Anyone from the Twin Cities moved here? (Portland, Redwood: transplants, rent)

[bobblehead123]

Are there any transplants from the twin cities that can tell me anything about their move? Anything at all....as I am exploring the idea of moving here to Portland, I would like to get as much info as possible.

Do you like the weather better? How comparable is the cost of living? What are some similarities and differences? Did you rent or buy? How did you transport your belongings?

Thanks!

[Ryant]

Hey Bobblehead123. Yes, I did. The cost of living is about the same. I moved into a downtown studio for $725(pretty good deal actually)! I kind of like what someone else said, if you're looking for something different, it's completely different out here. The feeling I got from moving to DC and Chicago was it wad about the same as the twin cities. Not the case here!

I like the weather better. I like almost everything about Portland. I lived in Minnesota for 26 years, and almost 3 here now..

I drove out, and it's a great drive : ) Spokane is the biggest town between Minneapolis and here lol.

[bobblehead123]

Hi Ryan! thanks for the reply!

What about Portland is different?

What are housing prices like for a very small bungalow, fixer-upper? thanks.

[Ryant]

I'm not sure on the house prices. There is so many things that are different. The people, definitely.. The weather.. the whole area is mountains around here. I think for growing and types of plants we're a zone 8 where as minnesota is a zone 3 or 4.

[bobblehead123]

Thanks again, Ryan. Zone 8 is much better than zone 3, which is VERY limiting!

How are the people different?

thanks again!

[Ryant]

Yeah, no kidding.. out here you see all kinds of weird and tropical looking plants. Redwoods, ferns, lots of flowers. It makes some neighborhoods look pretty nice.

People are more open to chit chat here it seems to me. It seems like you can ask anyone "So, are you from here?" and they'll chit chat. I tried that once when I went back to MN and the guy looked at me like I was crazy and just said "of course.." lol. People dress weird here. They don't dress up, or have that preppy feal. They dress very casual. Now that I've been away for awhile I think "preppy" was a midwest thing only. Who knew? : )

I think it's just a very different place then a lot of the northern US, if that's what you're looking for. Like I said the east coast seemed almost the same as Minnesota to me..

[bobblehead123]

Sounds good to me! What I like are places to hike with my dog, gardening, friendly positive progressive people, and mild rainy weather. And I am vegan.

[Ryant]

That's Perfect! Of course you might want to check around but for me there is no other place.

A nice pic for ya.. Hopefully I'll be living down here in a floating home with a kayak, and a dog some day : )