Help me Find a VolunteerGig and Workout Place!! (Portland, Gresham: fit in, real estate)

[Brunette2010]

Thanks for the feedback when I posted a few weeks back. Im still ISO more feedback for a neighborhood in Portland proper that I wont need a car, very public transportaion friendly and hopefull has a grocery store. drugstore, coffee shop within a few blocks. Im middle aged, but young at heart--but not so young that I wan tp be around a lot of children or college students. WOuld Downtown be a possibility?

I am also looking for feedback on an animal shelter to volunteer at--and again, will need to be public transportaion friendly.

And last but not least--any recommendations on a place to work out thats not too pompous Has the basics, machines and hopefully some classes and not super expensive?

Thank You ALL for any advice

[figmalt]

Here are some obvious places to look for volunteer activities:
DoveLewis | Emergency Animal Hospital | Portland Oregon
Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, house prices, home value estimator, recent sales, cost of living, crime, race, income, photos, education, maps, weather, houses, schools, neighborhoods, and more

I've also had good luck with this website (though for human related activities).
VolunteerMatch - Where Volunteering Begins

[philwithbeard]

I went back and looked at your previous post, where you asked about a condo in the $150K range.

Well, let's start with some basics....
have you found out about that the city of Portland is divided up into neighborhood?
Google: Moving to Portland.
A couple of hits will provide you with some reading.
also:
Portland Neighborhoods: Information about Portland, Oregon
Official City site:
Neighborhood Involvement
Maps of Neighborhoods:
Neighborhood Maps and Boundaries
Mass Transit:
TriMet: Public Transportation for the Portland, Oregon, Metro Area

Now here is the deal, in the city of Portland, it's supply and demand for real estate. For the location your asking for, and the neighborhood amenities, you would have to be not just lucky, but AMAZINGLY lucky to find a decently sized condo in your price range.

I am not a real estate agent so I don't know the details of condo pricing and condo homeowner fees.

On one hand I think you would fit in almost perfect in the Hawthorne St area near 28th of 30th street, or maybe I think out in Beaverton in one of the townhouse complex places near the MAX light rail line, yada, yada, yada. But then there is your price range.

From what I know, in your price range puts you out along the Blue Max line out East of I-205 pushing into Gresham. Lots of nice places in your price range between SE Stark and NE Glisan east I-205, but you're then in 'Car is King' area; not so much for no-car.

But on the other hand, as you describe yourself in this thread, and your previous thread, you sound like someone who would be best suited, or destined, to live in the Pearl district, the west side of the Pearl, I think. Near the Street Car line, or just East of I-405.

My recommendation is to rent for a year, then after you know the city, you can look around and figure out the best place to buy for your want list.

{tongue-in-cheek}
HOWEVER, should you find a nice place on the West side of the Pearl, in your price range walking distance to Powell's book store, and the Streetcar, do let us all know--- We may want to talk to you about some Lottery numbers, with luck like that.

Well, somebody has to get lucky once in a while, why not you?

Phil

[Brunette2010]

Thanks Phil with Beard==and I WILL contact you with the lottery numbers after I win of course..My price range is not set in stone and from some of the research I have done it may be attainable

The reason, Figmalt . that Im not looking at the obvious searches is they are too genreic--I really want to hear from people who volunteer themselves and can give me the inside scoop

[Minervah]

Your price for condos could be met with something really nice. Check this out.

50 South Waterfront Condos Set For Auction - Portland News Story - KPTV Portland

Also a great place to volunteer would be The House of Dreams a no-kill shelter with wonderful cats and people.

http://www.kitty dreams.org

[ahoffelt]

It's not an animal shelter, by the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon is an awesome organization that allows you to be involved with cats. I have volunteered there for a couple of years and love it. They are accessible by MAX and bus.

[Brunette2010]

for the volunteer leads--Im all about helping cats Ity for auvtion leads as well)

[Wicked Felina]

One more suggestion for volunteering is the Oregon Humane Society in NE Portland:
oregonhumane.org

They have a cat section and small animals (rabbits, rats, hamsters, etc.) section where you can volunteer. I have, and have friends who currently volunteer there. Nice place, very clean and well-run.

Here're a few of the cat areas
//www.city-data.com/forum/13351754-post1296.html