Oregon's Middle Class (Portland, Salem: employment, neighborhood, buy)

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by ccjarider

As a newcomer here to Portland - I liked that fact that others before me, came here with no plan.
I was able to buy their house for almost nothing (Heck - I only did it to help them out

Actually are there THAT many people contemplating moving here or is just a figment of internet traffic imagination??

Just my observation in from what I see but I think there are. It's a good place to live if you can make it here.

[makeitagreatday]

....every large city seems to have an influx of newcomers, especially when times are hard, because many assume they can find jobs in the larger cities when they cannot in the smaller towns. Portland is no different than any other city in terms of the number of people moving there and probably actually has less than a number of other equally sized cities that do not experience cold and/or wet weather and grey skies. This being said, it is nice to not be concerned with neither job hunting nor weather and simply house hunting for our move there.

[khyron]

Originally Posted by makeitagreatday

Portland is no different than any other city in terms of the number of people moving there and probably actually has less than a number of other equally sized cities that do not experience cold and/or wet weather and grey skies.

I think you might want investigate some data sources behind that claim, because while it might be true that older married couples with children are deterred by the "undesirable" weather (cough cough) the majority of younger people I know (both who live here now or want to move here) are completely undeterred by this climate.

In fact many of my friends from all over the U.S. would rather move here than any similarly sized city (or, for some, any U.S. city whatsoever) and the only thing keeping most of them from seriously considering doing so is the job market. The weather is not an issue for them, or is far-outweighed by many other factors. This is actually part of the dilemma that Portland faces with regard to its (un)employment situation.

I would argue that Portland is actually very different than most other cities of similar size when it comes to "the number of people who are moving here" (or would like to move here). Portland is currently much more popular, among several key demographics, than a number of comparable metro areas across the country. This actually has a demonstrable impact on Portland's (un)employment situation in certain sectors.

[nietzschedanced]

I say this every time it comes up, but since it's come up again...I will never be able to understand an adult just up and moving to a new city without a job or job prospects, a thorough plan, and substantial savings. This is just one of those stubborn, self-centered American tropes that blows my mind. What goes on in the minds of these people? Do they believe in fairy dust or something? Have they had one of those enviable lives where the universe (or their parents) have just always provided for them so they don't have any concept of risk or consequences or self-reliance?

In 2005 I turned 60 and a month later I moved from PA to OR. I'd purchased & refitted a Dodge van, had a few grand to stake me but I'd never been West nor did I have a job or even know anyone.
Throughout life my jobs determined where I lived and who uses their few vacation days exploring distant cities or states?

I felt confidence in my own abilities to adapt & survive and six years later I'm doing fine. It's the self reliant types that step off the edge, not the ones clinging to mama's skirt.

[Fiddlehead]

I have as much wanderlust as the next guy, but having a plan is key.

My wife ends up giving out a lot of food stamps to people who have just moved here from somewhere else, with all sorts of phony reasons why they don't have income (checks from the folks maybe?), but still manage the $4 lattes and have kayaks on top of the 4runner. Down here in S. Oregon, the economy REALLY stinks, but people come anyway without due diligence, and expect their fellow citizens to pick up the tab. I am not impressed by the entitled attitudes I see.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

I have as much wanderlust as the next guy, but having a plan is key.

My wife ends up giving out a lot of food stamps to people who have just moved here from somewhere else, with all sorts of phony reason why they don't have income (checks from the folks maybe?), but still manage the $4 lattes and have kayaks on top of the 4runner. Down here in S. Oregon, the economy REALLY stinks, but people come anyway without due diligence, and expect their fellow citizens to pick up the tab. I am not impressed by the entitled attitudes I see.

One example of that is people who post here stating they want to relocate Oregon and ask how they can get government assistance right off the bat. If it's work they need, they should be looking at states where the employment picture is better.

There is also a difference of moving to a place without a plan when children are involved. The wanderer going alone will more than likely make it but does not have to worry about a family to support.

The people with children depending upon them for support do need to have a plan. Judging by some who post in this forum wanting to move their families here without means of support, there are many who just do not put their families first.

[Fiddlehead]

Here in Ashland, we get people who have an attitude or "I could never live there!" about terrible towns like (gasp...choke..) Medford, or do that type of work. It HAS to be feng shui design and free lance writing or bikram yoga in Ashland..... with public assistance. Beyond annoying.

[makeitagreatday]

Every state has it's fair share of those with their hand out and it's annoying to those of us who are in effect, indirectly assisting them financially. Michigan was (not sure if it still is) known as the 'welfare wonderland' and their monthly check was, and I'm sure still is, dependant upon who you know at the office to just push your paperwork through. Don't even think about trying to do your grocery shopping the first Friday of the month (the stores actually double up on workers on this day) because the stores are so crowded with the welfare recepients. (I'm serious--I actually asked one Friday because it was WILD.) I've heard that often times the people that actually needed assistance were not helped at all and simply turned away without so much as a glance at their paperwork. It seems that some states and cities attract more of this group and unfortunately, Portland seems to be one.

[Daisy32673]

Originally Posted by makeitagreatday

Every state has it's fair share of those with their hand out and it's annoying to those of us who are in effect, indirectly assisting them financially. Michigan was (not sure if it still is) known as the 'welfare wonderland' and their monthly check was, and I'm sure still is, dependant upon who you know at the office to just push your paperwork through. Don't even think about trying to do your grocery shopping the first Friday of the month (the stores actually double up on workers on this day) because the stores are so crowded with the welfare recepients. (I'm serious--I actually asked one Friday because it was WILD.) I've heard that often times the people that actually needed assistance were not helped at all and simply turned away without so much as a glance at their paperwork. It seems that some states and cities attract more of this group and unfortunately,

Portland seems to be one.

Based on what?

[khyron]

Originally Posted by nietzschedanced

In 2005 I turned 60 and a month later I moved from PA to OR. I'd purchased & refitted a Dodge van, had a few grand to stake me but I'd never been West nor did I have a job or even know anyone.
Throughout life my jobs determined where I lived and who uses their few vacation days exploring distant cities or states?

I felt confidence in my own abilities to adapt & survive and six years later I'm doing fine. It's the self reliant types that step off the edge, not the ones clinging to mama's skirt.

If you've been employed most of your life and have reached a level of self-confidence and self-reliance that allows you to adapt so readily to a new environment, finding fulfillment on your own without help from others...then clearly you're not the kind of person I'm criticizing.