Looking to retire to Oregon (Portland, Salem: bus, vehicle, restrictions)

[GoBeavs!]

The weather in Portland is annoying if you are a sun/heat lover. I lived there and found it too dark for me. The city is fantastic though, and can make those gloomy days seem brighter.

Portland embraces its liberal values. I'm sure there are still a number of conservatives there of all flavors, but they are definitely in the minority. If you are a moderate conservative (if that even exists anymore), then you'll be just fine. If you feel the Tea Party is "right on", Portland will seem like a "socialist nightmare" to you.

[Nell Plotts]

Here is a link to authoritative information about homelessness in Portland where the data includes parts of Multnomah County, every year a street-count in conducted in January: http://efiles.ci.portland.or.us/webd...t%20Report.PDF

The total unduplicated count without permanent shelter was 1,591. Matching that to the Bureau of the Census data for 2009 of 726,855 population: Multnomah County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

The city of Portland has a population of 537,081 estimate in 2006 (evidently the most recent data).

The % of homeless in Multnomah County was 0.22%, Portland 0.29%.

The Department of Human services counted 6,122 persons in Multnomah County including those who are doubled up, sharing housing. 0.84% by my math.

Homelessness is the result of mental illness, drug/alchohol addiction and unemployment. If you count people who are living with others because they have no home it appears that unemployment is the driving force.

Read the Report, I found it very interesting.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by taweega

The 16% came from threads I was reading about Portland.

That's pretty close to the percentage of families receiving food stamps. The national figure right now is 20%, which to me is pretty astonishing.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by GoBeavs!

The weather in Portland is annoying if you are a sun/heat lover. I lived there and found it too dark for me. The city is fantastic though, and can make those gloomy days seem brighter.

I found this to be true as well. If you're going to have a lot of winter gloom, it passes by less painfully if there are a lot of indoor activities as well as outdoor activities to pursue in the city where you settle. Portland does, indeed, meet that criterion.

[Smiled]

I'd say, head for Spokane! Lots of redstaters, and no income tax. Sales tax yeah, but if you're done with the big-expenses part of your life, let the kids just starting out pay that.

[kosmosbrenner]

We moved to Oregon from the mid west, three years ago. We are from a big city there (small here, McMinnville). We have not found Oregon to be as liberal as we were led to believe, which pleases us as conservatives. Outside of Portland which likes to think it's weird and unique...... Oregon is largely agricultural especially in comparison to the east or mid west. Rural farm types tend to be self supporting and quite conservative in al 50 states.... People are friendly and here in the Willamette Valley, the climate offers all 4 seasons with a short and temperate winter season. What's not to love? The people are friendly and educated in our opinion..... We fell in love with this beautiful state and intend to stay forever. From McMinnville, the coast is a 40 minute drive, Portland is 40 minutes, Salem about 40 minutes as well. Some of the smaller town (Sheridan, Carlton) tend to have neighborhoods that wouldn't be a safe bet, property value wise. If you get outside of McMinnville you will also find some pretty run down places the likes of which we only saw in urban area's in the mid west states. Take your time finding the right town and neighborhood and I believe you will love Oregon. In natural beauty and tranquility it is second to none.

[lesharona]

Thank you for sharing your relocation experience. I'm sure we will love Oregon too. Right now we are researching the Medford area, my sister and her husband will be putting their home on the market here in Ky in the Spring and are leaning more toward settling in Medford. My sister wants to be close to the ocean, and as close to her kids in So Ca as she can. It would be about a 12 hr drive, you could do it in one day if need be. I have been reading the weather reports daily for this area and I notice occationally a "air stagnation warning" is this something that is seasonal and is it a serious health concern?

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by lesharona

Thank you for sharing your relocation experience. I'm sure we will love Oregon too. Right now we are researching the Medford area, my sister and her husband will be putting their home on the market here in Ky in the Spring and are leaning more toward settling in Medford. My sister wants to be close to the ocean, and as close to her kids in So Ca as she can. It would be about a 12 hr drive, you could do it in one day if need be. I have been reading the weather reports daily for this area and I notice occationally a "air stagnation warning" is this something that is seasonal and is it a serious health concern?

Medford sits in a bowl that is subject to temperature inversions, and has some of the worst air quality in the state. Jackson County and the Portland Metro area are the only two places you will have to get DEQ certification of your car's emission control system. Sometimes in the summer the smog gets thick enough to see, and wood smoke is always a problem, from slash burns and forest fires in the summer, and from wood stoves in the winter. Of course, if the wind blows the problem goes away.

[bar20]

Move to Vancouver, WA. Enjoy the lack of state income tax like you have in Texas. You can drive across the Columbia River and shop in sales tax free Oregon. It's the same distance to the coast as Portland. I don't think you can carry a gun around like you can in Texas and they don't have an express lane for capital punishment like they have in the Lone Star state but you'll get used to it. You can even get FOX News on cable.

[Smiled]

Actually, Oregon is open-carry. I can walk down any street (except in Portland, Salem, and a couple others) with my six-shooter strapped right on.