Lebanon, Sweet Home, commute?

[jjpop]

While "anywhere" will be better, you should do some additional scouting while you're here so you can get an idea of how Lebanon compares to other nearby cities. Keep an open mind. You might still fall in love with Lebanon, but at least you would have looked at some other communities and not based your opinion solely on internet research.

Look at a map and you'll see Hwys 99W and 99E running through the Willamette Valley. Take a look at the cities and towns along these routes, pick 4 or 5 and do a little research on them (I suggest Cottage Grove, Corvallis, Monmouth, Silverton, and McMinnville). Then when you take your weekend to visit Lebanon, work in a tour of at least a couple of these other cities.

[AndyLoosbrock]

Originally Posted by jjpop

While "anywhere" will be better, you should do some additional scouting while you're here so you can get an idea of how Lebanon compares to other nearby cities. Keep an open mind. You might still fall in love with Lebanon, but at least you would have looked at some other communities and not based your opinion solely on internet research.

Look at a map and you'll see Hwys 99W and 99E running through the Willamette Valley. Take a look at the cities and towns along these routes, pick 4 or 5 and do a little research on them (I suggest Cottage Grove, Corvallis, Monmouth, Silverton, and McMinnville). Then when you take your weekend to visit Lebanon, work in a tour of at least a couple of these other cities.

Yes, we are trying to get a managable list of about 8 places to visit on our weekend. It is down to Lebanon, Sweet Home (she wants to see it), Corvallis, Albany, Monmouth, Dallas, McMinnville, Newberg, St. Helen's, and Cottage Grove), I think. It may be more, but this is off the top of my head.

Thanks for replying to me!

[jjpop]

Remember to keep an open mind. You will find your community in any of the towns you've chosen to visit. Good luck.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by oregoncoast bound

We are looking at housing in Sweet Home or Lebanon as it seems you can get more house and land for your money.

Housing follows supply-and-demand economics. You can get more house and land for your money in less desirable areas. You should ask yourself why.

Commuting usually turns out to be false economy. When you add the price of the commute with gasoline at $5 a gallon (it will be there before the year's over) into the housing cost, you usually end up paying more, not less, for living in "less expensive" areas.

Personally, I wouldn't live in Lebanon or Sweet Home for all the money in the world. I used to teach in Albany and know that area fairly well. I have some experience with East Linn Christian, if that's the one you're thinking of, and it doesn't come close to the quality of education you can get in the public 509j system in Corvallis. In fact, a lot of kids who had behavior problems in Albany public schools ended up there; it's a bit of a "reform school" for kids who don't do well without close supervision.

[AndyLoosbrock]

Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea

Housing follows supply-and-demand economics. You can get more house and land for your money in less desirable areas. You should ask yourself why.

Commuting usually turns out to be false economy. When you add the price of the commute with gasoline at $5 a gallon (it will be there before the year's over) into the housing cost, you usually end up paying more, not less, for living in "less expensive" areas.

Personally, I wouldn't live in Lebanon or Sweet Home for all the money in the world. I used to teach in Albany and know that area fairly well. I have some experience with East Linn Christian, if that's the one you're thinking of, and it doesn't come close to the quality of education you can get in the public 509j system in Corvallis. In fact, a lot of kids who had behavior problems in Albany public schools ended up there; it's a bit of a "reform school" for kids who don't do well without close supervision.

Great post. Thank you SO much!!!!!

[1208]

If you want a small town that is close to Eugene, Cottage Grove, Creswell, and Junction city are all much closer and much nicer than Sweet Home or Lebanon, and probably just as cheap.

honestly though, the idea that someone would commute from Sweet Home to Eugene baffles me. that sort of thing is very rare in Oregon. this isn't DC where people think it's acceptable to spend hours a day commuting. There really is no reason to do that here.

[AndyLoosbrock]

Originally Posted by 1208

If you want a small town that is close to Eugene, Cottage Grove, Creswell, and Junction city are all much closer and much nicer than Sweet Home or Lebanon, and probably just as cheap.

honestly though, the idea that someone would commute from Sweet Home to Eugene baffles me. that sort of thing is very rare in Oregon. this isn't DC where people think it's acceptable to spend hours a day commuting. There really is no reason to do that here.

I am getting a lot of dislike for the communities of Lebanon and Sweet Home. Always good input. Thank you!

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by AndyLoosbrock

I am getting a lot of dislike for the communities of Lebanon and Sweet Home. Always good input. Thank you!

Not so much dislike, but your idea of commuting to Eugene from there is a really big mistake. There is no guarantee that gasoline will even be available. If world conditions cut off even 10% of US gasoline imports (we currently import 60% of our needs) supplies will get unreliable and very expensive. You need to be within bicycle reach of a transit system. I drive to work, but there is a bus stop just 3 miles from my house. If things get tight, pedal power will get me there. Switching to electric cars will work until we run short of electricity.

Expecting things will always be just like they have been is the reason 26% of all home sales in the USA were foreclosures last year. It's a good idea to balance current conditions with the worst case scenario.

[AndyLoosbrock]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

Not so much dislike, but your idea of commuting to Eugene from there is a really big mistake. There is no guarantee that gasoline will even be available. If world conditions cut off even 10% of US gasoline imports (we currently import 60% of our needs) supplies will get unreliable and very expensive. You need to be within bicycle reach of a transit system. I drive to work, but there is a bus stop just 3 miles from my house. If things get tight, pedal power will get me there. Switching to electric cars will work until we run short of electricity.

Expecting things will always be just like they have been is the reason 26% of all home sales in the USA were foreclosures last year. It's a good idea to balance current conditions with the worst case scenario.

I am not gonna commute anywhere. I'm hoping to get a job in the same town I live. I just piggy backed onto this thread. Schools are my #1 concern.