Thinking of Portland (Sherwood, Hood River, Phoenix: cul-de-sac, fit in, find a job)

[lookingtorelocate]

Hi all,

Originally from the S.F. Bay Area, moved to Flagstaff, AZ to attend college and said I would never live in Phoenix, Az. Here I am 11 years later and living in Phoenix, Az. My husband and I both from originally from S.F. have never really loved Phoenix and this passed summer about did it for us. The heat was unbearable. We decided then that we needed to get out.

We have been looking into the Portland area. We have 2 children ages 4 and 7. We are looking for a family neighborhood. Where there are lots of kids playing outside, block parties and lots of kid friendly activities. Both of my children are active in sports soccer, basketball, baseball, dance, gymnastics and swimming. Schools are important also. Mostly the Catholic school system.

I need your help with the best areas and neighborhoods for us to live. Please be very candid about the Portland area and your thoughts on were we might fit in best.

Thanks

[tantajo]

I was bored and thought I would come to this forum and answer questions about portland. BUt it is too dang hard! Anyway I can't imagine any place in portland like you describe. Kids don't play outside here much. I've never even heard of a block party in portland.

The hard part about helping people choose an area is that most areas are about the same in portland. Sure you can range from southeast methville to stuck up NW, but the rest is about the average same. So really whatever area suits you would be acceptable.

[lookingtorelocate]

Hmm....ok forget the block parties. I think this may be a big thing in Pheonix. Because i don't remember any neighborhoods in S.F. Bay area that had them either. So maybe not Portland. What about the outer lying areas of Portland. Any thing that meets what I'm looking for in a neighborhood.
Thanks

[oldtintype]

Oh please. Kids play out here all the time. A neighborhood you should consider is Sellwood/West Moreland. It's full of families, great community, two great parks, a community center with tons of classes for kids, a library, lots of restaurants, cafes, a great kids shoe store, a swimming pool, very safe and there are two popular Catholic schools near by. One in the heart of Sellwood and one a short driving distance away. It's the kind of neighborhood you still see lemonade stands in, it's very walkable and a great place for families with young kids (yet very close to downtown). There are other neighborhoods in Portland too that would fit the bill for you--just depends on your price range. What is your price range anyway?

[Topaz]

I'd suggest Sherwood (OR) or Camas (WA). Both are closer to what you describe than Portland would be and they are both within commuting distance of Portland.

[lookingtorelocate]

Thank you all so much for the input. Our price range up to $400,000 to $450,000.

I have one other question for all you in Portland and please be very candid. I have read and also heard that Portland Businesses tend to hire younger like mid to late 20's and it's hard to find a job if you are older. We are in our late 30's. Also the pay is low. Personally I think Phoenix pay is terrible and I can't imagine it being much less than Phoenix.

My husband is in the marketing, Advertising business on the Creative side.

Thanks again

[GB1]

Originally Posted by lookingtorelocate

Thank you all so much for the input. Our price range up to $400,000 to $450,000.

I have one other question for all you in Portland and please be very candid. I have read and also heard that Portland Businesses tend to hire younger like mid to late 20's and it's hard to find a job if you are older. We are in our late 30's. Also the pay is low. Personally I think Phoenix pay is terrible and I can't imagine it being much less than Phoenix.

My husband is in the marketing, Advertising business on the Creative side.

Thanks again

The age-discrimination thing is true. Late 30s...frankly, I wouldn't make the move without at least one of you having a job in hand.

Advertising creatives...there are certainly a lot here, but I don't know if that's good (in that they always need more) or bad (in that it's a hypercompetitive field). But if your husband is in his late 30s without any connections here, I wish I could be more encouraging.

I agree with Topaz about Sherwood and Camas fitting your family's needs more than Portland itself. There are jogging-stroller families everywhere in Portland, but the city itself is not likely to have cul-de-sacs with basketball hoops on the curbs, which sounds like what you're looking for (and block parties - forget it!).

In addition, if your kids are that highly scheduled, I say that Sherwood/Camas would be better, just because those places are set up for the "mom/dad chauffeur" lifestyle (not a putdown - a joke!). There's also a subdivision called Bethany, west of Portland, that seems to be soccer parent central in some areas.

[lookingtorelocate]

Wow!! How does the cities businesses get away with age discrimination. I don't think we would move without one of us having a job, but this is very discouraging and quit frankly a let down. I would think with such a up and coming supposively progressive city that something like wouldn't make a difference. Especially since it's not like we at retiring age. I guess that's how they keep the salaries down. Sorry I don't mean to sound angry, but I really was hoping that this was not true.
Thanks again for the input.
Any one else with any information on this age discrimnation I would really like to hear about it. This may be a deal breaker for us.
We have to work to survive. If we were independly wealth this would be another thing, but that is not the case.

[Topaz]

Age discrimination definitely happens in creative and technology fields in both Portland and Seattle. I'm in a profession where I interact with these professionals and I've cringed when I've heard twenty somethings joke about "over the hill" thirty year olds. I've also been surprised by job ads here in Portland that say, "Great opportunity for young person to gain experience." That is totally illegal!

Other factors to consider are that the salaries in Portland are quite low compared to the cost of living and Oregon has a state income tax that takes a significant chunk of your annual income.

[lucero32]

Originally Posted by lookingtorelocate

Hi all,

Originally from the S.F. Bay Area, moved to Flagstaff, AZ to attend college and said I would never live in Phoenix, Az. Here I am 11 years later and living in Phoenix, Az. My husband and I both from originally from S.F. have never really loved Phoenix and this passed summer about did it for us. The heat was unbearable. We decided then that we needed to get out.

We have been looking into the Portland area. We have 2 children ages 4 and 7. We are looking for a family neighborhood. Where there are lots of kids playing outside, block parties and lots of kid friendly activities. Both of my children are active in sports soccer, basketball, baseball, dance, gymnastics and swimming. Schools are important also. Mostly the Catholic school system.

I need your help with the best areas and neighborhoods for us to live. Please be very candid about the Portland area and your thoughts on were we might fit in best.

Thanks

First off... I'm not sure where in Portland these people live, but there are annual block parties in my neighborhood, usually around Memorial Day. Actually, there are many parties as each block has their own. Last year we called the Portland Fire Dept. and they sent an engine for all the kids to check out, it was a great success. I live in NE Portland (Grant Park), but I know other neighborhoods close-in (Beaumont-Wilshire) have them as well.

As for age-discrimination, I'm sure it exist, but I know of many people in their mid-30's who have moved here who were able to find good jobs (including myself). It all really depends on your area of expertise and level of experience. I would definitely make some exploratory visits and meet with some reps. in various HR departments before making a move. But that goes for anytime you are considering a move.

As for neighborhoods, there are many you can choose from which would fit the bill. In the NE I'd recommend Wilshire and Rose City Park and in the SE, as was stated earlier, Sellwood and West Moreland would be great options. You need to come up and visit, walk the streets of each neighborhood to really get a feel for which one would fit you best. Portland is a family friendly city with all kinds of great activities for kids and young families in general. The city of Portland has a lot of great programs for kids of all ages. As fairly recent arrivals, my family has found Portland to be great. My son (he's 2 1/2) took an art class and I'll be taking him to a dance class all through the local community center. My wife takes him to the local library for his "reading" group, and we have annual passes to both the OMSI and Zoo which are wonderful. We recently took him to "Zoo Lights" at the zoo and he loved it, riding the zoo train was a hit! Considering Portland is a fairly large city, it has managed to hold onto many small city/family types of activities. In the fall you'll be able to go to an actual pumpkin patch, take hay rides, and visit orchards (Peach and Apple). In the winter, you can venture out and cut down your own Christmas tree (The Hood River Train is great). In the spring we liked going to the Tulip Festival. Oh, and in Summer...the options will be limitless. My wife loves to go to the u-pick flower farms and cut fresh flowers, my son loves all of the berries, I love our local Farmer's Market. I think Portland sounds like a great fit.


Good luck...