Californians who've relocated to Oregon - weigh in (Portland, Eugene: low income, fit in)

[Kiwi]

[quote=kikiclark;975485]We just spent two weeks in oregon, four days in Portland, five days in Bend

kikiclark,
What were your impressions of Bend?

[Educatorspeakingtruth]

Hello Oregon! Goodbye California!

[Waterlily]

Welcome back to Oregon Educator. I hope you are enjoying where ever it is you've moved to in Oregon.

[PortlandNative]

As an almost life-long Portland area resident, I have a question for California transplants:

Did you see a net increase in your pay after moving here? I mean, did the lower cost of living more than make up for the lower wages of Portland/Oregon versus California? Do you have more money at the end of the month after the bills are paid?

I'm curious about this because I've always been under the impression that Portland's wages are lower than other cities due to the constant influx of new residents and the lack of a corporate headquarters (other than Nike). I have friends that live in LA and get paid quite a bit more than me, but then again, housing costs more in LA than in Portland.

Thanks for any feedback! I've always wondered if the grass really is greener here (metaphorically speaking).

[moving again and again]

I'm so glad to have found this question on here. I was just about to post this question myself. Uhhh umm.
I moved to Lake Oswego from SoCal two years ago and yes, yes, yes, my partner and I are much better off financially. We bought a condo within the first few months we moved here and we plan on putting it on the market in a few weeks AND we're moving back to California. Why you ask? Because it sucks here. The weather sucks, the drivers are....well, that's a whole different post, there is nothing to do, unless you are addicted to coffee, weed, or....meth...or weed, or like driving long distances to get to the "coast" (not at all a beach) or the mountains. I find that although it is affordable here, there aien't jack to do with your free time except to sit on your butt eat pizza and wonder what the heck the neighbors up stairs are doing at 3am every morning. Don't move here, UNLESS you are coming here to buy property, sell, and go back home with some money. Oh, and tell everyone that you are from Cali. They just love that! And you will too.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by moving again and again

I'm so glad to have found this question on here. I was just about to post this question myself. Uhhh umm.
I moved to Lake Oswego from SoCal two years ago and yes, yes, yes, my partner and I are much better off financially. We bought a condo within the first few months we moved here and we plan on putting it on the market in a few weeks AND we're moving back to California. Why you ask? Because it sucks here. The weather sucks, the drivers are....well, that's a whole different post, there is nothing to do, unless you are addicted to coffee, weed, or....meth...or weed, or like driving long distances to get to the "coast" (not at all a beach) or the mountains. I find that although it is affordable here, there aien't jack to do with your free time except to sit on your butt eat pizza and wonder what the heck the neighbors up stairs are doing at 3am every morning. Don't move here, UNLESS you are coming here to buy property, sell, and go back home with some money. Oh, and tell everyone that you are from Cali. They just love that! And you will too.

Doesn't sound like Oregon is for you. Did you not check it out before you moved, again and again?
Maybe you could just say it is not for you, rather than saying is su....ks. There are many people that think it is perfect.

Cuz your goin back to cali, back to cali, back to cali. Your goin back to cali, and that's a good thang......

[PortlandNative]

Originally Posted by freedom

Doesn't sound like Oregon is for you. Did you not check it out before you moved, again and again?
Maybe you could just say it is not for you, rather than saying is su....ks. There are many people that think it is perfect.

Cuz your goin back to cali, back to cali, back to cali. Your goin back to cali, and that's a good thang......

I like the tip of the hat to LL Cool J.

I guess that having world-class hiking, not so world-class but solid downhill skiing, loads of restaurants, opportunities to be involved in the community and great salmon fishing doesn't appeal to the poster. Face it. Portland is a town and if you don't like the outdoors, you're probably going to get a little bored here.

However, if you're looking for excitement, you're probably not going to find it in Lake Oswego.

It cracks me up to see people moving here and griping about the weather. It was like that before you got here!

Seriously, any other feedback from newly arrived Californians? Are you ahead financially living here? I'm so tempted by the job market in LA, but do the salaries make up for the cost of living?

[WJD]

Originally Posted by moving again and again

I'm so glad to have found this question on here. I was just about to post this question myself. Uhhh umm.
I moved to Lake Oswego from SoCal two years ago and yes, yes, yes, my partner and I are much better off financially. We bought a condo within the first few months we moved here and we plan on putting it on the market in a few weeks AND we're moving back to California. Why you ask? Because it sucks here. The weather sucks, the drivers are....well, that's a whole different post, there is nothing to do, unless you are addicted to coffee, weed, or....meth...or weed, or like driving long distances to get to the "coast" (not at all a beach) or the mountains. I find that although it is affordable here, there aien't jack to do with your free time except to sit on your butt eat pizza and wonder what the heck the neighbors up stairs are doing at 3am every morning. Don't move here, UNLESS you are coming here to buy property, sell, and go back home with some money. Oh, and tell everyone that you are from Cali. They just love that! And you will too.

Move away as fast as you can that way there's more room for me.
You can have California.
Been in So. Cal (IE) 27 years. Moved from back east years ago and I'm looking forward to a better pace of life.

Oh....and you'll be glad to be back with the SUVs and flat bottom speed boats waiting in line from 2am to get on the lake , BMWs, Pimped rides with 20" wheels and killer subwoofers thumpin.
You'll be close to all the Malls, Cop helicopters rude speeders and lane change racers on the freeways but don't flip them off or you may get shot!
The tweakers will be waiting when you get back!
Now was that rude and to the point?

Been to Portland and surrounding areas, check out the neighborhoods, markets, real estate and the driver were much more considerate!

[moving again and again]

How to tell if someone is an Oregonian:
Have them quote rap lyrics and get the artist wrong. It's Notorious B.I.G you hippie. Stay in the woods! And I'll go back to cali, back, back, to cali, cali.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by moving again and again

How to tell if someone is an Oregonian:
Have them quote rap lyrics and get the artist wrong. It's Notorious B.I.G you hippie. Stay in the woods! And I'll go back to cali, back, back, to cali, cali.

Don't be dissin' the Portland native, at least he has the stones to make it in great North west.

BTW you got the lyrics wrong.