamin

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

I don't think we have more or less than other states. If you spent most of your time on the coast, then those areas do have a lot of retirees.

Originally Posted by ManGoneADreamin

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!

The valley and coast don't get a lot of snow because we stay too warm. We have a lot of cloud cover in the winter which keeps us warmer, but it also means gray days.

Originally Posted by ManGoneADreamin

Political mood of state?

Funky. We just have funky politics here. We have conservative and liberal laws here. We're just funky.

Originally Posted by ManGoneADreamin

What are the pro's and con's of living in Oregon?

Well this depends on your perspective. An older retiree will probably see different pros and cons vs. a single person vs. someone with kids.

[Terryj]

On average Oregon really doesn't get that much rain when compared with others states. Oregon receives about 38" of rain per year whereas some states in the Southeast receive about 60" per year. The difference is Oregon receives its annual rainfall throughout the year with summer being the driest. This has a tendency to distort the perception that it rains all the time when it may only rain a few hours a day or a drizzle that may last all day long.

[Oregonbeachlover]

Originally Posted by Terryj

On average Oregon really doesn't get that much rain when compared with others states. Oregon receives about 38" of rain per year whereas some states in the Southeast receive about 60" per year. The difference is Oregon receives its annual rainfall throughout the year with summer being the driest. This has a tendency to distort the perception that it rains all the time when it may only rain a few hours a day or a drizzle that may last all day long.

Yes, and another perception is that western Oregon gets little sun. I lived in the valley for many years and now live on the coast. So many of the so called "cloudy" days have sun too. Plus, clouds are what give the sky its beauty, in my opinion. The glass is half full or half empty.

[davefr]

Originally Posted by Oregonbeachlover

Yes, and another perception is that western Oregon gets little sun. I lived in the valley for many years and now live on the coast. So many of the so called "cloudy" days have sun too. Plus, clouds are what give the sky its beauty, in my opinion. The glass is half full or half empty.

The coast seems to have more sun in the winter then the valley.

In the valley you can have weeks go by without ever seeing the sun. The valley tends to get the gloom, fog and overcast that stays for long periods of time. (the lower the elevation, the worse it is)

Even though the coast is wetter then the valley, it seems like the storms move in and move out with some period of sun in between. I haven't seen the coast get these month long stretches of constant fog, overcast and gloom. The weather on the coast is much more dynamic.

[Oregonbeachlover]

Originally Posted by davefr

The coast seems to have more sun in the winter then the valley.

In the valley you can have weeks go by without ever seeing the sun. The valley tends to get the gloom, fog and overcast that stays for long periods of time. (the lower the elevation, the worse it is)

Even though the coast is wetter then the valley, it seems like the storms move in and move out with some period of sun in between. I haven't seen the coast get these month long stretches of constant fog, overcast and gloom. The weather on the coast is much more dynamic.

Maybe you are right because I really do LOVE the coastal weather and I didn't "love" the valley weather. Also, there was a difference for me when we moved from a house on the north side of a hill, covered with trees. I thought winters there were a lot grayer than when, during our last 5 years in Salem, we lived in a house, with openness all around outside and with many south facing windows. I used to comment on how much light we got in that house, even on a cloudy gray day. So, again, I want to tell people that where your windows are, makes a huge difference in the amount of winter light you get. In that last house, it seemed to always be light inside....it was great!

[mamh]

Ok, my two bits worth on this..We are senior citizen living in Salem, I think there are pockets where seniors tend to live, many return to oregon to be near family and in the case of the valley good medical facilities, there are those like my husband and I who simply fell in love with this part of oregon and made it home, we have no family nearby..most seniors are active in their community too.
I find the gloom thing almost funny, spent a long time living near Travis Air Force Base in northern Ca and it can get real foggy and yukky there and there isn't anything like that up here..
Weather other than thunderstorms just isn't a worry for me..I hate T-storms.
Yes, our house faces north and south with lots of windows on the east and west side...
thats my dollar 2.98 worth.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by mamh

thats my dollar 2.98 worth.

Wow...that's $2.96 more than what other people are willing to offer. That just goes to show you how generous Oregonians are.

I'll still take our grayish winters over midwest cold any day.