From Grants Pass to Portland... (Roseburg, Joseph: apartment, month-to-month, high school)

[Mr. Ronnie James]

Hello friends...I'm in Grants Pass, Oregon and I do not belong here. I was born and raised in Chicago, moved here from California, and I'm thinking about moving to Portland (the Sylvan area). Certainly, there are more "hip" places to live in Oregon than Grants Pass. I shouldn't judge Oregon by Grants Pass. I'm starting all over again - which sucks!...but I have no choice. I gotta get out of this "old peoples" town. Moving to a strange place is always scary but at least I have no baggage (no wife, no ex-wife, no kids).

I'm a pro-life liberal and I'm 42. I'm a writer and actor...but poor. I mean, my bills are paid but I'm living month-to-month. I wouldn't mind going back to school and Portland State University sounds "cool". I like school. I like being around college kids. I like youthful energy. And they like me because I AM funny.

Grants Pass? It's too small. It's too conservative. (IF they did open up a Hooters down here, I'm sure the people would be "aghast".) The people are nice but there sure are a lot of "hillbillies" around here. When we put a black man in the White House, many residents around here started stocking up on ammo...and more ammo! Forgive me for using the term "hillbillies", but you know what I mean. I am open-minded. I just don't belong here. I've been here almost a year, and I can count on one hand the number of ladies I've seen wearing a skirt or dress. Personally, I like the "classy" look of a lady wearing a skirt or dress. Another thing I don't like about GP is that WAY TOO MANY people smoke cigarettes down here. What's up with that? I find that habit disgusting. (Pass the bong, please.)

Grants Pass? I call it the "Land of the ungodly and the uneducated". Many people down here consider their formal education done with high school. I find that sad. I loved my college days! Didn't you?

The good news about GP? The fishing and the hunting around here is excellent.

Anyway, back to Portland...
How's the Sylvan area? Can you PLEASE help me find an apartment? I think I'd like to live on the west side of Portland.

I'm nervous. I'm scared. I'm depressed. Fear of the unknown IS real. The fact of the matter is that I only have 2 choices: Stay? or Leave?...and I'm not staying.

Your input and emotional support is most appreciated.
Thank you.

RON

[Rob Allen]

You do seem to be more the Portland type than the GP type.

What is it about the west side that appeals to you? I don't know much about Sylvan; it's the area at the crest of the hill on the Sunset Highway where the sun hits you right in the eyes in the afternoon.

[ukiyo-e]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ronnie James

I've been here almost a year, and I can count on one hand the number of ladies I've seen wearing a skirt or dress. Personally, I like the "classy" look of a lady wearing a skirt or dress.

I think you need to consider a different state.

[Minervah]

The Sylvan area is pretty expensive. On the whole, the South west part of town is more expensive than the south east.

[backdrifter]

Oh please. Grants Pass isn't that bad. It's moderate by national standards. Well, it's polarized I suppose. Josephine County voted more democratically in this last election than most counties in the South. Even for Oregon, it's not that conservative. Try somewhere off of the I-5 corridor. Or Roseburg. Yikes. I mean, it's not liberal enough for me either, so I understand. Nowhere in the U.S. is really liberal enough. It IS still rural America... But I digress. Anyhow, there is an extremely vibrant and thriving, though somewhat small, artsy and liberal element to Grants Pass. You probably haven't been around long enough to find your way into those circles.

But anyway, if you feel like you don't belong, then it is probably time to move on and yes, maybe Portland might be the place for you. There is way more happenin' certainly. I have to second what angelbug said about the way Oregonians dress, however. It's not just a Grants Pass thing. Oregonians dress for practicality.

Also have to add that everyone in Portland smokes cigarettes just about. Way more than Grants Passians. They also are more open about their marijuana use, though I wouldn't say Grants Pass people smoke that much less of the green stuff... Just more under wraps.

I would recommend the Multnomah, Hillsdale, or Burlingame areas in SW. Sylvan is a bit spendy as Minervah pointed out.