What city did you finally move to, and why? (Portland: spring break, low crime)

[WhatTheHeck]

I've been looking around this site at cities in Oregon. I went to Portland, didn't care for it -- too much like a little Los Angeles for me. Loved the feel and look of Eugene, but there's an undercurrent I don't like that I can't quite put my finger on. Sort of like I couldn't really relax there, feel completely safe or something. Loved Ashland but more likely as a vacation than a home. Might be too small for me. Now I'm considering Silverton. So far what I've read, it sounds great. Haven't been there yet, but plan to soon.

My question is: for all the posters here who have been considering Silverton, or something equivalent, did you go? Did you move? If so, how do you feel about it now? If not, why not, and did you go somewhere else?

And any other input you might have. Thanks.

[WhatTheHeck]

p.s. to the question: What city did you finally move to, and why?

Of course I welcome all responses, not just those from previous posters! I'm also wondering if anyone has any experience with earthquakes in Silverton? How about flooding? And anything else you can add that I didn't think to ask. Thanks.

[scottinpdx]

I am currently living in my hometown of McMinnville, Why? Born & Raised here. I might move out of the srea but who knows. lol, I am 31 and have lived in Oregon my whole life and the only earthquake I have ever felt was the spring break quake back in 1993 which was a magnitude 5.6. So it is something I would not worry too much about. Flooding is a concern in Oregon with our rainfall, and can be a issue but but the worst I have seen it was in 1996 and it was pretty bad. A Few years back some small towns between Portland and the Coast got hit hard with flooding.

[WhatTheHeck]

thanks for the info burnhams. the flooding does concern me. you've had less quakes than in California. but that must have been one spring break back in 1993!

[aroseinrain]

Strange thing about flooding though: I lived in Oregon my whole life and heard a story of flooding in a coastal town once. Since moving to California I have witnessed actual flooding (the kind where people have to lay sandbags around their doors etc) almost every year! I think that Oregon is actually better equipped to handle flooding somehow - or maybe it's because it just drizzles most of the time so the water has time to drain. (and I remember that earthquake too - that was fun!)

[WhatTheHeck]

thanks aroseinrain. i guess it comes down to the geography of where you live, and the kind of rain. having lived my entire life in So. Calif. i feel like an oddball here because i love the rain. but then we don't get that much. but the gray drizzly days we do get actually make me feel good. i'm hoping that if i move to Oregon, that i still feel that way after living in it for a while.

[BirdInHand]

We settled in Hillsboro where my job was. We looked at most of the Washington County towns and the West Hills. We love that Hillsboro is a fairly large city but still has that small town community feeling. Our top priorities were 1) schools 2) neighborhood 3) quality Park & Rec system.

We knew we wanted to be on the West Side of Portland. We fell in love with the scenery, proximity to the mountains and beaches, friendly people, low crime, there is just so much to enjoy. We have lived all over the U.S., in the mid-west, south etc. We have now survived our second winter here, we like the rain but the gloomy short days of December and January can be rough. However, nothing beats going storm chasing on the Oregon Coast. It all pays off though when the seasons change and the colors are revealed and everchanging.