Ever Just Packed up and Left? (Portland, Gresham: sales, apartment, good credit)

[DeviantHero]

Hello,

I am planning on packing up from Virginia and moving out to PDX, I have never really just left and being young I don't really know what to do or how to go about somethings. Wether that sounds naive or not, at least I am asking for guidance. I will be moving to be closer to my girlfriend and our little girl. Is it better to start out rooming with someone and then move out on my own?

What are the best and worst places to look to live, and where is the best job market? I have security background, and although Im not looking to be a cop its hard for jobs in PDX to take me seriously unless I live there, although to live there I want to almost be secure in knowing I wont be broke in a cardboard box in 4 months.

I have visited PDX and fell in love with it from the first moment I was there. Is there any good advice anyone can lend me? Also if you know of any jobs looking please PM me or keep me posted. I have been posting my resume and filling out job applications non stop I am prepared to move asap.

Also anyone looking for a roommate PM me, I dont smoke, or have pets Im just looking for a place to crash. I am willing to help with any bills and the rent. Im quiet and I keep to my self and Im looking preferably for short term housing not long term.

Thank you.

Deviant Hero

[Wicked Felina]

Craigslist will probably be your best bet in finding a roommate situation. Best/worst places to live are relative; the metro area has well over 2 million people which makes it difficult to narrow down 'good' areas. I think it might come down to which parts of which neighborhoods are best to avoid.

Keep in mind that PDX has fairly expensive housing, imo. The job situation is pretty tight & Oregon has over a 7% unemployment rate (per our news tonight). If you don't have any place secure to stay, bring lots of money with you. It's a really tough market now, for jobs and affordable housing.

Good luck to you ~

[In2Go4Lo]

MY girland I are tring to do the same. Allthoe we have never been to Oregon 100% sure we would love it there. Hard part now is selling all my stuff... Were tring to get there from Maui where the job market is pretty scarce as well. We also have a dog and 2 birds that were not willing to give up and seeing were only 22/23 with no education beyond highschool, make for a real scarey move. Please keep me informed on how it goes if you do indeed do it. Good luck have fun, peace out

[Leisesturm]

Originally Posted by DeviantHero

I will be moving to be closer to my girlfriend and our little girl. Is it better to start out rooming with someone and then move out on my own? ... ... Also anyone looking for a roommate PM me, I dont smoke, or have pets Im just looking for a place to crash. I am willing to help with any bills and the rent. Im quiet and I keep to my self and Im looking preferably for short term housing not long term.

Deviant Hero

Um... how does your girlfriend feel about this? Maybe it's none of my business but you hope to interest someone in your situation and I think given what you have put out there that without knowing more it would be very easy to simply 'pass' on bringing new drama home. I would think, again given what is known, that you would be looking for a place near where your family lives now? And the name you have chosen for your user ID... ... well, what's in a name... ... All I'm saying is you haven't painted a pretty picture and no, we don't want lies but some ... tact... goes a long way to getting the results one hopes for. FWIW

H

[Leisesturm]

Originally Posted by In2Go4Lo

... We also have a dog and 2 birds that were not willing to give up and seeing were only 22/23 with no education beyond highschool, make for a real scarey move. Please keep me informed on how it goes if you do indeed do it. Good luck have fun, peace out

Don't know how you two wound up in Paradise but don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Seriously, I am sure you would love PDX, we do, but Maui isn't exactly chopped liver. Its expensive and the job market is rough.... hmmm sounds exactly like PDX. My advice, stay put. At least for awhile. When you are ready to move you will know it and it won't be scary, it will be exciting... and a little bit scary. Seriously.

H

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by DeviantHero

Hello,

I am planning on packing up from Virginia and moving out to PDX, I have never really just left and being young ...

Thank you.

Deviant Hero

At least twice.

Left Beaverton near Portland for Boise on a week long vacation at age 19. Liked it, applied and got a job the next day, and the same interviewing manager called his nephew and lined up a roommate same day. Drove back to Beaverton, got my stuff and moved there for 6 to 8 months. Finally moved back, liking Oregon's climate better. But there were no real obstacles.

About 10 years ago, we decided we wanted to see the east coast. Shut down the business in one week, garage saled our good used furniture, moved to Savannah, asked for good schools and places to live AFTER we got there, lived in a motel 3 days, got an apartment with our good credit before the week ended. 10 minutes from the beach. May have stayed there a long long time had it not been for the fire ants and sand gnats which are a big deal since I work outdoors. I got a job in 2 weeks to supplement doing part time pruning business.

Moved back, started business again.

3 years ago, we moved to Medford near my wife's mother, anticipating me leaving landscape and tree care. Turns out that sales work caused more aches and pains than I ever felt in the horticulture trade, so went back into business fast. But my niche is north in the SW Portland area.

The latter moves were our whole family, not just myself.

So done it several times, and there always seems to be solutions.

If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I'd have moved several more times prior to getting married just for the adventure.

If you need extra cash, learn window cleaning on your own home right now. Move out here with 2 squeegees and the scrubber gadget. By a cheap aluminum step ladder when you get here, then go door to door with some $9 per 1000 business cards. Cut your hair, groom yourself and wear new jean and a polo shirt - no need for a logo. Just look sharp. DO ONLY single level dwellings to start if you have little experience. If you master training on your own windows, you want to bid at about what would be about $20 to $40 per hour.

There is no smaller overhead that I know of, than for one level home window cleaning. You need inside shoes and outside shoes.

I knew 5 people who started that business. One became very very large.

Great additional income.

The unemployment rate may be totally irrelevant if you go that angle.

[JasonP]

I too have picked up and made the move. It's quite an experience and everyone should do it at least once. For me, the move was from Glendale (Phoenix), AZ to Chicago. It lasted for about 6 months. I wouldn't change it though for the world, it really changes you as a person. At least it did for me. I didn't know a single person in this enormous city, didn't have a car for the first time in my life.... and I loved it.

I'd still be there except the weather wasn't a good fit. I really didn't mind the cold and snow and everything, but then when summer came along I couldn't deal with the humidity.

It seems like in Phoenix you are ready and prepared for the summer. You know it's going to suck, but you know that you have about 5 months of PERFECT weather for sticking it out through the summer. In Chicago though, it was like it was snowing one day..... kind of nice for like 3 days and then hot and muggy; which I didn't care for.

So now I'm making another fresh start..... In Portland. I think the weather is an absolute slam dunk match with what I want. I've heard that people get depressed or whatever when the sun doesn't come out. I'm the exact opposite, I'm in the best mood when it's overcast and cloudy. Of course I've lived on the face of the sun for most of my life, so a change sounds good to me.

I say you go ahead and make the move. Worst case... you can move back like I did.

[Bluesbabe]

The last two sound like pretty darn good encouragement from people who took the risk and made it work. I DO think you should make a contingency plan in case things don't work out. As JasonP wrote, you can always move back. But if that wouldn't be possible then you need to pre-think another plan.

Good luck.

[DeviantHero]

Well she does approve of me coming, and she is in her own situation as it is. So If I can move out there on my own than I will. I am looking for a roommate on craigslist and I have found some not so bad deals. One or two jobs has called me back so that is exciting.

Thank you for all the encouragement and for the helpful advice! I love the weather in PDX its exactly what I love and am looking for. We arent going to make it a forever but it will be for a few years. I have some resumes made, and its hard though.

Im 21, and I have no college exp, but because I was smart and have been working since 16 I have more exp than most 21 year olds. So that is a bonus, I think I will be coming out there no later than April to move. Im pretty excited.

If you have anymore helpful advice or tips, Id love to hear it! If anyone knows of any open jobs I really dont care what it is.. Im not looking for fast food or waiting tables I suck at it but anything else I am good at. PM me and let me know.

Thank you again.

[DeviantHero]

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

Um... how does your girlfriend feel about this? Maybe it's none of my business but you hope to interest someone in your situation and I think given what you have put out there that without knowing more it would be very easy to simply 'pass' on bringing new drama home. I would think, again given what is known, that you would be looking for a place near where your family lives now? And the name you have chosen for your user ID... ... well, what's in a name... ... All I'm saying is you haven't painted a pretty picture and no, we don't want lies but some ... tact... goes a long way to getting the results one hopes for. FWIW

H

Honestly she is fine with it and my nickname is one that I have had for a longtime. It was a joke I made because I am neither of those things. I stay to myself and in the end I do what I can for anyone else. Im not looking for drama, and you seem to wanna know the full picture. So here you go,

She asked me to come out there, and she is in her own situation as it stands I have to move out and move there by myself. Im not asking for a place for three, Im asking for one. One with a bed or a couch and somewhere to shower. Obviously Im not lookin for much.

I havent lived with my "family" for years now, and we dont talk much. My family is my fiancee and my little girl and they live in Gresham for now. Later when we both can we will move in together but I am being smart about this and wanting to make it on my own. As well as make it without affecting her or our little girl. Im not asking for your understand but I am not the bad guy in the situation.

Moving to PDX would be a move closer to my family, and I am probably the biggest anti-drama person around. I learned long ago to keep to myself and not involve myself in petty issues.

Thank you for your concern,

I am looking for help not for someone to criticize but I also understand that you are looking to know more about me as a person. I hope I have added enough insight.

Alix