River/Mountain towns near Portland - which would you pick and why? (Pendleton: condo, home)

[backdrifter]

Cascade Locks!

I'd take Hood River first though...

[skinem]

I'll probably get flamed for this, but, here goes...

There are two places I wouldn't live in, and probably for reasons most folks wouldn't think of...Cascade Locks and Stevenson.

I used to teach and coach high school ball--at one time or another, the three major sports, football, basketball and baseball. I've coached teams that over the years played at those two towns. They were without a shadow of a doubt the rudest, crudest, nastiest crowds you could just about ever play in front of. There have only been a couple of other places that competed in the lousy department in my 25 years, but those two places were year in and year out amazingly bad. And I don't just mean the high school kids on the floor or field, but the ones in the crowd and the adults as well. It seemed that the kids were allowed to pretty much say and do about whatever they wanted. It wasn't limited to just during the game either, but before and after., nor did it seem to make a difference as to whether we were winning or losing, either. Over time, we quit eating before and after games in town, but would find someplace else down the road just so we could avoid the whole place as long as we could.

I know it's not fair to paint an entire town by this experience, it's just that over the span of nearly 10 years, it didn't vary and most other coaches in the area had much the same experiences. Also, you have to wonder about a community that would put up with what you'd see.

So, of course, in time you begin wondering what's in the water.

They are pretty places, but...wow. That's been some while ago. I surely hope the schools there are representing their communities better now.

[malachai23]

Originally Posted by skinem

I'll probably get flamed for this, but, here goes...

There are two places I wouldn't live in, and probably for reasons most folks wouldn't think of...Cascade Locks and Stevenson.

I used to teach and coach high school ball--at one time or another, the three major sports, football, basketball and baseball. I've coached teams that over the years played at those two towns. They were without a shadow of a doubt the rudest, crudest, nastiest crowds you could just about ever play in front of. There have only been a couple of other places that competed in the lousy department in my 25 years, but those two places were year in and year out amazingly bad. And I don't just mean the high school kids on the floor or field, but the ones in the crowd and the adults as well. It seemed that the kids were allowed to pretty much say and do about whatever they wanted. It wasn't limited to just during the game either, but before and after., nor did it seem to make a difference as to whether we were winning or losing, either. Over time, we quit eating before and after games in town, but would find someplace else down the road just so we could avoid the whole place as long as we could.

I know it's not fair to paint an entire town by this experience, it's just that over the span of nearly 10 years, it didn't vary and most other coaches in the area had much the same experiences. Also, you have to wonder about a community that would put up with what you'd see.

So, of course, in time you begin wondering what's in the water.

They are pretty places, but...wow. That's been some while ago. I surely hope the schools there are representing their communities better now.

Skinem, that's interesting. So how were the kids "rude and crude"? Were they just a little more wild and voiced than the kids at the other schools you played against, or was there more to it? Did you play other towns as small as Cascade Locks & Stevenson? I'm wondering if maybe the kids are just a little more reserved in the larger towns?

[Xplorer]

Originally Posted by skinem

I'll probably get flamed for this, but, here goes...

There are two places I wouldn't live in, and probably for reasons most folks wouldn't think of...Cascade Locks and Stevenson.

I used to teach and coach high school ball--at one time or another, the three major sports, football, basketball and baseball. I've coached teams that over the years played at those two towns. They were without a shadow of a doubt the rudest, crudest, nastiest crowds you could just about ever play in front of. There have only been a couple of other places that competed in the lousy department in my 25 years, but those two places were year in and year out amazingly bad. And I don't just mean the high school kids on the floor or field, but the ones in the crowd and the adults as well. It seemed that the kids were allowed to pretty much say and do about whatever they wanted. It wasn't limited to just during the game either, but before and after., nor did it seem to make a difference as to whether we were winning or losing, either. Over time, we quit eating before and after games in town, but would find someplace else down the road just so we could avoid the whole place as long as we could.

I know it's not fair to paint an entire town by this experience, it's just that over the span of nearly 10 years, it didn't vary and most other coaches in the area had much the same experiences. Also, you have to wonder about a community that would put up with what you'd see.

So, of course, in time you begin wondering what's in the water.

They are pretty places, but...wow. That's been some while ago. I surely hope the schools there are representing their communities better now.

I have to agree. I grew up in the Gorge so I know of these things from first hand experience. To simply put it, Cascade Locks and Stevenson are full of drugs and white trash. A lot of people might not like to hear that, but it's the truth.

[malachai23]

Originally Posted by Xplorer

I have to agree. I grew up in the Gorge so I know of these things from first hand experience. To simply put it, Cascade Locks and Stevenson are full of drugs and white trash. A lot of people might not like to hear that, but it's the truth.

Eeenteresting. Would you also say that element exists in the Camas/Washougal area or the St. Helens area?

[Wicked Felina]

Aren't Camas/Washougal and St. Helens former lumber and paper mill towns? Working class towns, but the mills are all closed down. I know this happened on the coast.

People with enough fluid cash moved in because property was much less expensive than in Portland. Plus, you have those impossibly gorgeous views.

Maybe there's some kind of mix going on. The old working class vs. the newcomers with enough money to buy them out.

[malachai23]

After all the many years I lived in Portland, I'm embarassed to say I've never been to Camas or Washougal, and it's been years since I've been to St. Helens (or Stevenson or Cascade Locks, for that matter!). I do know Camas was(/is?) a mill town, but I've heard from a few folks that it has become a bit gentrified... whatever that means!! LOL!! The last time I was in St. Helens I remember it being absolutely gorgeous - actually embodying the essence of the Pacific NW that I remember as a child... mossy, rainy, rugged, river smell, quaint hole-in-the-wall greasy spoons. Then again, that was in the pre-meth days. I wonder if it is still nice and safe like it used to be?

[hamellr]

Boring and Sandy are NOT suburbs of Portland. They are both in the Green Belt on the other side of the city. The physical area of Boring is actually larger then Portland due to a variety of ancient laws, luck, and the fact that it was on the top three list for State Capital at one point.

Sandy is becoming more suburban and growing, but Boring is still pretty much the same town it was 50 years ago.

[Tiger Beer]

I always liked MAUPIN, OREGON...which is a little river town...beautiful setting.

[malachai23]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Boring and Sandy are NOT suburbs of Portland. They are both in the Green Belt on the other side of the city. The physical area of Boring is actually larger then Portland due to a variety of ancient laws, luck, and the fact that it was on the top three list for State Capital at one point.

Sandy is becoming more suburban and growing, but Boring is still pretty much the same town it was 50 years ago.

Wow - you can't begin to guess how many times I've tried to argue with various Portlanders that Sandy is not a suburb of Portland! But I always seem to lose the argument.