Moving from Southern California to Oregon (Portland, Bend: crime rates, daycare, student loan)

[freedom]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Thanks Freedom, so I take it you dont homeschool because of school quality? I know the weather seemed far more tolerable then alot of Oregon.

Nope schools are just fine here, our kids can go to pub school if they wish, i think they just like to be done with school before noon, and they actually work real well together, they are very close. Then they have the rest of the day to do other things. We also have the freedom to travel around a bit, as they can take school with them, and they have summer projects too, they asked for them so they wouldn't get bored, a couple of the kids like school year round, one of our boys is 3 grades ahead, our oldest graduated at 15 and then started college.
Lots of advantages. Not for everyone though. I'm just glad its still legal.

I love the 4 seasons, summers can get a little hot at times, but then we have the rivers and lakes to go play in. One lake we go to is like our own playground, we usually have it all to ourselves "wakeboard heaven". Not like So. Cal. where everything is so crowded. I grew up in Fullerton.

best wishes,

freedom

[nanannie]

Thanks, sounds divine. I certainly understand not wanting to be confined to the school year. You seem like you have followed your bliss and your family is very fortunate to have such a life.

[mddd]

For those looking for sunny weather, great outdoor activites, lots of services and location. Bend Oregon is a great place. We moved here just a couple of years ago for a job and then retirement.

Parks and recreation is the tops in the nation. River runs right thru town. All the stores (Costco, Trader Joes, Macys Target Home Depot Lowes, etc etc) and lots of medical facilities.

With all the tourism there are a ton of restaurants and microbrew pubs.
Outdoor concerts on the river.

Fantastic trail system and bike paths thru town and on the edge of town.

It does have four seasons but mild compared to mid west, rockies. Lots of family activities and single active adults will feel right at home. A short drive gets you to more snow at the downhill and crosscountry ski center but not much in town. Over 20 golf courses!! Small college.

[skipper11]

Oregon is Beautiful. I am not used to snow (I am used to San Diego weather..LOL) we live in West Eugene and we get very little snow here, we have been in Eugene for approx. 2 yrs now and have no intentions of ever leaving. The Schools in our area are great, awesome libraries and there is LOTs of things to do here with the kids. This town is very family orientated, so come on down, and see for yourself, just bring your smile and energy to do lots of running around here and enjoy this beautiful town. Cindy

[YankeeTom]

I don't know why people make so much out of Oregon's winter.
I've never been to PNW but according to the weather charts Oregon has as much sunshine as CNY in winter ( central New York ) without the cold or 9 feet of snow!

[Lorr97]

Freedom

Thanks for your input on southern Oregon. I have done a lot of research on that area and seem to be drawn to Ashland. I spoke with someone in the assessors office and she was quite informative about Ashland about property taxes and weather .

My family is planning to visit Ashland this summer and check out homes. We would like to possibly buy now and move there in about two years.

My son is very much into football and I believe their is a pop warner league in the area. I'm really excited to move to a small town and have four seasons again.

Freedom, if you know much about Ashland can you tell me which areas to look into for a home the is a family-oriented neighborhood.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Lorr97

Freedom

Thanks for your input on southern Oregon. I have done a lot of research on that area and seem to be drawn to Ashland. I spoke with someone in the assessors office and she was quite informative about Ashland about property taxes and weather .

My family is planning to visit Ashland this summer and check out homes. We would like to possibly buy now and move there in about two years.

My son is very much into football and I believe their is a pop warner league in the area. I'm really excited to move to a small town and have four seasons again.

Freedom, if you know much about Ashland can you tell me which areas to look into for a home the is a family-oriented neighborhood.

Hi Lorr97,

It is difficult for me to reccomend Ashland for families. It is a beautiful city and location, many nice homes.
The attitude there is one of no growth, which will keep it quaint, but the schools are closing because the no growth extends to families as well. Our friends moved from Ashland to Grants Pass because of the alternative mindset and extreme anti-America positions. Their children were shunned for not fitting in with the political mindset, and found that tolerance for them was not part of the program, their Dad is an Air force surgeon.

I don't know how the pop warner assoc. is there, but i do know that the population growth for children and families is a net loss.

There are some smaller towns just north called Talent and Phoenix.

That said, if you are more toward the liberal, its all good, Gaia worship life. Then Ashland might be for you. I'm just not a big fan of living there.

best wishes,

freedom

[banshee24]

I agree with you 100% I lived in the area for 9 years and I too had some difficult times there and had many wonderful people there to help me. People I hardly knew were very kind to me and helped me out, something I do not ever think would happen where I am today, which is very unfortunate.

Originally Posted by Saleen

Just thought I would add my two cents.
I am not a 'Native Oregonian' but I have never been happier than where I am now in my small little town in NE Oregon. And yes...I DO live in the same small town that AeroAngel professes to hate so much. Statistics show that only 27.3% of the population of Irrigon is Hispanic, while 69.7% is White/non-hispanic. Frankly, I resent the allegations made about everyone being hicks, lowlifes, druggies, and everything else she called the residents of Irrigon, and I heartily agree...if she doesn't like Irrigon...MOVE! Her husband may have to work here, but that doesn't mean she has to stay. I know people who have divorced for less.

I will tell you something about the people of Irrigon and the surrounding area that AeroAngel doesn't know. When disaster and tragedy struck my life recently...who stepped up to help me? The good people of Irrigon and the surround areas of Hermiston, Umatilla, Boardman and Stanfield. I have been made to feel more welcome and even loved than I ever did in the town I grew up in (which by the way was NOT in California, and I have nothing against Californians, either.) and inundated with their caring, love and generosity!

People respond to what you give to them. If you are nice, courteous, generous and good, people generally will respond in kind. I think that AeroAngel is just receiving what she has cultivated. Look to the good and you just might find it. Look for the bad, and you will find that, too, but if you aren't even willing to make the effort, then expect that from those you interact with, too.

I love Irrigon, and the people here, and never want to leave. It IS my home, and always will be.

~Saleen

P.S. The scenery, the sunsets and sunrises are just as awesome as the people!

[Lorr97]

For the past few days, whenever I had a chance, I've been reading this entire forum.

WE would like to reside somewhere in Southern Oregon, but where, we do not know until my family checks out the different towns.

However, from reading this thread, one of the posters "Thai, posting #365" mentioned that the rock and soil contains two(2) types of asbestos that cause cancer...... Is this true? If so, where exactly is this contaminated soil.

Also, if anyone can give more particulars on this area and on certain towns We would appreciate it.

After thought: This may sound weird, but I quit smoking 16 years ago and I was wondering what are the smoking laws in Oregon as far as in restaurants and certain public areas.

[healthportalusa]

Let's all consider that any view given here is a tiny slice of reality. One person's perception of a specific place based on comparison to a place they knew very well, does not come close to comparing all of LA verses all of Oregon or Washington.

Literally everything changes every 50 miles you travel in the great NW. We have snow-topped mountains, ocean beaches, rain forests, and deserts within a couple hours drive from one another.

Depression is very real wherever there is no sunlight. The Willamette Valley in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington is a very gray place to live for nine months out of the year. I live in Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR. It is June 1st today and there is not a ray of sunlight on the ground and it is cold (57) damp and drizzly.

I grew up in Northern NJ with four seasons. Here we have two; dark and raining from October to June, and mostly sunny from July through September. It rarely freezes, but when it does you can imagine an always wet place literally turns to ice, but it rarely lasts more than a few days. Snow is very rare and the one or two times a year we get snow, it's a joy for the kids and hell for drivers who think their SUV works like the one on the TV commercial plowing through the tundra.

Summers are heaven on earth here, expect last year we had a lot or rain even during the summer.

If you like mushrooms and molds, you won't believe how well they do here. My lawn can produce an amazing variety of mushrooms and very large toadstools that you never see in the east.

I am looking at setting up an early retirement village for folks 40 to 65 in eastern Oregon. The weather is much sunnier, the cost of living is much lower, and the people are simple good old American folks.

I want to run the village on alternative energy, grow most of our own food, and teach people how to be healthy, wealthy, and wise and have fun doing it. If anyone else is interested in planning such a place, let me know your ideas.