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Oregon looks really good to me...
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Just curious to hear from those who live there, or have lived there. 

    Especially from the point of view of someone who has lived in /spent time in Texas as well?

    I've been in Tex-ass my whole damned life.  Yawn.   I've visited a few other states (VA, MD, DC, FL, CO, LA) but have only lived here.   I have also hated it for as long as I can remember. Yeah I have the weird Texas pride, but I hate it, how does that even make sense? LOL

    Mostly I can't stand the weather and I would love to live somewhere prettier.  We spent a week in Colorado and loved it.   But I have a friend who moved to Oregon for a few years than came back here and she can't stop talking about how great Oregon is.

    It sure seems awesome, gorgeous, and totally different from Texas!   

    DW and I have decided to get out of here once we finish with school.  If we didn't have to worry about out of state tuition we would be gone already but for now it makes the most sense to at least get finished with school for that reason and also so DS14 can graduate high school.   

    Would love to hear about Oregon or the Pacific NW in general.   DW will be getting a degree in education (math, specifically, k-8th) and I'll be a Speech Language Pathologist one of these days!
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • Monkeynmoo
    Posts: 1,420Guest
    I love Oregon! It rains a lot but that rain keeps it so green and fresh smelling! I live in Salem so right in the middle of the valley! I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
  • meandmy243meandmy243
    Posts: 6,633Member
    Im about 2 hours north of oregon... Where im at tomorrow is the first day of summer but it doesnt start till the 5th of july... Lol
    mom of wild children
    going to the chapel 7/5/2014
  • boring_nameboring_name
    Posts: 667Member
     Eastern WA and OR are hotter/dryer in summer and has lots more snow in winter.

    B
  • blkrosemommablkrosemomma
    Posts: 296Member
    I live in Washington, Bellevue actually, but I have spent a lot of time in OR. My friend and I love to do roadtrips down the coast and then cut into the mountains to wind our way back up to Portland. It's GORGEOUS. The further East you get in WA or OR you'll get a little warmer but the rain is refreshing.
  • lostinthewindlostinthewind
    Posts: 1,169Member
    Lived here almost my whole life, love it! I've lived in one other state and ended up back here. Its a little hard for folks not used to the rain and the lack of summer but its great!!!!
  • lostinthewindlostinthewind
    Posts: 1,169Member
    Oh and @ monkeynmoo lives right down the road from me so ya'll should come visit :D
  • Monkeynmoo
    Posts: 1,420Guest
    Yes! @lostinthewind and I will show you a good time for sure! There is just so much here.... Oceans, mountains, valleys, dessert... Anything you can think of wanting and where we are is kinda central so we are no more than 4-5 hours or less away from each of them! Camping is a blast with all te lakes and rivers here too!
  • pdxmama
    Posts: 1,470Member
    Portland native here. Oregon is great! SO is Washington really, their kinda one and the same imo, it's all the Pacific Northwest. As far as natural beauty is concerned you really can't beat it. Also, in the larger cities like Portland and Seattle or even places like Olympia, WA and Eugene, OR there are really vibrant LGBT communities and the local political climate is pretty progressive for the most part. Portland State University also has a really well respected SLP program, but I definitely understand wanting to stay in TX for the tuition! I don't think it would be too hard to find a job in that field here though.
  • battibatti
    Posts: 2,164Member
    @meandmy243 @blkrosemomma @boring_name **high fives** for Western WA!!!!!!

    @pdxmama I agree, wa and or are really similar. I love BOTH!!!

    SMSM_s_5

  • SammieSammie
    Posts: 7,345Administrator, Moderator
    Oregon, Washington, PNW in general...I don't ever want to live anywhere else!! That's the truth. It's amazing. Beautiful beyond words, safe, fun, and plenty of addordable areas to reside in. You'll love it!

    community-manager


  • BellaBefanaBellaBefana
    Posts: 8,714Member
    Yeah, the PNW is beautiful, but I'm not sure I'd want to live there, a little too much rain for me.  But then I moved from San Diego to Phoenix...so there you go.  I do love rain, just not every damn day!

    I would take WA or OR hands down over Texas, though...wouldn't even have to think twice!!!
    Bite me, cupcake!
  • CanadianMamaCanadianMama
    Posts: 9,655Administrator, Moderator
    I want to move to Oregon. I have family there and the vibe and ideology of the state really falls in line with my husband and my beliefs. And @Sammie lives there, which is also a big selling point.

    community-manager


  • breezybreezy
    Posts: 3,483Member
    What am I @CanadianMama?!?! Chopped liver?!?!

    I love Oregon.
    I don't ever want to move from Oregon.
    I should be a national tourism spokes woman for Oregon...lol.

    I live in a smaller town and love it.
    I am (almost exactly) 1hrs drive from the ocean, the mountains, the desert, and the largest national forest in North America. White water rafting in the boondock, UO Ducks games in Eugene.... I can take you to swimming holes on the Illinois river that will make you think you are in Bora Bora ... and no one know about them. 

    And if you happen to me on the medicinal marijuana movement.... Oregon is the place to be. :)

  • CanadianMamaCanadianMama
    Posts: 9,655Administrator, Moderator
    lol oops @Breezy you too!!! Just making Oregon even more appealing :D

    community-manager


  • DemandaDemanda
    Posts: 4,622Member
    I don't ever want to leave Canada, but have been informed by my BF that if we ever move to the US, it's Oregon or nothing.  I've never been, but he loves it there.
    "The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off." ~ Gloria SteinemPhotobucket
  • SammieSammie
    Posts: 7,345Administrator, Moderator
    Yay @canadianmama!!! I live in the Columbia Gorge area. You haven't lived until you have visited this spot. It's absolutely gorgeous wherever you look!

    I'm not a city girl, but Eugene feels like home to me. Best city in the world!!! It's big, but you'd never know. It's safe, incredibly open minded, very bike/pedestrian friendly, there's TONS to see and do and the people are amazing. If we ever move from where we are at, it's the only place I wanna be.

    My hometown is Sweet Home. Where else you gonna find a town with that name? ;)

    community-manager


  • LesboMomLesboMom
    Posts: 2,929Confessional Manager
    I don't know anything about Oregon other than that some SMs live there, there is a Fry's Electronics in Wilsonville, it's in the west somewhere.....

    But I DO know about living in Texas and hating it with every bone in your little bitty lesbian body. That's why I don't live there anymore. And as for the Texas pride thing...yeah I get that too...I am allowed to hate it but you better not have anything bad to say about it. :) 

    confessional-manager

    Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. -- Helen Keller
  • pdxmama
    Posts: 1,470Member
    @lesbomom how fucking funny that you know we have a Fry's in Wilsonville. Totally random seeming bit of knowledge.
  • LesboMomLesboMom
    Posts: 2,929Confessional Manager
    @pdxmama I used to work at Fry's...I started in Texas and moved to GA with that company. I worked there for 9 years. It was my first job ever! I started as a cashier and made it audit manager within 2 years. 

    confessional-manager

    Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. -- Helen Keller
  • pdxmama
    Posts: 1,470Member
    Yay Oregon! We're even trying to steal the Canadians. C'mon @canadianmama & @demanda its not so bad down here, really.
  • pdxmama
    Posts: 1,470Member
    @lesbomom ok, now that makes perfect sense! It seemed extra random, bc Wilsonville isn't known for much at all, besides Fry's and a bunch of warehouses. It's like basically an industrial suburb of Portland.
  • LesboMomLesboMom
    Posts: 2,929Confessional Manager
    @pdxmama That's what I figured - none of the Fry's are in the MAIN part of the big city -- the Austin store is in a town called Palmer. The two Atlanta stores are OUTSIDE Atlanta. As a manager I had to know ALL the stores. Doesn't look like they have opened any new ones since I left 5 years ago, though. 

    confessional-manager

    Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. -- Helen Keller
  • fantasticalmamafantasticalmama
    Posts: 139Member
    I lived in Astoria for a few years. I loved it. It was beautiful and Portland was awesome for shopping and entertainment. The cost of living was reasonable. The best part was not having to pump my own gas!
  • GisleyandHank
    Posts: 300Member

    I grew up in Western Oregon and my husband grew up in Eastern OR, where we live now. Some other people have touched on it but East/West OR and WA are two completely different cultures.


    Western OR/WA is wet and humid, mild winters, grass growing on your roof, and big trendy cities where young people go to retire.


    Eastern OR/WA is all cowboys, dry and hot summers, 9+ months of snow, and tiny touristy towns with no shopping.

  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Wow, guys, I am amazed at how there's not a bad word about it!!  I wish we could take a road trip NOW to just check it out.   I am stunned by the beauty from just looking at Google images.  Seriously.  Compare it to my area (San Antonio, TX) and you will see why!   I am excited and it's now on the top of our list.

    @LesboMom  lol!  Kinda like someone talking about your Mama, right?  ;)  I can tell you mine is a mean and crazy bitch but better not hear someone else talking about her!
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • breezybreezy
    Posts: 3,483Member
    If you drive you have to stop and see me!! 

    I haven't met any SM's yet :'(

  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Well I am thinking I should check out Oregon for grad school anyway.   A lot of times grad school is expensive no matter if it's out of state or not.  Hmmm.  
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    It doesn't help that the paperback I am currently reading is set on the Oregon coast and the descriptions alone are amazing! ;)
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Showed DS20 pics of Oregon.  His reply "But there's no Mexican food there...?" 


    :(|)

    Of course he can do what he wants, he's 20.  But damn, I can cook pretty much anything he orders in a Mexican food place anyway.     His next comment, "What if they make fun of us for being from Texas?"    Well yeah that's likely but that's likely everywhere, lol.  Still no reason to STAY here forever!
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • meandmy243meandmy243
    Posts: 6,633Member
    Theres tons of mexican food!! Abd new york gets more rain than we do.. First day of summer a pretty and nice 70degrees... Saturday and sunday they say rain but hey you take whT you can get here... Lol
    mom of wild children
    going to the chapel 7/5/2014
  • SammieSammie
    Posts: 7,345Administrator, Moderator
    Oh yes. We've got Mexican food. GOOD Mexican food!! Come one now ;)

    community-manager


  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    70 degrees is my idea of heaven! :)

    We are thinking seriously about a road trip now!  Just have to convince someone to come apartment sit and dog/cat sit.
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • Doxiegirl
    Posts: 13Member
    I have lived in Oregon most of my life except for college stints in Washington and Illinois. My best friends have lived in Houston and San Antonio areas. I will take Oregon hands down! Just give me Eastern High Desert Oregon. I can't stand the damn rain. I thought I was home sick my freshman year in western Wa. Thank goodness for the Internet and Nordstrom.com because the shopping does not exist on the east side of the cascades. Bend is a nice place but too crowded now so it has lost any charm. Best of luck on you decision to move. We Oregonians will welcome intelligent, educated you!
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Doxiegirl said:

    I have lived in Oregon most of my life except for college stints in Washington and Illinois. My best friends have lived in Houston and San Antonio areas. I will take Oregon hands down! Just give me Eastern High Desert Oregon. I can't stand the damn rain. I thought I was home sick my freshman year in western Wa. Thank goodness for the Internet and Nordstrom.com because the shopping does not exist on the east side of the cascades. Bend is a nice place but too crowded now so it has lost any charm. Best of luck on you decision to move. We Oregonians will welcome intelligent, educated you!



    :)  Thank you!   I don't know how I will deal with the rain.  Here, we deal with drought and brown and hot so it sounds like a nice change but who knows.

    I don't care about shopping if there are thrift stores.   I wonder how much more expensive it is?  I was looking at Craigslist for Eugene and the rents don't seem to be a lot more than they are here.
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • GypsyMamaGypsyMama
    Posts: 625Member
    I'm going to be the lone voice of dissent here but it's a perspective. I have lived in Seattle, Bend, OR and Dallas TX. Being a mountain states sunshine girl I suffered in the PNW with the lack of sunshine. Even in Bend, which is way sunnier than the coast, it was gray far more than I was used to. It is very pretty if you like to look at trees. I am conditioned to appreciate a more open vista so feel very confined in the PNW and I am conditioned to be able to use the mountains for direction but you usually can't see the mtns for the trees. I had issues fitting in both places for different reasons. If someone said I had to choose between the PNW and Dallas I'd choose Colorado or Florida. PNW is a great place to vacation. I've done that and loved it. Living there- not so much. Dallas just plain sucked.
  • MistressHeidiMistressHeidi
    Posts: 977Member
    I live in Northern California, a little under 2 hours from the Oregon border. I love where I live in California, it's not to hot, not to cold, I'm surrounded by redwood trees and the ocean is less then a twenty minute drive from my house. I also love Oregon. My ex mother in law lives in Coos Bay. The drive up the coast to see her was amazing. So beautiful. And Coos Bay was wonderful. If I ever move from California, Oregon is where I'm going.
  • GypsyMamaGypsyMama
    Posts: 625Member
    Bend and Dallas cost of living were similar. Seattle was much more expensive. The Oregon coast is beautiful and a lovely place to be in the off season. Crazy crowded in the summer.
  • SammieSammie
    Posts: 7,345Administrator, Moderator
    Oh yes, the OR Coast is amazing!! Absolutely love it. And while @pdxmama is right, Wilsonville is nothing but a pass through type of town, there IS a pretty awesome outlet mall. Just sayin'. I know @lesbomom appreciates good shopping :)

    community-manager


  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    GypsyMama said:

    I'm going to be the lone voice of dissent here but it's a perspective. I have lived in Seattle, Bend, OR and Dallas TX. Being a mountain states sunshine girl I suffered in the PNW with the lack of sunshine. Even in Bend, which is way sunnier than the coast, it was gray far more than I was used to. It is very pretty if you like to look at trees. I am conditioned to appreciate a more open vista so feel very confined in the PNW and I am conditioned to be able to use the mountains for direction but you usually can't see the mtns for the trees. I had issues fitting in both places for different reasons. If someone said I had to choose between the PNW and Dallas I'd choose Colorado or Florida. PNW is a great place to vacation. I've done that and loved it. Living there- not so much. Dallas just plain sucked.



    One thing DW and I have talked about from pretty much the time we met is getting the hell out of Texas.   The "where" has been bounced around for years.  Colorado was high on the list for a while too... and it isn't off the list but damn, I love trees and I am tired of not seeing many.  

    We talked about Massachusetts but it seems very pricey.  I am a southern gal at heart but I don't really want to live in the south anymore. ;)  Except maybe New Orleans.  I'd live there.  Even with the heat.
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • LesboMomLesboMom
    Posts: 2,929Confessional Manager
    Colorado was always my dream place.....until I came to Ithaca....now I can't imagine being anywhere else. ever. Seriously.

    confessional-manager

    Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. -- Helen Keller
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    LesboMom said:

    Colorado was always my dream place.....until I came to Ithaca....now I can't imagine being anywhere else. ever. Seriously.



    How'd that happen?  Just chance or on purpose?
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • pdxmama
    Posts: 1,470Member
    @Sammie the outlet mall is in Woodburn. But, boy is it a good one. @Charlotte_Sometimes Eugene is nice, but in a patchouli and sage burning kinda way. Well, and UofO of course. My SO is from San Antonio, born and raised. I have a Texas flag in my bedroom :-S but he says he would never want to move back there after living here. He certainly has that TX pride thing though. When the Spurs play the Blazers he doesn't know what the fuck to do, lol. I think you'd probably like Portland better than Eugene. Especially considering PSU's SLP program. And tell your son not to worry, it's not ALL tofu and bean sprouts here! We have tons of mexican food. We actually have a really big Latino community here.
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    pdxmama said:

    @Sammie the outlet mall is in Woodburn. But, boy is it a good one. @Charlotte_Sometimes Eugene is nice, but in a patchouli and sage burning kinda way. Well, and UofO of course. My SO is from San Antonio, born and raised. I have a Texas flag in my bedroom :-S but he says he would never want to move back there after living here. He certainly has that TX pride thing though. When the Spurs play the Blazers he doesn't know what the fuck to do, lol. I think you'd probably like Portland better than Eugene. Especially considering PSU's SLP program. And tell your son not to worry, it's not ALL tofu and bean sprouts here! We have tons of mexican food. We actually have a really big Latino community here.



    I'm ok with the patchouli crowd. ;)  Is there a big price difference between Eugene and Portland?   Guess if we do make a trip we should try and see both places.

    My son (DS20)  will be happy.  He is half Mexican.  He is always asking about that when we talk about moving.. poor kid, says he is "too white" to fit in with the Hispanic community and too Mexican to be considered "white".
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • meandmy243meandmy243
    Posts: 6,633Member
    Where im at its rural but we have shopping and 45 mins from.more shopping and evergreen state college...
    mom of wild children
    going to the chapel 7/5/2014
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    meandmy243 said:

    Where im at its rural but we have shopping and 45 mins from.more shopping and evergreen state college...



    As long as there is a grocery store close we're good.  A thrift store (or a few!) is awesome but we're not big shoppers aside from my thrift shopping for ebay that I do.  We are pretty much homebodies.  We would be "outdoorsy" if we didn't live here!!
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • meandmy243meandmy243
    Posts: 6,633Member
    We have a few thrift stores both clothing and household goods we have chain stores like safeway and family grocery store like shopping cart.. We also have farmers market in the late spring through the end of summer and tons of antique stores... My town is sort of the hub of the county.. So its more concentrated with stuff then there are the smaller towns that have a main street and a grocery store and maybe a gas station.. But where i.am at i5 runs through...
    mom of wild children
    going to the chapel 7/5/2014
  • meandmy243meandmy243
    Posts: 6,633Member
    As for outdoors theres fishing, trails to walk, mountians to climb, rainforests to explore, beaches and other side of the cascade is full of orchards and senic stuff dams and all that fun stuff.. And camping.. But its the pnw blue tarps are handy for camping you never know when the clouds will roll in either side of the mountians...
    mom of wild children
    going to the chapel 7/5/2014
  • SammieSammie
    Posts: 7,345Administrator, Moderator
    I gotta disagree with @pdxmama here. EUGENE!! Honestly, my favorite place on Earth. Love everything about it. Seriously. You have to visit to really understand, but it's the most tight knit, one love kinda place ever. Just amazing. Plus, my MIL has been an audiologist for over 25 years now...and she works at the top Speech & Hearing center in the city. It also happens to be non-profit, but they do pay well. It's an amazing place!! I could give you a foot in the door. ;)


    @pdxmama, Woodburn. DUH. Another pass through place! We stop on the way to Sweet Home and Eugene when the tot is cooperating. :)

    community-manager


  • palmer93
    Posts: 49Member
    I live In Hood River which is located in the heart of the Gorge. Beautiful, beautiful place..it might become a tourist trap though in the next 10 years. I like it though, plenty of outdoor beauties to gaze at..:Drtfg
  • SammieSammie
    Posts: 7,345Administrator, Moderator
    Hey @palmer93, I just moved from Bingen to a little town located between HR & The Dalles!!! We were looking into living in downtown HR when we fell in LOVE with this house that we are in now, but we are in the area often. I can't believe there's finally another Gorge momma here!!!! YAY!!!!

    community-manager


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