Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Location: Moose Jaw, in between the Moose's butt and nose.
5,152 posts, read 8,524,412 times
Reputation: 2038
Advertisements
May I suggest as I'm looking into the American South? It has a nice, laid back feel, low prices, good economy, and nothing but growth for its future. Tons of land and pretty good weather. People b*tch about the heat but everyone has a swimming pool and you can go to lakes, turn on the AC, enjoy the summer nights and to be honest most people are working 9-5 monday to friday and are not going to be bothered by the heat that much in the summer. To me it seems like a turning back in time of America to a better and more happy time. What keeps people out of there is it's bad image, it's desire to stay the same way, close mindedness about Republicannism and Christianity for example if you happen to disagree with that stuff, and notions that people there are lazy and uneducated.
Well put in the last sentence. Can you say, low graduation rates, most poor people (percentage wise) and rampant racism?
The states that are (if any) the least racist tend to be out west, particulary Alaska.
I Have Lived In A Small Town In Eastern Oregon For 14 Years Now,i Moved Here When My Father In Law Died.the Population Here Has Been 10k For As Long As I Can Remember,every Spring People Move Here,we Have Very Cold Winters.every Year I See The For Sale Signs Come Down In Spring And Go Back Up In Winter.used To Be A Great Town To Live In But The New People Bring The Things They Want To Get Away From With Them And The Town Has Slowly Changed, Enough To Where I'm Waiting For The Sellers Market To Return And I'm Moving.i Spent 30 Years In San Diego,ca,about 5 In Las Vegas And Was Never So Happy To Get Away From A Place As I Was When We Moved To Mt. Vernon Wa In The Middle 70's,that Place Has Changed Also.the Only Place You Are Going To Find Happyness And Peace Is In Your Self,then You Can Start To Look For A Place That Fits Your Requirements.there Is No Utopia When You Find Peace In Your Mind Everything Looks Different.i Look For Towns I Might Like At "find Your Spot" Online,you Fill Out A Questionaire And It Generates 40 Or So Towns That Fit The Wants You Expressed In The Questionaire.it Give A Description Of Each Place, The Weather,cost Of Living,population,etc.good Luck In Finding Your Best Spot But First Find Peace In Your Own Mind.
I currently live on the coast in Tillamook county and am seriously considering moving to Idaho. I do love Oregon but living out here is so far from everything. If you decide to check out the coast please keep in mind that many of the areas are tourist places in the spring and summer so traffic can be a bear.
It also takes us a good hour and a half to drive to the mall and at least 35 mins. to go grocery shopping. Jobs are also scarce here.
On the plus side..housing is still cheaper then in town but quickly rising and crime in our area is pretty low and as for the schools you don't much choice out here but I do think they are better then the portland area.
I read your comments with interest. Have you ever been to Colorado? I grew up in Colorado, and i'm not alone in considering it paradise. I have a lifetime of great memories of weekends camping in the mountains, especially in the fall when the smell of snow-dusted autumn leaves lingers in the air, or earlier, when the wildflowers explode in a symphony of color in the valley. Snowshoeing, knee-deep in snow, the silence palpable, broken only by the occasional tree branch creaking from the weight on it's boughs. Eternal sunshine. Yes, i have very special feelings for my home state. And so does everyone else. Colorado, like many desirable areas (such as Oregon) is being inundated by those who seek a better, saner lifestyle. And now the beauty of Colorado is being obstructed by highrises, endless urban sprawl, choked roads and highways.
I struggled with anger and annoyance for a period of time before accepting that "these people" are no different than i am. This is a free society. We can move anywhere, do anything, be anything we want. "They" have every right to move to "my state" and change it in their search for a better life. With the addition of 75 million people to the globe every year since 2000 (according to pbs NOVA site), it's inevitable. They will come to "your" state.
This is a wonderful, haunting song by a "one-hit wonder" in the early 70's. It was very popular here and reveals that our concerns about change are anything but new.
Colorado
by Danny Holien
1972
Colorado, Colorado.
Beautiful place that you are.
Last edited by Waterlily; 02-13-2007 at 05:06 PM..
Reason: Song-Copyright issue
Having lived in Oregon 40 years and being married to a native Oregonian, I have to say we got sick of the dreary rain and wanted sunshine for retirement. We moved to the South and dearly love it...more so every day. We find Southern people to be much more friendly - but that's not saying there aren't good ones in Oregon too. I guess courtesy is what we notice a lot of here. That seems to be lacking in Eugene, Oregon! There is no Utopia so you just have to pick the best place you can afford and make a life for yourself there. Personally, if I were a billionaire, I would have a home in every state in the union! Strasburg, PA, would be an awesome place to live....except in the winter. Jackson Hole, WY, you can't find more beauty than that! Having traveled a lot of the USA, I would have to say that every state has something to offer (except maybe Texas....sorry Texas...maybe I just haven't found it there yet!). Just depends on what you are after.
I moved to Portland in probably 1990, and I loved it. I bought a 980 sq ft house built in 1903 in rose City for $78,000. We sold the house in 1995 and went back to Msla, MT. That same house (still 980 sq ft) is $280,000 now. Forget it. I live in the midwest now (Bloomington Indiana), and believe me, it isn't easy for someone who spent their life growing up in Missoula, Montana, and Boise, Idaho, but the midwest has a reasonable cost of living, although Bloomington is expensive for Indiana. I also lived for five years in Seattle (moved there in 2000) and I hated every minute of it. My husband's commute was five hours a day when we left. I to am getting my Masters in teaching and special ed. When we move, we are thinking of Texas or Charlotte NC, some of the reasons being related to his work.
MunchiesMommie,
I was born and raised in Lebanon, Oregon and have lived in this state 54 years. Both Steve 97415 and Localyocal in my opinion are correct in their advice.
I carry a Washington D.L. even though I grew up in North Carolina.
My wife and I have been shopping for a place to retire now for the last five years. We looked at the area around Boise very hard. Real estate is on the rise primarily because of the folks relocating from California.
We decided on Brookings and are just about to close on a home (would have gone with Gold Beach if I didn't have to commute to Brookings for my job-in-retirement). Real estate is a bit more expensive than Boise, but I will have an ocean/mountain view and the climate does not include 100 degree seasonal shifts.
School age children or the need for specialized medical care would change everything, and the nearest costco must be at least 2 hours away.
Finally, although I have lived in seven states and have WA plates (wife is a Californian) we have pretty much been welcomed into the community (at least to our faces).
We moved from Santa Cruz, CA to Portland, OR in Oct. of 2006. While I am happy we moved (SCruz is impossible to live a real life in, did not own a house -- and we just had to leave).
When in CA we worked in an elementary school and at the County as techs (networking). I grew up in Iowa and my fiance grew up in the Bay Area of California.
Some of our thoughts. We think Bend will implode. Too much growth with no real jobs to hold people over. It is based in either lumber or ski lodge work. I absolutely would not move to Bend, if I were you. The housing is going to colapse, we believe.
Corvallis might be a good spot. Not sure.
Salem can probably give you most things you might want -- and be a short ride to the coast. It is the capitol of Oregon so there are plenty of government jobs -- which may not be of interest to you but at least other people will not have problems getting a job. (this leaves the job search more open for you)
ANYTHING just a few miles out of Portland, OR tends to be very small town mentality. And they are very protective of their small town mentality.
Southern Oregon? We could never live there. It is very cliche oriented. If you don't go to their church, know certain people -- you are not on the "inside". (those are words from a native Oregonian, *and* our experience)
I have a feeling your family is like ours. Seattle is a lot like Santa Cruz. Oregon is a very, very different world that both those areas. We are used to intelligent people around us and believe in good quality of life. We want our children to have a good, balanced life -- not the garbage that has somehow overtaken so many towns and cities. We do not need, or want, a big house or lots of "things". We are laid back people who have "done the work" in more than one way.
Others may not like me saying it "how it is", but that will not help you:
I find Oregonian's to be intelligent, but not smart. Meaning, they were born intelligent, but do not necessarily want to use their brains. They seem to be okay with whatever comes at them and want to simply live the status quo. (SUV's and Corvettes are cool here)
I have seen at least one other person say the same thing as above. We recently read an article from an artist who moved from Seattle to Portland 5-10 years ago -- tried to make a life here, establish an artist community -- and he choose to go back to Seatlle because Oregonians do not want to use their intelligence.
Don't even get me started on Oregonian's and their driving.
Oregon is KNOWN for "slow news days" (TV news is a joke), which might be good in another way -- but, still. Oregon regularly imports news from other states to fill in with.
We are lucky in that we live in NW Portland (185th & Tanasbourne area). It has better schools and the people do not seem to be as stupid. (I sound terrible, but really....) We absolutely hate Beaverton, OR (their local parade is a *joke*, so bad that we recorded it when it aired as proof). Lake Oswego is reowned as 'stuck up'. Gresham is an area with serious issues re: violence. Most areas are safe, though.
The coast? Very, very small town mentality. Some of that is good -- but I want my children to experience diversity. It is super white here in every possible way. Good mexican food can only be found at "Taco Bus" type places.
We are looking at moving over to Vancouver, WA. That just leaves my fiance to find a job with a decent commute.
Anyway -- that is a quick overview of what we have seen in 1.5 years of living here. Glad we are out of Santa Cruz insanity ($900 for a room to rent, shared bath) -- but just need to find a community (town/city) that we can identify with.
We moved from Santa Cruz, CA to Portland, OR in Oct. of 2006. While I am happy we moved (SCruz is impossible to live a real life in, did not own a house -- and we just had to leave).
When in CA we worked in an elementary school and at the County as techs (networking). I grew up in Iowa and my fiance grew up in the Bay Area of California.
Some of our thoughts. We think Bend will implode. Too much growth with no real jobs to hold people over. It is based in either lumber or ski lodge work. I absolutely would not move to Bend, if I were you. The housing is going to colapse, we believe.
Corvallis might be a good spot. Not sure.
Salem can probably give you most things you might want -- and be a short ride to the coast. It is the capitol of Oregon so there are plenty of government jobs -- which may not be of interest to you but at least other people will not have problems getting a job. (this leaves the job search more open for you)
ANYTHING just a few miles out of Portland, OR tends to be very small town mentality. And they are very protective of their small town mentality.
Southern Oregon? We could never live there. It is very cliche oriented. If you don't go to their church, know certain people -- you are not on the "inside". (those are words from a native Oregonian, *and* our experience)
I have a feeling your family is like ours. Seattle is a lot like Santa Cruz. Oregon is a very, very different world that both those areas. We are used to intelligent people around us and believe in good quality of life. We want our children to have a good, balanced life -- not the garbage that has somehow overtaken so many towns and cities. We do not need, or want, a big house or lots of "things". We are laid back people who have "done the work" in more than one way.
Others may not like me saying it "how it is", but that will not help you:
I find Oregonian's to be intelligent, but not smart. Meaning, they were born intelligent, but do not necessarily want to use their brains. They seem to be okay with whatever comes at them and want to simply live the status quo. (SUV's and Corvettes are cool here)
I have seen at least one other person say the same thing as above. We recently read an article from an artist who moved from Seattle to Portland 5-10 years ago -- tried to make a life here, establish an artist community -- and he choose to go back to Seatlle because Oregonians do not want to use their intelligence.
Don't even get me started on Oregonian's and their driving.
Oregon is KNOWN for "slow news days" (TV news is a joke), which might be good in another way -- but, still. Oregon regularly imports news from other states to fill in with.
We are lucky in that we live in NW Portland (185th & Tanasbourne area). It has better schools and the people do not seem to be as stupid. (I sound terrible, but really....) We absolutely hate Beaverton, OR (their local parade is a *joke*, so bad that we recorded it when it aired as proof). Lake Oswego is reowned as 'stuck up'. Gresham is an area with serious issues re: violence. Most areas are safe, though.
The coast? Very, very small town mentality. Some of that is good -- but I want my children to experience diversity. It is super white here in every possible way. Good mexican food can only be found at "Taco Bus" type places.
We are looking at moving over to Vancouver, WA. That just leaves my fiance to find a job with a decent commute.
Anyway -- that is a quick overview of what we have seen in 1.5 years of living here. Glad we are out of Santa Cruz insanity ($900 for a room to rent, shared bath) -- but just need to find a community (town/city) that we can identify with.
Lesley and fiance (age 40 and 42)
You lived here a year and a half?
That makes you a critic, not an expert.
Bend is far from imploding, and everything you wrote points to you not doing your homework on where you should live.
I for one love that the local news is bereft of titilation, it shows me that people have better things to do than make the news...while your complaining people are enjoying and having a great life.
I've lived in Southern Oregon for 15 yrs. and have never found the citizenry to be as you say. They are pleasant, inviting, friendly and focused on raising their families for the betterment of the whole community.
I hope you choose a better place for you and your fiance next time.
Intelligence does not revolve around people enjoying or not enjoying art...
Sometimes art is plain stupid, sometimes it is beautiful, sometimes it is incredible... I think saying because people did not enjoy or understand your friends art makes Oregonians unwilling to use their intelligence, is not a very intelligent perspective...
best wishes,
freedom
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Everything Is Relative
Oregon Coast
