On my way to Gresham .....

[Steve Pickering]

I think some of the Metro areas are much more dense than the Midwest, and the distances can be greater also, with a mending of streets that does not lend itself to crosstown travel away from freeways.

[i_love_autumn]

Yes,looking at the pop.densities,I believe you are right,and I bet they have icky one-way streets too,which my city has none,but a neighboring one does.

Maybe I will just stop driving unless there are places in my neighborhood I can get to,like a store,library,ect.

[Steve Pickering]

Might be a good idea.

[EnricoV]

You might want to look at someplace in Clackamas County ... Milwaukie, Oregon City, or even further out like Estacada, Boring or Canby. Another downside to Gresham is that it's still in Multnomah County, where property taxes are higher.

If you go out into Washington County, again, I'd go a bit further out and look at Banks, Cornelius, Sherwood, or Forest Grove.

It doesn't sound like you want "in the city" and like others have said, it's pretty much all "city" until at least Hillsboro.

[i_love_autumn]

Thank you EnricoV I will check out those areas,but if I'm not mistaken.... if I get away from the Willamette Valley area I run into weather extremes~CRAPPY midwest type weather!

[Steve Pickering]

You would need to go to the coast to get away from the four seasons and crappy weather, and there you would have twice the drizzle.

[i_love_autumn]

Well, it's been a blast and informative too,but now I'm off to watch the Olympics.
Hope everyone sleeps well and that the snow is gone soon. :]

[SETabor]

The cold wind from the Columbia Gorge is tough when it happens but it isn't the constant, non-stop, all winter long wind like in the mid-west. It's more of a few days before/during/after a storm during the winter.

Portland and neighboring towns do have one way streets usually in the downtown areas.

You do need to come visit. I would think as a machinist, your son may have the best luck finding work on Sauvie Island or by the airport. Those are both in Portland. Portland doesn't have any place even in the same league as the ghetto/ junky areas of Cleveland. We have our shabby areas, low rent areas, and sketchy areas but nothing close to the equivalent.

FYI: Fostoria is near Toledo