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I have lived in Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, and Oklahoma and Coos Bay caught my attention several years back. I like the terrain and of course the ocean and the bay. The Oregon Connection was a nice place to visit to see all of the nice things made from myrtle trees.
I would like to live in Coos Bay someday during my retirement years.
Coos Bay is in a great part of the coast. The nearby dunes and awesome beauty of the coastline going south from Bandon to the California border are not to be missed. I was there in June and caught some beautiful weather, which skews your view a bit, but I think it would be a nice place to live. I got hot at the Mill Bay Casino in town which was an added bonus See my pictures of Coos Bay and the Central & South Coast on my site Jason's Oregon Photoblog Introduction
Check out the photos--they are the next best thing to a tour of Oregon for those of us who can't be there right now.
Because of this forum and some of the Oregon coast doom and gloomers on it, I frequently ask people I run into and I know have moved here from other parts of Oregon or other states, this question: "How do you like living on the Oregon coast?". I cannot think of a single time a person told me they had regrets.
Allow me to be the first then please, Oregonbeachlover, because I hate it here.
I LOVE it here. Here it is, early November, and I just got back from a long walk along the cliffs and on the beach. Bare feet in the sand, jeans and a t-shirt, hardly a breeze and clear as could be. LOVE IT HERE!!
we stoped by this town 7/3/09 and spent about 4 hrs there on our way to bandon.
I liked it as we drove by the airport a united express puddle jumper crossed right over our heads on approch to land. so we checked out the airport wow nice! to bad it costs a small fortune to fly there from SFO.
so we went from there to look at some new homes out on kentucky ave area... $240k nice homes but the area was kind of exposed/to open for my tastes. we looked at homes on the hills near that area and the homes were nice and well established areas I'm sure we just scrached the surface as far as neighborhoods in the area. we spent some time downtown in some antique shops and had some nice conversations with the owners time was running out and it was time to go south for our stay at the windermere in bandon. oh we stoped and shoped for food on our way out of town I think it was a safeway the store was fine good selection of all goods.what I'm saying is I really liked the town of coos bay I just want to spend more time there and I want to see all the neighborhoods. and get a true feel for the area. thanx eric
p.s. we are coming back 12/29/09 for a vacation.
Im so glad you liked it!! I love living here!!! when you come down in December, go to Shore Acres to look at the Christmas lights. They are really really neat! Google Shore Acres State park and you'll get an idea. But its a surreal experience when you can be there, going through it, drinking hot cider, listening to the caroling, and hearing the waves crashing behind it all....
have a safe trip when you come back in December!!
First off, thanks for the kind words Vnodak. I know we disagree on a lot about CB, but at least we can disagree in a friendly way!
I will however, agree with you on the lack of shopping! I came from the Clackamas/Happy Valley area, and grew up around Portland burbs, so I do dearly dearly miss the huge variety of shops and resturants! Although, according to my husband, the lack of shopping is a bonus, since I dont spend as much $$ on clothes/shoes/knickknacks/etc. Although,....there IS Ebay! But yea, I do miss just up and spending the day at the mall, the one here takes about 10min. to go through, and thats going IN the stores! lol Thank Heavens Lincoln City and Eugene are within a few short hours. Otherwise.......
I have to disagree that I havent experienced any crime here in Coos Bay. I was actually, for the first time in my life, the victim of an attempted robbery not too long ago. My husband actually caught him in our garage, trying to get in through my sons window! Fortunatly, the PD did catch him, unfortunatly, he was released within 48hrs. sigh. The of course, the little (#*&*^ buglarized other homes, stole someones car, crashed it into another one, and was caught, yes, high on Meth and in possession. sigh. So ya, I know it exists and I dont think we live in any Mayberry or Pleasantville, but I read about/hear about/see less crime than we did in any other area Ive lived in (well, besides Mulino, which has a population of about 12. lol) I also work w/someone whos w/the local PD and had headed the County meth task force. This person is blunt and straight up about what they have seen and delt with, and I tend to believe them. We're also part of our neighborhood watch and Im involved in the Anti-drug programs for our local youth. So I do know theres druggies out here, I know the crap they have done and the H#ll they have raised, lives they have ruined. BUT, again, Im just gonna have to stand by that its getting better, and its definatly not as bad as many other areas.
No, I didnt go to the schools here, but a lot of my husbands family did, back to his grandparents, and up through cousins in the area, and now our kids. I will say, interestingly enough, both of my inlaws and 2 of his cousins went on to be teachers, 2 in higher education, and they are very very up on where our kids are in comparision to other schools in Oregon, and locally. Education is something that is HUGE in our family. (my 6yr old is already decided on a college. lol) and believe me, if any of the family thought our kids were behind in any way academically, we would catch it! In fact, my oldest just tested out at a college reading level (as a 7th grader) and is in the top 15% of the state. My son is in the tag programs, and my kg. is already reading, and doing add/sub. w/confidence. So, I like the schools and how my kids are doing.
I will agree again, that Coos Bay does not have the amount of culture that somewhere like Portland does. But, we expected that when we moved here. We do still enjoy the local culture though, through things like the Art Walks, the Jazz in the Park, local Theater, and other activities. No, it isnt up on the level of again, Portland, but thats okay for us. We soak up whats here, and make occasional trips to Portland.
I will say too, I am very Unpolitical. I could honestly care less who wants who for what office etc. I have my own opinions and will vote for whom i chose. Ive found myself free to speak my opinions have have never suffered for it. Again, the grouping where we were discussing Clintons visit, there were people there that were very clearly for opposing sides. And many were vocal. But everyone had their say, and no one was ridiculed or hated for what they spoke. Thats just my experience though.....
Anyhow, nope, Coos Bay is NOT for everyone. I can see where some people dont like it. I certainly didnt think I would. Big surprise to me! lol I will say, off 101, UGLY! I think a LOT could be done to improve it.I would love to see a bayfront like persay...Bandon, or Florance have. Theres a lot to offer here, but it is scattered about and can be challening to find if youre not from here. ( or you cant find me to help lol) yes, there are some nasty dirty awful people here, ive run into them and hope not to again! Theres areas theres no way I would walk through, much less live! And there is crime and drugs. But theres still a lot of others, like me, who would like to see Coos Bay improve, and see the potential. Hey, wanna come to the Ladies Luncheon for the Boys and Girls Club w/me? I'll extend an offer for anyone who wants to come, to sit at my table and meet up with some of the people here in Coos Bay who are doing all they can to make it a great place to live. Honestly, you wanna come, gimmie a hoot. I'll save you a chair!
Tiffany
Tiffany,
I have been reading all the posts about cb! Wow there sure are alot of different opinions! I am thinking about taking a job in the area and relocating to cb! I have lived in the NW since 1990 in Boise but I am currently working in Louisana! I have been doing a lot of research about cb and the surrounding area! For the most part I like what I see, I am single and I am a little worried about meeting that special someone to complete my life. Other then that I love to fish and to eat seafood! I do love to workout so I hope they have good gyms in town. If you have any insight on that it would be helpfull! Let me know thanks! Oh I have done some work with the Boys & Girls club across the US, I love to help those in need and If I did become part of the community I would love to be a part of that program!
I HATE Coos Bay. I have travel to 25 countries, lived in 5 and never been to a place ,where I have been more sad to live than in Coos Bay. My neighbour just left and went home to Michigan, they did not like it here.
I am so happy that me and my husband finally are moving
Great thing about public forums, theres room for everyones opinions!
Europe24, Im sorry Coos Bay was such a negative fit for you. That happens. My mom feels just like you do, she can not stand Coos Bay. In her opinion, the only good part is the fresh crab. She doesnt even like the beach lol She is always trying to get us to move away. Her ideal is Bend. Lives there and LOVES it. She thinks its the most beautiful place on earth and nothing can compare. I dont mind Bend, I think its got some pretty surrounding areas, but I would hate living there. Thank goodness people have the right to choose and that theres many many places to move to. Good luck on your move and I hope you enjoy your new home.
Flylow69, I dont know how the single prospects are around here, Im married so Im outta that loop. lol I know theres a few gyms around that you can go work out in, a lot of folks go to the one at the college, I hear its got terrific set up. I have been saying Im gonna join up at one or another for a few years now, but work, B&Gclub, remodeling our house, 3 kids and a husband keep me from it! lol I know the gym a few miles up from me has a pool and all, plenty of equipment and the parking lot seems to be full enough...honestly though, a lot of people do the outdoor stuff to keep in shape too. Lots of kayaking, hiking, jogging, and the sort, tossing/pulling crabpots can do wonders for your arms, and walking in soft sand is a beautiful and effective leg workout.
Fresh seafood/fish is aplenty. You can get it yourself, or head down to the docks and buy it from the local fishermen. Check this out, heres where I get all mine, FishermensWharfOregon.com I LOVE these guys!!!! The crab/fish is always excellent, and the guys are friendly and fabulous. They'll go the extra mile for ya.
The Boys and Girls club would welcome your help. Its a great place and they do some pretty terrific stuff for our kiddos. The annual ladies luncheon is coming up and if youve made the trek here by then, gimmie a shout and I'll save you a spot at one of our tables. We always have a good time.
We live further up the coast in a little hamlet called Manzanita. Super friendly folks, nearby off road places and the Nehalem River (2 miles away) has loads of fishing, kayaking on the Nehalem River estuary and some sailing.
It's small...maybe 600 full time residents, but we jump up to 2000 during the summer when the second homeowners are in town, and 5000 over 4th of July for the parade and fireworks on the beach.
It's not cheap:we are getting ready to put our place on the market for close to $500,000 so we can move into the nearby countryside but we are in a prime location near the beach. Thing is, I don't think any of the coastal cities right on the ocean are cheap. The one exception I can think of is Rockaway Beach.
Maybe you should tour all the coast. We did that 15 years ago, investigating every coastal city and this is the one that suited us. Might work for you too.
Good luck!
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See my pictures of Coos Bay and the Central & South Coast on my site 
Our stop in Coos Bay
