Coos Bay Family Life (Portland, Eugene: rv park, hoa, job)

[hot-dogg-man]

daxandveronika

My Wife and I are looking in to Coos Bay also, I am a Plumbing Contractor here in Calif. for over seven years and just so you know the state of Or.will not let you plumb there unless you have a Or. state journeyman's lic. and the state of Or. will not let me take there test with over 22,000 hours as a Lic. Plumbing Contractor.

But we are still thinking about Coos Bay

[sunspotsAZ]

Don't know much about plumbing, but my husband and I are heading up to Coos Bay in a few weeks to check out the area. Does anyone out there have any advice of what we absolutely must see while in the Bay area (Coos/North Bend)? We will have our 2 year old with us, so it would be nice to have some guidance before going. Our main goal is to see what the people are like, the daily life, the scenery and of course have some seafood. Any advice would be helpful.

sunspotsAZ

[hot-dogg-man]

AZ
we lived in Kingman for 2 1/2 years from what I was told about Coos Bay it's about 25K to 31K pop small town we are also plane to go there for to check it out make sure that you let us know what you think

[sunspotsAZ]

hot-dogg-man-

No problem....we're looking forward to seeing it in person and although I have my reservations about leaving what I know, I'm going to go up with an open mind and learn as much as I can about the place that may be our future home. We won't be going until the beginning of August, but I'll write upon our return.

sunspotsAZ

[seashelly]

Originally Posted by sunspotsAZ

Don't know much about plumbing, but my husband and I are heading up to Coos Bay in a few weeks to check out the area. Does anyone out there have any advice of what we absolutely must see while in the Bay area (Coos/North Bend)? We will have our 2 year old with us, so it would be nice to have some guidance before going. Our main goal is to see what the people are like, the daily life, the scenery and of course have some seafood. Any advice would be helpful.

sunspotsAZ

Here's where I'd send you: A 2 year old definately needs to see a working lighthouse, barking sea lions, sandy beaches, and lots of boats. From the Bay Area, head west to Charleston (when you cross over the drawbridge, turn into the harbor area to see a real working fishing harbor). Watch the catches come directly off the boats. Check out the seafood restaurants. Continue driving out along Cape Arago Highway stopping at Bastendorf Beach (might be surfers out) to run in the sand then head on to Sunset Bay to dip your toes in the water (might be kayakers here) then stop at the pull-off to view the Cape Arago Lighthouse (blinking but cannot walk out to it) and for sure stop at the pull-off and watch and listen to all the barking sea lions out on the rocks (bring binoculars/there's also a coin-scope) pull into Shore Acres Park (for a great view of the Pacific Ocean and great place to storm watch where the surf bangs against the rocky cliffs and also there's a flower garden park to walk thru) and then just drive on to the end of the Cape Arago Loop for another great view of the South Coast. Now, to actually go inside of a Lighthouse, since Coquille Lighthouse in Bandon is in face-lift mode, head about 15 miles north on 101 and tour the Umpqua Lighthouse (the one on the new postage stamp with the red lense) at Winchester Bay area and see the dunes and ATVers, and a harbor and beaches. Also, along the Coos Bay Boardwalk (the place with all the flags) is an interesting covered dock to walk with your 2 year old and see a couple of the older tugs on display and read some of Coos Bay Maritime History. When you want to meet us real people, just walk thru our Wal-Mart. If you're checking on family neighborhoods, keep North Bend in mind. Have a fun visit!

[sunspotsAZ]

Great advice Seashelly! I really appreciate the details you have written and I just love the idea of walking through Wal-Mart It sounds like we will have a lovely visit and we can't wait! Even if things don't work out, we're always happy to see new things.

sunspotsAZ

[tiffela74]

BTW, theres a really good Boys and Girls club here in Coos Bay, I have 3 kids, ranging from 13 down to 5yrs and they are all involved at the club in one way or another. They have a terrific gymnastics program that the kids can start when they are walking, and goes all the way to the highest levels. In fact, they held the biggest gymnastics meet in Oregon here not too long ago. The program is wonderful. The club also has a terrific dance program, I think they have to be 3 to start, but have a wide variety of dance. They offer soccer, volleyball, and many other sports, plus have a wonderful day program too where they kids can get art instruction, homework help, etc.
The libraries here offer kids story time, and have different visitors come and do shows (ie The Reptile Man....I'll let the hubby take the kids to that one! lol) Mingus park is a beautiful park here in town that often times has something or another going on for the family. I know we also just had a July Jubilee downtown that many of the kids were going nutso at.
As for the schools, we've seen better, and we've seen worse. I think in order to have a good experience, you have to stay right on top of things. There are a lot of terrific opportunities here that many kids dont get in other areas. LIke MARE, they have a working lab right there at the school, and have marine biologists working and teaching the kids. Lots of wonderful field trips to the bay or to the oceanside. Boating safety classes, and required swimming lessons all through school. They're constantly revising the menues, and all kids get a free breakfast each day. They have some terrific reading programs going on at both the grade schools and the middle school. I don know bout the high school, mine are quite there yet. If public schools not for you, ive heard wonderful things about Lighthouse (charter school) and there are some very good private schools here in town.
Seashelly has some wonderful suggestions for what to see and do while you're here. I'll second them
we moved here from the Portland area and all of us (except husband since he spent summers here) were pretty aphrehensive about living here....id heard so much negative and believe me, my folks spent months trying to talk us out of it, but after getting used to it, I really enjoy it. My kids are happy and thriving, they do everything from sports to drama and adore being able to make a 5 min. run to the beach anytime we want. Or the endless seafood....theres a lot of stuff you can do w/fresh crab! Almost everyone Ive met here has been friendly. I like it.
Best of luck to you!
Tiffany

[turnerfamily]

First let me explain ;you're moving into an area that basicly was lumber or fishing for it's majority work force.It currently relies mostly on tourism I would say.It is very limited to high tech work force due to the fact that the employee base for highering is none.The schools are very good up to the high school level but after that the opportunities are limited ;comparied to lets say Eugene or Portland areas.Oregon has no sales taxes and property taxes are pretty low(unless you've got a view of the ocean).The thing that's the worst is income taxes taken out of your check.Almost highest in the country.So needless to say-no large scale labor force-no state income from those taxes.Which leads to local bonds,levys that are put to the voters to pass or your kids won't have pencils and paper for school supplies.They have tried to pass a sales tax but the people are stubborn and or retired on fixed incomes.It's a great place to grow up and the scenery is unbelievable but the area you speak of has no booming economy and because of that it has the after effects.

[sunspotsAZ]

Originally Posted by turnerfamily

First let me explain ;you're moving into an area that basicly was lumber or fishing for it's majority work force.It currently relies mostly on tourism I would say.It is very limited to high tech work force due to the fact that the employee base for highering is none.The schools are very good up to the high school level but after that the opportunities are limited ;comparied to lets say Eugene or Portland areas.Oregon has no sales taxes and property taxes are pretty low(unless you've got a view of the ocean).The thing that's the worst is income taxes taken out of your check.Almost highest in the country.So needless to say-no large scale labor force-no state income from those taxes.Which leads to local bonds,levys that are put to the voters to pass or your kids won't have pencils and paper for school supplies.They have tried to pass a sales tax but the people are stubborn and or retired on fixed incomes.It's a great place to grow up and the scenery is unbelievable but the area you speak of has no booming economy and because of that it has the after effects.

Are you still living there? I'm just curious, because my research shows me that even though timber is not a "money maker" for the bay area anymore...that the new natural gas pipeline as well as a few Tech companies from California are beginning to help with more jobs. Have you heard much about this....anyone? As for schools, I realize that there are not many to choose from as the years go on, but our hope is that we stay for several years before our kids get to junior high. We may move back to our home in AZ or possibly go to Eugene or Bend....only time will tell. Thanks for your input we are looking for all "words of wisdom".

sunspotsAZ

[Waterlily]

I read a flyer type of thing a few months ago. It was put out by the Bay area Coos Bay/North Bend. It showed what incomes were coming from where in this area. Now I don't remember everything on it but I do remember that fishing/lumber made up less than 10% of the money in the Bay area. It's cut down a lot. Now about 48% came from retired people. I knew I should have kept that flyer.

There is a fair sized call center which employs some people. The amount of people working there changes around a lot. The Casino, retail jobs,county, city,resturuants, and construction make up most of the work force.

It's a place where lumber and fishing used to be king but not any more. Oh I should mention there is a community college here too.

Yes there is a lot of tourism.