New job in Monmouth but want to be near Portland -- advice? (Salem: rental car, rental)

[HillsAndValleys2]

Yeah, I agree, looking like we'll be Salemites. Thanks!

[StealthRabbit]

Corvallis will be an excellent 'urban' option from Monmouth, If you ever have kids, there are some great country schools for elementary (Mennonite versions, as others too).

McMinnville is great too (more of a 'family town'), You can stay away from traffic, it is not so bad with the bypass (Coastal crowd). This will be a fine choice too (If you prefer more frequent access to Portland, than Corvallis).

For social / events, give all the metros a try and see what best fits you. (Salem, Portland, Eugene)

As a prof, you will end up with friends from other U's spread from Seattle to Ashland, and you will have plenty of places to stay the weekend with friends.

BTW; a few of my good friends and family got a very good education at WOU

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by HillsAndValleys2

Yeah, I agree, looking like we'll be Salemites. Thanks!

I liked the area around Bush Park. It wasn't exactly in the downtown core (but it was on the edges); I walked to Smith Auditorium at Willamette U. for symphony performances (weather permitting), to the Salem Library, and to the various activities in Bush Park and Deepwood.

[Nell Plotts]

I vote for Corvallis as well. Not a bad commute to Monmouth, not far from Eugene.

[jjpop]

Salem is the best choice. Closest access to Portland via freeway.

[Nell Plotts]

Portland is not the end-all. Corvallis and Eugene are college towns with the amenities that go with that. For example Eugene has a strong performing arts and artistic community. College towns are known for supporting their public schools.

[Metlakatla]

Not sure why public schools are an issue here...and the OP specifically wants to be near Portland. Eugene really isn't the same.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Not sure why public schools are an issue here...and the OP specifically wants to be near Portland. Eugene really isn't the same.

Yep. And in Salem, they'd have easy access to Portland, Eugene, and Corvallis as well as what Salem itself has to offer. It's a no-brainer.

[Leisesturm]

Portland has more population than Salem. I get that it would have more of many things than Salem. But not more things! If, for whatever reason, a person decided to live in Salem. Hmmm. I can't actually think of any reason why they would need to go to Portland regularly. In fact... when I lived in Salem I went for an entire year without ever visiting Portland. I saw concerts, I went to Orchid Society meetings, visited the Library, Minto Brown park. McGrath's. I actually went to Seattle a couple of times bypassing Portland entirely. But my point is that day to day there isn't a single amenity that a person, even an above average intellect, couldn't find in Salem. Not one thing. It's a fine place to live if you want to live there. Salem does not have the Timbers, but if someone were a hardcore Timbers fan I would recommend that they live in Portland! My point is that a city fails as a home IMO if you have to leave it every day, or every weekend to satisfy key wants or needs.

IMO people really should make more of an effort than they do to live close to their jobs. Really close. Like 10 or 20 minutes close. Walking! You may not actually achieve it, but if you set some standards at the beginning you could come awfully close. Certainly you won't find yourself with a 40 minute drive (on paper) that hardly ever turns out to be 40 minutes, but is actually closer to 60. And requires $100/wk in gasoline. Plus if you live somewhere you feel cannot provide for your intellectual and entertainment needs you will be putting more wear on your car and even more money in fuel to take yourself to emotional fulfillment every week. I'm so glad I married someone like minded. We have a great life living close (very) to our jobs and we happen to live in Portland, but we have lived in another city as well and followed the same principles to achieve far less stress and anxiety about traffic and other stressors than many that post here. FWIW.

[CAjerseychick]

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

Portland has more population than Salem. I get that it would have more of many things than Salem. But not more things! If, for whatever reason, a person decided to live in Salem. Hmmm. I can't actually think of any reason why they would need to go to Portland regularly. In fact... when I lived in Salem I went for an entire year without ever visiting Portland. I saw concerts, I went to Orchid Society meetings, visited the Library, Minto Brown park. McGrath's. I actually went to Seattle a couple of times bypassing Portland entirely. But my point is that day to day there isn't a single amenity that a person, even an above average intellect, couldn't find in Salem. Not one thing. It's a fine place to live if you want to live there. Salem does not have the Timbers, but if someone were a hardcore Timbers fan I would recommend that they live in Portland! My point is that a city fails as a home IMO if you have to leave it every day, or every weekend to satisfy key wants or needs.

IMO people really should make more of an effort than they do to live close to their jobs. Really close. Like 10 or 20 minutes close. Walking! You may not actually achieve it, but if you set some standards at the beginning you could come awfully close. Certainly you won't find yourself with a 40 minute drive (on paper) that hardly ever turns out to be 40 minutes, but is actually closer to 60. And requires $100/wk in gasoline. Plus if you live somewhere you feel cannot provide for your intellectual and entertainment needs you will be putting more wear on your car and even more money in fuel to take yourself to emotional fulfillment every week. I'm so glad I married someone like minded. We have a great life living close (very) to our jobs and we happen to live in Portland, but we have lived in another city as well and followed the same principles to achieve far less stress and anxiety about traffic and other stressors than many that post here. FWIW.

Good post Leisesturm, so true.
Quality of life is so much better if you live where you work! (In fact for 15 out of the first 20 years in my last city, I walked across the street to work and that panned out in so many ways).