From Southern California to Beaverton

[jm21]

Originally Posted by freedom

What do mean if they were my friends for 3+ yrs.? I dont understand what you are saying.

I mean, most born and bred Oregonians won't trust you with their real opinions for a long time. They'll just be polite and not mention anything about you being from CA. I generally won't treat someone as a real friend (and thus share my opinions with them. waste of time to share your opinions with someone who isn't a friend) unless I've known them for 3+ years. I'll be polite at first, and gradually less superficial as time goes on. I still have plenty of friends from middle school, and so does my dad, despite moving from WA to OR (he's almost 60 now). We have long, deep, trusting relationships with friends...but it takes a long time for us to trust people.

Obviously online at a forum people are more open than they would normally be, under the guise of anonymity.
EDIT: and if you're wondering why I'm posting this if I think sharing my opinions with strangers is a waste of time: I want good, accurate information on TX, so I've got an obligation to give out some advice on OR. Fair is fair.

[lucero32]

My family and I moved up from L.A. to Portland about a year and a half ago and have been very pleased. First off, I really don't get this whole anti-Cali thing people keep talking about. In my time here I have NEVER had anyone say a word to me regarding it, in fact they all are somewhat curious regarding L.A.. Most people I meet are very friendly and have a positive view of California, and L.A. in general. Maybe it's the neighborhoods these people live in. I honestly don't know where they get this from. At most I'll have some Duck fan give me a hard time due to me being an SC grad, but it's always good natured. In fact, I fly an SC house flag on games days and have never heard a negative comment...people will actually stop and we'll talk college football, but it's all fun and civil. Don't let comments regarding anti-California feeling alter your feelings towards Portland.

As far as Beaverton...it's a lot of sprawl and shops. Parts of it actually remind me of stretches of OC, particularly Irvine...maybe Costa Mesa. I work in Beaverton and if you like the OC lifestyle, you just may like it. I'm not too partial to it in that you need a car to get everywhere, and it doesn't particularly have any characters. Still, you get a lot more house for your money than in Portland, it has chain stores readily available, and overall it nice. Oh, and yes traffic is bad, but I don't find it to be worse than anything in Orange County.

Oh, and what part of OC are you coming up from? That would help in trying to point out a point of contrast.

Good luck

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by NikkiandGrant

Hi, My Fiance and I are thinking about relocating to Beaverton middle next year from down here in Orange County. The only place in Oregon we have been to is Grant's Pass/Rogue River. We absolutley love it there. But what things from the ones who live in Beaverton would suggest I consider before making my mind up completely? Please let me know as much info as I can possibly get. This is a huge change for us. Crime, People, Jobs, Weather...ect.

We moved from Beaverton - in 2005 - to the Applegate Valley next to Grants Pass. We plan to move north when our home sells, back near Beaverton.

You can't really compare the two areas. They are what they are. One is small town that gets almost as much rain as Portland, but in a shorter span of time. Grants Pass and Williams get 31 to 33 inches to Portland areas approximately 36 inches. Very little difference on paper. But summer is warmer and longer sun-wise down south.

For cultural - you may like the north urban area apealing if it's what you are used to.

I'm going to be up working in the Portland west suburbs for the next week or two, doing everything from pruning to preparation for landscape design on a 9 acre parcel's edge. And it will be refreshing to me in it's own way, because I'm culturally accustomed to the area up there.

Must admit, I thought the drive through Los Angeles was very enjoyable several weeks ago - my first trip down there. From a landscape / tree angle, it looked like a place that would be enjoyable. Traffic moved twice as good as Portland's too, on the Monday morning I passed along Interstate 5.

Anyhow, Beaverton is a populated, relatively clean good size city with several colleges and a lot of big stores and businesses nearby. Grants Pass is a small town in the country with several popular businesses, but well suited to someone who would enjoy retreating from what the big cities have.

M. D. Vaden of Oregon

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by lucero32

First off, I really don't get this whole anti-Cali thing people keep talking about. In my time here I have NEVER had anyone say a word to me regarding it, in fact they all are somewhat curious regarding L.A..

In my experience here in Oregon, most locals won't say anything to you directly about what they think of Californians.

[jimg1126]

Beaverton has been completely Californicated. You'll like it there. Massive traffic jams, nasty rude people, and plenty of foreigners with towels wrapped on their head. Recommendation: Go to Olive Garden in Beaverton. If you're white and english speaking, you'll be in a deep minority.

[CedarView]

Originally Posted by jimg1126

Beaverton has been completely Californicated. You'll like it there. Massive traffic jams, nasty rude people, and plenty of foreigners with towels wrapped on their head. Recommendation: Go to Olive Garden in Beaverton. If you're white and english speaking, you'll be in a deep minority.

Because you're not rude, nasty or prejudiced at all, right?

[suncat]

That wasn't my experience back in the late 80s, when I moved here. In fact, I was on a Town Hall show (KATU) in 1990. The topic was "The Upcoming California Invasion," and they had the room divided between Californians and the fearful natives. I remember one woman saying, "In 20 years, we won't even be able to move, because there will be so many Californians up here!" Most of us were there to show that we weren't monsters or equity-bloated... we just wanted better lives for ourselves.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by suncat

That wasn't my experience back in the late 80s, when I moved here. In fact, I was on a Town Hall show (KATU) in 1990. The topic was "The Upcoming California Invasion," and they had the room divided between Californians and the fearful natives. I remember one woman saying, "In 20 years, we won't even be able to move, because there will be so many Californians up here!" Most of us were there to show that we weren't monsters or equity-bloated... we just wanted better lives for ourselves.

Suncat, thanks for the good laugh!! I use to watch Town Hall all the time (not sure why, now that I think about it). But they always did that ... divide the audience and try to pit one side against the other. I probably watched that very show.

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by jimg1126

Beaverton has been completely Californicated. You'll like it there. Massive traffic jams, nasty rude people, and plenty of foreigners with towels wrapped on their head. Recommendation: Go to Olive Garden in Beaverton. If you're white and english speaking, you'll be in a deep minority.

That is the most ignorant post I've read here.