Eastern Oregon - Good place to live?

[GOBLE612000]

I moved to Malheur County 15 years ago from the Coos Bay area. I used to think I needed all the green trees and such to feel comfortable, but I soon changed my mind. I enjoy being able to get up on a mountain and be able to see for a hundred miles. That would be impossible on the coast.

I am retired now, and will never move back. My kids mostly live around the greater Portland area, but if they want to see me, they will come visit me here. Here, the air is cleaner, the sun shines much more, and doesn't rain as much. Ontario gets about 9 inches a year, but there is usually enough water to meet your needs. The ground water is mostly very hard though, and requires treatment.

With the abundent streams, lakes, and reserviors, outdoor recreation is available to match anything the coast has to offer. The trout fishing is fantastic in this area, with rainbows plentiful in the 16 to 20 inch range pretty common, and we catch bigger than that quite often. The crappie, bass, catfish, etc., fishing in this area has to be among the best in the state.

Yes, it's true that gang activity has increased in eastern oregon, it is still in proportion to the population. I can tell you, it has nothing to do with the prison being here. The prison pumps millions of dollars into the local economy annually, and is the best thing that has happened to Malheur County. This is a wonderful place to live and I highly recommend it.

[teacups]

I live in La Grande, and I have about 80 rose bushes. Not hybrid teas, mind you, but they do well and I have a double lot just because I love to garden. It's hard clay, but you can ammend that and I use a surface drip system but spidermite control is more an issue than aphids, due to the summer heat rather than rainy/moist conditions. But it can be done! There are 2 houses for sale across the street from me directly, come on over! It would be welcome change to chat with someone with a more cosmopolitan mind set. That would be refreshing.

[Alexious]

Originally Posted by kbbhere

We are thinking of moving over to the eastern part of Oregon... We want 4 seasons and some hot weather in the summer...We like to fish and swim, have no kids and are in our low 50's. We like to garden also. One of the main reasons we are moving over there also is the low cost of housing.

Have you looked at Klamath Falls at all? The housing there is reasonable and it would fit what your after as far as climate goes. It also has an abundance of outdoor activities available (hiking, fishing, ect.).

However, unlike La Grande, it actually has some shopping and a proper airport (though the only place you can fly is up to Portland). Actually, if inexpensive housing is one of your criteria, I'm not sure why people are recommending La Grande. Housing there can be quite expensive due the small supply.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by Alexious

However, unlike La Grande, [Klamath Falls] actually has some shopping and a proper airport (though the only place you can fly is up to Portland).

As of July we got our San Francisco flights back. So you have an option to go south from Klamath Falls as well. Plus we have an Amtrak stop, which is great for hops up to the Willamette Valley and Portland.

[nbres]

Eastern Oregon is a great place to live.