From Oklahoma to Portland (Durham, Oakland: sublet, apartment complex, rent)

[bbowers1]

Hi everyone,

In a few months, I am planning on moving out of the southwest and into a completely different culture and climate. I'm 22 and planning on going to law school in the next two years. Before I do, I would like to strike out on my own and see a different side of the nation.

I love sunshine and warmth but I am looking for a city that can provide a different lifestyle than any place around me can (someplace where I can walk to different places, bicyclist-friendly, environmentally conscious). I am prepared to deal with 8 months of heavy cloud cover but think it will take its toll on me.

My question is this: I have no idea how to make a major move (I have lived in two places my entire life) or how to find work and an apartment in a city I've never been to. What kind of advice can some of you who have made similar moves provide? I'm excited to move but feeling very lost about how to plan!

(Any Okies in Portland that want to chime in about acclimation to the weather, feel free as well!)

[BLAZER PROPHET]

With the exception of a lot of gray & overcast days during the winter that many people say depresses them (I maintain one gets used to it and learns to appreciate sunny days) I think you'd like the weather. The rain means not as much cycling as you may be used to, but it's all the things you seem to be looking for. Lewis & Clark college churns out both enviromental attorneys and a large number of ambulance chasers.

[bobmulk]

At the age of 23 I was right out of Oregon State and after a few months, moved to Southern California. I remained there for eight years so I think I'm qualified to give insight on the path you're forging.

As for meeting people, obviously work will be the first place. But, you must temper that with the fact that these are people you'll be seeing every day. Do you want to see them in the evenings and on weekends, too? Also, do you want colleagues to have access to your personal life? I've found it's better to maintain that boundary.

For me, I was able to make friends when I found a church. It opened up all these possibilities. I got involved and went out and acquainted myself with people. This might not be an option for you if you're not a church-going person.

If that's the case, there are many other options...I also made friends in my apartment complex. Again, I just went out and met people at the pool or the mail box or in the carport. Also, you can look into getting involved with civic groups, business groups that are affiliated with your profession. Are you gay? Jewish? African-American? Socialist? Republican? Democrat?

In moving, I did not have a job lined up. I saved up money and stayed with my aunt and uncle in Pasadena (they invited me). They wouldn't accept any money which helped. In looking for a job, I lucked out and landed one within a month. It was retail management, the worst hell in the Western world, but it allowed me to remain in Southern California and eventually I gravitated towards something better.

As for finding an apartment, I don't know what it's like now having been a homeowner for years but I assume it's a little more involved. They will do a credit check, most likely want a wad of money up front. You'll want to check out the neighborhood--trash, undesirables, homeless, mendicants, illegals, graffiti. Talk to other residents to find out about how responsible the landlords are, how often has rent increased, etc.

It sounds like you're a college graduate. Congrats. That will help open doors immensely. But be prepared, I can pretty much guarantee that you will not be doing something that you're trained to do. Unless your degree is technical (and it sounds like it wouldn't be), be prepared to do something along the lines of retail management. You might find that it will be a price to pay in order to do what you want.

Then again, you might find something better. It will depend on how diligent and intelligent and creative you are in your search. Get online and place your resume. Place a couple of different resumes highlighting different skills so you're more marketable. Talk with your last college and ask for hints. Talk with law firms in OK for pointers on how to find work. Research all the different law firms here. Send them resumes and letters (absolutely NO TYPOS) and then show up at their door.

It's late and I've got to get going. I personally would love to help you out in person but I know they don't want people exchanging personal information. If there's more info you need or questions you have, let me know.

Also, it is NOT gray eight months out of the year. You will find that out. We get rain throughout the year; that doesn't mean that it's always overcast. It means that on a sunny day there will be clouds that will drop rain. Big deal. It's February 18 and flowers are already blooming in my neighborhood.

Good luck!

[Redrover]

Bob, I noticed that you had expressed a willingness to help this guy from Oklahoma but are reluctant due to a restriction on exchanging personal information. I have used this forum to locate realtors in two different cities and when we were expecting to move to North Carolina I spent a lot of time on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill board. I know that a number of people on that site made arrangements for meet-ups to get together and share their "new to the area" experiences. I can't believe there would not be a similar acceptance of your wanting to offer help to someone making a move to the Portland area. Just my take...

[oldtintype]

I thought it was a great gesture too!

[bobmulk]

Thank you. I guess it is possible for a person to send a "personal" note. I've received them. They're called "Direct Messages". Bbowers1 if you'd like to send me a personal note to chat via e-mail or phone, feel free.

I'm proud of Oregon and my state and would love to help you in any way I can.

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by bbowers1

Hi everyone,

In a few months, I am planning on moving out of the southwest and into a completely different culture and climate. I'm 22 and planning on going to law school in the next two years. Before I do, I would like to strike out on my own and see a different side of the nation.

I love sunshine and warmth but I am looking for a city that can provide a different lifestyle than any place around me can (someplace where I can walk to different places, bicyclist-friendly, environmentally conscious). I am prepared to deal with 8 months of heavy cloud cover but think it will take its toll on me.

My question is this: I have no idea how to make a major move (I have lived in two places my entire life) or how to find work and an apartment in a city I've never been to. What kind of advice can some of you who have made similar moves provide? I'm excited to move but feeling very lost about how to plan!

(Any Okies in Portland that want to chime in about acclimation to the weather, feel free as well!)

Hi I am a 55 year young former Tulsan 1954-1976 and 1988-1990: a veteran of two different military sevices , which gave me the opportunity to live in many locate..Texas..San Antonio..Mississippi..Biloxi-Gulfport..Florida..
Panama City...Virginia..The Hampton Roads Area...Massachusette..Cape
Cod Area....Alaska..Cordova...Hawaii..Honolulu. When i got out of the military
i settled into California..Los Angeles/Long Beach..San Francisco..Oakland..
Vallejo CA and continued to do some extenstive traveling through the United
States i have been in about 40 of the 50 states.

The one important thing to remember is to don't try and be a LONE
RANGER....and do everything all by your lonesone self , use professionals
to help you in all that you have to do , like finding a place to live "use Real
Estate Agents to set you up with a place in Oregon before you even move
out there.

Find Jobs. Build a Better Career. Find Your Calling. | Monster.com

Use monster dot com for job leads , and don't forget your own College Placement Office in Oklahoma. City-Data is a great idea to hook you up with
some information by way of doing some networking.But if you want to go on and do the LONE RANGER THING anyways why not think of traveling the Coast "staying in YOUTH HOSTELS you can meet tons of young people and
the accomdations only run about $10.00 to $20.00 a day, hope that i helped out just a little bit.

youthhostels.com - Hostels in Hawaii

[tantajo]

I've done this kind of move many times. I've actually moved from portland to oklahoma city and back.

Your best bet is to line up a sublet or temporary housing, or have the cash for a month of hotels. Then move there and get a job. Unless you are a professional in a ubiquitous field with a lot of experience, you probably won't get a job beforehand. And you can't really get an apartment without a job.

As far as the weather, june-sep is a paradise, really beautiful. the rest of the year sucks. it's not as cold as oklahoma, less snow in the winter and a 100 times less humid. and no damn tornadoes (yes i know there was one last year but it was a freak occurrence)

[bobmulk]

God, here we go again. The rest of the year (beyond June-Sept) does NOT suck. That is, unless you hate the changing of the colors in fall, you hate the new growth of spring, you hate a rainy day.

It does NOT rain nine months out of the year. It's March right now and flowers have been blooming for TWO WEEKS. It's sunny and gorgeous. We'll get rain, yes. So freakin' what? It's not torrential and constant. The gray days are not always. There will be times when it rains for two weeks. Several years ago it was gray for a month--an aberration for those of us who are peceptive.

[bbowers1]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I've never made a move with my family or to some place I wasn't familiar with. Right now, I'm still debating about where to move. I think my anxiety about finding a job and an apartment is one of those things that can only be solved by hitting the pavement. I really do love sunshine and warmth, but there are many things about Portland that I THINK I would love. I've never been there so no idea on how I would honestly feel. One of the main things driving me away is the price of apartments vs. the wages that can be earned.

Thanks for your offer Bob, if I ever have any other questions I'll message you.