What's it like there (Tillamook: living, low cost, garden)

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by oregon911

I don't even live in Portland. I live in a small town ~1 hour away from Portland but my small town is about as congested as Portland is (if not more at times). Even at 9 pm I can get 5 red lights back to back with all intersections being full of cars.

Another example: in the last 10+ years I've never seen Oregon coast (101) not congested. Every time I go there (literally hundreds of times), it's fully congested from Astoria all the way to Tillamook. Then Lincoln City, then Newport even in the evenings.

I often times visit cities like Salem, Eugene, Bend...etc and the last time I've seen any of those cities not congested was 12-13 years ago. For exaple, last week it took me 30 minutes to travel 3 miles in Bend on a Saturday and there was no accident or anything.

You need to visit LA to see what congestion looks like. Yesterday I was in Eugene during the afternoon rush hour. There was a lot of traffic backup trying to get onto the freeways around 5PM. I also ran into congestion at several construction zones on highway 38. The rest of the 300 mile trip was clear sailing, 65 - 75 mph, except for dealing with an occasional slow poke driver. I could have avoided 100% of the congestion, if I had gone in the middle of the day and took highway 126 instead of highway 36. Hell if I hadn't been in a hurry, I could have taken the back roads, and had the entire road to myself. Try doing that in the city, where even the back roads are jammed.

The only time I have ever seen anything in this part of Oregon, close to the 18 hour congestion you describe, was last year before and after the eclipse.

[PNW-type-gal]

There are certainly several cities that have more traffic than they were designed to hold, particularly in core/downtown areas or sections that have a bunch of the big box stores.

But here we pretty much have the "rush 15 minutes" and that is about it. Traffic on I-5 picks up in the late spring as the snow birds return home and the camping/vacation starts, but it just isn't that bad.

The worst intersection in Medford is what is locally known as The Big Red X, Hwy 62 from Hwy 99 (right where they put the In-N-Out, lol) east to where Costco used to be. That definitely grid locks, but hopefully after the bypass goes in that will be less of a problem.

Old 97 through Bend is a good example of too many cars and not enough highway - the bypass didn't seem to even put a dent in it. I haven't gone through downtown Redmond since that bypass was done., did that fix the grid lock there?

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by oregon911

I don't even live in Portland. I live in a small town ~1 hour away from Portland but my small town is about as congested as Portland is (if not more at times). Even at 9 pm I can get 5 red lights back to back with all intersections being full of cars.

Another example: in the last 10+ years I've never seen Oregon coast (101) not congested. Every time I go there (literally hundreds of times), it's fully congested from Astoria all the way to Tillamook. Then Lincoln City, then Newport even in the evenings.

I often times visit cities like Salem, Eugene, Bend...etc and the last time I've seen any of those cities not congested was 12-13 years ago. For exaple, last week it took me 30 minutes to travel 3 miles in Bend on a Saturday and there was no accident or anything.

You have the worst luck. I live in Salem and have for 19 years and there is only congestion for construction, rush hour, or accidents. As someone whose job requires they drive around the city all day long, I know. Maybe check Google Maps before you travel so you can take an alternate route if traffic isn't to your liking.

I was also just out at Oceanside and Newport and there was no congestion during my travels there. I have only hit non-accident congestion by the Casino on 22, and then Lincoln City during busy holiday weekends.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by tlshultz13

You guys have been SO incredibly helpful, thank you so much!! I really appreciate all this good info and welcome any more I can get. Silver fall... I am born and bred from one of the few semi metropolitan areas that describes the vibe you speak of. I grew up in a beach town area and they actuallly call my area “slower lower” lol... I think I’d fit right in with what you describe !!

That said.. all the moisture here brings on the slugs too ! I’ve definitely seen some gross four inch slugs in my times and yes, their goo is so icky lol.

Thanks again everyone

Hey since you are already slow, it sounds like it might be a good fit.

[NW4me]

Originally Posted by oregon911

I don't even live in Portland. I live in a small town ~1 hour away from Portland but my small town is about as congested as Portland is (if not more at times). Even at 9 pm I can get 5 red lights back to back with all intersections being full of cars.

1 hour away from Portland in which direction??

[RJ_Yellowhammer]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

We have fed a family of 4 on $100/ month for groceries, and we don't scimp. There are excellent fresh markets / ez growing / and abundantly fruity neighbors (sharing their crops / eggs / beef / salmon...)

My wife and I just spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to feed a family of four, on a little less than a dollar a day, per person, without "skimping". We have a sizable vegetable garden and still can't get the number close to that low. How much food are your neighbors giving you?

Would you mind breaking down an average week?

[wolfdog]

NOW, you've done it. :-)

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by RJ_Yellowhammer

My wife and I just spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to feed a family of four, on a little less than a dollar a day, per person, without "skimping". .......

I was wondering the same thing. I looked at my credit card charge summary for last year. I live and eat alone and I spent more than $4500 at Albertsons and Safeway, the two stores where I buy most of my groceries.

[mlulu23]

Originally Posted by RJ_Yellowhammer

My wife and I just spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to feed a family of four, on a little less than a dollar a day, per person, without "skimping". We have a sizable vegetable garden and still can't get the number close to that low. How much food are your neighbors giving you?

Would you mind breaking down an average week?

Rice, and beans. And beans, and rice?

[mlulu23]

Originally Posted by karlsch

I was wondering the same thing. I looked at my credit card charge summary for last year. I live and eat alone and I spent more than $4500 at Albertsons and Safeway, the two stores where I buy most of my groceries.

Hi Karl, I'm within spitting distance of you now. While on the subject of grocery bills is there any talk of Baker City opening a Walmart anytime soon? The one in La Grande is kind of far away from BC. Anything you save money on would be eaten up in gas, etc. (And while I'm dreaming, a Home Depot would sure be nice) It's kind of isolated out here where I am in Union, so I'm daydreaming about walking distance cities. Plus you have a ymca. Everybody here is very nice though, and it's pretty, but if the car isn't running you are up the creek. Thank you.