Oregon?

**TheEmptyCell** · #1 02-05-2008, 09:39 PM

So, my fiancee and I are looking at moving next year, after we've saved considerably (aka, I stop buying gear for a while), and Oregon is one place that we keep coming back to in discussions. Snooping around on thee olde intertoobs, we've sort of 'decided' that the Newburg area would be right for us.

Is there anyone in that part of the US? Care to give us your honest opinion?

This would be a huge move for us, from the UP of Michigan to Oregon, but we don't have a great amount of stuff. It looks like it's the perfect distance from the big city of Portland, but distant enough to not be a congested mess. The city seems to be about 3x the population of our current, so it's not a massive difference.

Thanks a bunch!

Oxblood · #2 02-05-2008, 09:41 PM

Any place would be better than the UP.

Why Oregon though? Any reason?

RedemptionBass · #3 02-05-2008, 09:54 PM

Oregon rocks. I lived in Portland for a while back in 93 or so. I currently live in the Chicago (home) area and Oregon is one of the few places I'd consider leaving Chicago for.

**TheEmptyCell** · #4 02-05-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxblood

Any place would be better than the UP.

Why Oregon though? Any reason?

No sales tax was jokingly one of the first things, but then the cost of living isn't too ridiculous in an area like the one we're looking at. The climate is similar (but less snow), the amount and variety of wilderness is similar, but it's still a larger area.

And yeah, with -33 F wind chill and 8-10 inches of snow every few days, most places are better than the wretched UP. Although it is beautiful, and nothing (except maybe the ocean) beats Lake Superior.

Passinwind · #5 02-05-2008, 10:00 PM

You could put a link to this thread in the Social Event/ GTG section in one of our PDX GTG threads. There are tons of Oregonians on TB.

false404 · #6 02-06-2008, 01:13 AM

Oregon is fantastic. I used to live in Vancouver, WA which is just north of Portland. You can shop in Oregon with no sales tax and live in WA with no income tax (OR has one). Portland is a beautiful city and the Oregon coast is fantastic. Good luck!

bassguppy · #7 02-06-2008, 01:22 AM

I lived in Olympia, WA for a couple years and traveled down to the Oregon coast numerous times. Definitely cool, scenic. Nice small towns along the coast. Living in states like WA, OR or certain parts of CA just have a cool vibe.

Phalex · #8 02-06-2008, 06:54 AM

Oregon really is beautiful! I have an uncle out there. The people are nice the air is clean...

Property taxes will kill you, but if you rent............

Oh, and Lee Barker of Barker Bass lives in Redmond. He's a really nice guy and makes some really nice stuff. The tour is worth the price of admission.

casualmadness · #9 02-06-2008, 07:15 AM

+1 on the Oregon love. I lived out in WA for a while (best state in the nation!) also lived in CA for a bit, and I ventured to Oregon a few times. Beautiful country down there. I never had a bad time.

**baba** · #10 02-06-2008, 07:17 AM

Portland is a wonderful city. If you can stand the rain and overcast weather, I think it is one of the nicest places in the USA to live.

Bassin' · #11 02-06-2008, 07:34 AM

I live in the Stafford, Wilsonville area, which is east of Newburg. It's a great area. The one thing to keep in mind is there isn't any straight shot to Portland from Newburg so even though it may not seem too far away as far as distance, it will still take a bit of time to get there. On the plus side, the home values in Newburg are still quite affordable. Someone mentioned property taxes, and that is a major bill but we don't have a sales tax so it kind of evens out (well not completely evened out but it helps).

The weather here is gorgeous in the summer and dark and wet in the winter. Spring and fall can be hit and miss. It does rain here a lot but it does make for some beautiful scenery when the weather is nice.

SnoMan · #12 02-06-2008, 07:55 AM

Had to be done

MJ5150 · #13 02-06-2008, 08:04 AM

The Pacific Northwest is dark, cold, and damp for long stretches at a time. We go from cold rain in the winter, to warm rain the rest of the year. I think we invented Seasonal Affective Disorder. Yeah, the summers out this way rock, but it is downright depressing to go weeks at a time without seeing or feeling the warmth from the sun.

I'm totally serious when I warn you that if your moods are affected by this kind of weather....do NOT move here.

-Mike

Jeff Martinez · #14 02-06-2008, 08:11 AM

As someone who once faced the same decision, I say ...... DO IT. I have since moved back to Denver, but I get homesick for Portland a lot, even though I only lived there for 4 years.

casualmadness · #15 02-06-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

The Pacific Northwest is dark, cold, and damp for long stretches at a time. We go from cold rain in the winter, to warm rain the rest of the year. I think we invented Seasonal Affective Disorder. Yeah, the summers out this way rock, but it is downright depressing to go weeks at a time without seeing or feeling the warmth from the sun.

I'm totally serious when I warn you that if your moods are affected by this kind of weather....do NOT move here.

-Mike

Strange, I know but I actually feel better in that type of weather. Maybe it's on the count of me being a daywalker.

Marcus Johnson · #16 02-06-2008, 09:26 AM

Coastal Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I lived in Humboldt, in Northern Cal, but I went up into Oregon on a daily basis when I worked for a delivery service many years ago. Amazing place. But MJ5150 speaks the truth when he talks about the loooong stretches of cold wetness. It can really get to you.

I also have to say it... I love the UP. I was raised near there (in northern Wisconsin), and it holds a lot of great memories for me.

Good luck with your move.

Passinwind · #17 02-06-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Coastal Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I lived in Humboldt, in Northern Cal, but I went up into Oregon on a daily basis when I worked for a delivery service many years ago. Amazing place. But MJ5150 speaks the truth when he talks about the loooong stretches of cold wetness. It can really get to you.

That's true, especially west of the Cascades. Plenty of the Pacific NW is full-blown desert though. Where I live (an hour east of Portland) it gets really hot in the summer for weeks on end, but we actually only get 35 inches or so of rain a year. All that rain in the valleys = snow in the mountains, and it's pretty easy to escape the heat one way or another IME.

And hey, Maui's not too far away! I just wish I could get over there during the dreary season here.

Marcus Johnson · #18 02-06-2008, 10:13 AM

Actually, we're having a little stretch of Oregon-ish weather right now, very rainy. But the sun should be returning soon, I think.

Let me know if you plan a trip out here, Charlie.

**TheEmptyCell** · #19 02-06-2008, 11:26 AM

Hmm, sounds like a 1.5 thumbs up for the most part. We don't mind rain, or fog (the fiancee loves it, actually), and cold rain is better than blizzards and shoveling. We've got plenty of time to decide, first we have to get the wedding over with, move into a new rental here, and then make some more money. Thanks for the input!

And to put it into perspective, it's about 6 hours to a big city from here (Duluth or Green Bay), so an hour or two drive to Portland would be no biggy to us.

Marcus Johnson · #20 02-06-2008, 12:08 PM

You'll probably love it. It's great if you can hang with the weather. Lots of really cool people there. Portland is a great town, IMHO.