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Old 07-12-2010, 10:19 AM
 
13 posts, read 51,443 times
Reputation: 22

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After a recent visit to the central oregon coast, we have decided we are interested in moving. We want to be within 15 minutes of the beach. We have three young boys (6, 8, and 9). We either need to live close to places we can spend the day outside using as much kid energy as possible or we have to have acerage. My boys need to run and move. We want a small living space, as we want our boys to spend more time outside of the house. I want to be able to walk on the beach everyday. I love very small towns. I want our boys to have exposure to the least amount of crime as possible. (They were all adopted from the foster system). Any suggestions?
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Old 07-12-2010, 11:22 AM
 
Location: Salem, OR
15,513 posts, read 40,244,030 times
Reputation: 17383
Do you guys need to have jobs or are you independently wealthy?
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Old 07-12-2010, 11:23 AM
 
Location: Oceanside and Chehalem Mtns.
716 posts, read 2,808,595 times
Reputation: 531
Rent for a few months during the winter and then decide. Here are the issues you're facing:

The coast is comprised of 4 main groups:
1. The seniors and retired
2. The weekenders with second homes
3. The summer tourists
4. The locals (transplants don't always fit in well)

Secondly there are simply no decent jobs. Do you need to work?

Boredom (especially during the winter). Just because you like small towns that doesn't mean your kids will.

All these issues should come to the surface while you're renting.
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Old 07-12-2010, 11:39 AM
 
Location: State of Jefferson coast
963 posts, read 3,024,219 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davefr View Post
Rent for a few months during the winter and then decide. Here are the issues you're facing:

The coast is comprised of 4 main groups:
1. The seniors and retired
2. The weekenders with second homes
3. The summer tourists
4. The locals (transplants don't always fit in well)

Secondly there are simply no decent jobs. Do you need to work?

Boredom (especially during the winter). Just because you like small towns that doesn't mean your kids will.

All these issues should come to the surface while you're renting.
Good advice. If you really are interested in best meeting the needs of your kids, moving to the retirement belt (the coast) might not be in their best interests. I'd look at the Willamette Valley -- Corvallis and Eugene, in particular. You can then be within an hour's drive of the coast without the economic hardship of living right on it, and there will be things for the kids to do as they grow older.
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Old 07-12-2010, 11:41 AM
 
Location: Salem, OR
15,513 posts, read 40,244,030 times
Reputation: 17383
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea View Post
Good advice. If you really are interested in best meeting the needs of your kids, moving to the retirement belt (the coast) might not be in their best interests. I'd look at the Willamette Valley -- Corvallis and Eugene, in particular. You can then be within an hour's drive of the coast without the economic hardship of living right on it, and there will be things for the kids to do as they grow older.
Or if she wants small town Dallas, OR might work.
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Old 07-12-2010, 12:15 PM
 
Location: Portland Metro
2,318 posts, read 4,606,967 times
Reputation: 2773
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silverfall View Post
Or if she wants small town Dallas, OR might work.
Philomath, Monmouth, McMinnville, and Newberg are other choices for smaller towns on the west side of the Valley. Philomath and Monmouth are quite small, McMinnville and Newberg are medium-small.
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Old 07-12-2010, 01:30 PM
 
13 posts, read 51,443 times
Reputation: 22
I lived in Salem for a few years (about 20 years ago). I am familiar with most of the town you have mentioned. I do like Corvallis. We are not independently wealthy, but we are wanting to live simply. We currently live in a relatively small town in Idaho (about 17000 people). We are just not real fond of the climate here. Too hot in the summer (90's) and too cold in the winter (can stay below 0 for a while). We are able to live nicely on a minimum wage income. Being in an area of mostly retired people can have it's advantages. I wouldn't mind being inland, but 20 to 30 miles inland is as far as we would want to go. I have the greatest knowledge of the central and northern coast, but have very limited knowledge of south of Newport.
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Old 07-12-2010, 03:30 PM
 
Location: Salem, OR
15,513 posts, read 40,244,030 times
Reputation: 17383
I don't know how anyone could live nicely on the Oregon coast for minimum wage. How much do you spend on housing right now?

You can't be 20-30 miles inland because of the coastal range. It's either on the coast or on the other side of the coastal range.
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Old 07-13-2010, 12:38 AM
 
13 posts, read 51,443 times
Reputation: 22
Currently our house payment is $800.00. I have a settlement of $1200.00 a month for the next 15 years. While that is not enough to live on alone, it is a nice supplement to whatever jobs we would get. I have a background in administrative work. My husband has a background in auto service writing and as a retail freight team supervisor. Someone mentioned Philomath. That is a town I am not real familiar with.
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Old 07-13-2010, 08:09 AM
 
Location: Oceanside and Chehalem Mtns.
716 posts, read 2,808,595 times
Reputation: 531
What about Tillamook. It's about 10 miles East of the coast and because of that, prices are reasonable.

Jobs will be tough but at least it's a big enough town to have some real commerce.
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