I really enjoyed Portland...now I need some advice (Gresham: transplants, house)

[footballer0607]

Hi, I'm only 21 but already got my bachelor's. I'm from the Bay Area and am looking for a change of scenery for several reasons. First, we have BART but traffic can still be a pain. Second, two months ago there were like 200 wildfires burning across California. Finally, it looks like the cost of living has killed any hope of me getting a place on my own after school. So far, I've enjoyed Portland more than any other place I've visited. I was impressed with how clean and safe the city looked for its size, but was only there a week, so is this accurate? Is there a lot to do, as far as say, the nightlife, for young people? How convenient is the Tri Max? I like to have the city be accessible, but prefer to live in peace and quiet, so which parts of the city or suburbs would that be possible? Last, I'm black, so there wouldn't be any issues living in any spots, would there? Almost everyone seemed progressive and tolerant, but I was just in the city, didn't go out to the suburbs.

[Bluesbabe]

Do you drive? Our Max is about the same as Bart in that it's a main artery, only it's above ground (well, practically all of it). If you're planning to rely on mass-transit, do your homework and study the system WELL, because too many busses don't run as frequently as they should. Try to find something close enough to Max to help you along.

Are you willing to live in "boring burbs" as long as you can Max or bus it to the Portland scene? Then you have choices. Beaverton and Hillsboro are good ones. In the other direction, there's the Lloyd Center Dist, the Hollywood Dist. SE Hawthorne is a funky, more throwback-hippie'ish area.

Big music scene in Portland for the younger set. Summertime has numerous, countless, festivities going on, arts and performing arts, and there's plenty of outdoorsy stuff like hiking, biking. Winter can be a challenge, but you could make that your "quiet time" of the year.

Any other questions?

[deegers]

There's lots of places that have peace and quiet. I visited right off of Belmont reall close to the city and it was so quiet and peaceful, I was amazed I was in an urban area! But, I saw the burbs and I loved them as well. The train seems like a great transportation, but alittle limited to some towns. They are big on biking everywhere. I wouldn't worry about the color of your skin. I think it is what you make of it that counts. Don't let that stop you to go where you want to. But, I saw different races, though not many, it would be good to see more, right? Every relationship takes time and effort. I spoke with a 4 year resident of the neighborhood I was in and she was just starting to meet natives of Portland. SHe mostly knew other transplants.

Good luck!

[footballer0607]

Thanks to both of the above reviewers! Yeah I had a good feeling about Portland both of the times that I was there, but just wasn't sure I had spent enough to know for sure. Are there any parts of the city that would be best for me to stay out of? To answer Bluesbabe's question, yes I do drive, but mainly just to get around the suburbs; whenever I go to Oakland or SF then I just drive 10 min from my house and hop on BART. Also, what's the weather like in the winter? Is it as rainy as Seattle? I was in Portland June and October.

[Leisesturm]

Footballer, honestly, there isn't any well defined area of Portland in which you would be well advised to avoid. Chances are though, given your preferences you will be living east or west of the city proper and MAXing into Downtown. That's what I thought. Actually, I never make it that far. I live in Hillsboro which is as far west as the MAX goes but rarely do I make it past Beaverton which is 7 miles eastward towards Downtown. That could change of course but certainly the towns of Hillsboro and Beaverton and also the towns of Gresham and Troutdale which flank the city to the east are reasonably self sufficient to see you supplied with shopping and nightlife. But I am more than twice your age, take my opinions FWIW. But, since I am also black, my observations on neighborhood safety should count for something. Chances are you will wind up in not so close in NE or SE (high 30's through 70's), possibly North Portland or St. John's. It isn't the country like where I live but for a 21 y.o., well its what I'd be doing if I were 21. OTOH if you really want the suburban experience I suggest you go west young man. Not close in west but really out as in Beaverton or Hillsboro. The ride east on MAX is too often elivened by the presence of "MAX characters" as my fiance (yes, we've been upgraded) calls them. Otherwise the actual 'living' in far out east Portland is about the same as the far out west, its just the getting there that is easier going west. The transition from city to suburb is also smoother going west. Again, FWIW.

H