Northwest life in OR and WA
 

Curious, what is life like in OR and WA? I have been thinking of possibly moving to Oregon, Washington, or Arizona. Focusing on the NW, what cities in OR/WA would you recommend? **keeping in mind low crime rates, good schools, well kept neighborhoods, etc.

I am aware Arizona will be inevitably hot, but as far as Oregon and Washington goes what is weather typically like? I am not very familiar with either state and would appreciate any input. Thanks!

I've lived in Oregon for almost 5 years and I like it for the most part. It rains 3/4 of the year, but when it's nice, it's NICE! I love the summer time! I currently live in Salem, but lived in Wilsonville last year. I'd say Wilsonville is more of an upper class city. It's very safe and has one of the best school districts in the state. Housing is more expensive than say Salem, but I'm sure it's still cheaper compared to where you currently are.

Oregon? All the cities have their nice areas and their bad areas. But if you want those real nice places, cities like West Linn, Lake Oswego, Tualatin, and Happy Valley come to mind. I've lived in Portland and Gresham all my life. I've only been a victim of theft once, when my catalytic converter was sawed off my 4runner when I had it parked at a park-and-ride lot for the light rail.

@BIL90 Thanks for your response. How is the city-life and social aspect of Salem and Wilsonville? If someone were in IT or Healthcare, would these cities provide the opportunity for those type of jobs?

@indesign Our mechanic told us about the CC being stolen from 4runners when we got ours a couple years back too! That is too bad it happened to you. Likewise, if you don't mind - How is the city-life and social aspect of West Linn, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley and Portland?

All these cities are next to eachother, just a cluster of suburbs. similar to that of say.. the bay area in california.
city life here is definitely slower than CA, cities just aren't as big, and there aren't nearly as many people. i'd say if you're a party animal, you'll notice the disparity right away.
But the northwest does carry a different identity. One of my coworkers moved up here from LA to get away from the big-city life and pursue his passion of snowboarding.

I guess it just depends on what you're into.

OT: please move to Portland so I can take advantage of your challenge.

Having moved from so Cal in July the portland area is definitely slower. I live in Hillsboro in the nicer side and it's nice just not much to do especially if you don't already know people here. But all the guys on here are great and meet up all the time. Also the weather is taking some getting used too but I was never against cold weather I do miss the sunny all year aspect of California though

My wife and I faced the same decision in 1998. As much as we loved the Oregon and Washington area we just couldn't settle on that much rain. We decided on Tucson and are very happy with our decision. When it's hot out we do the same thing the people back east do. We live in an a/c house, drive an a/c car, shop and dine in a/c. It actually was worse back east because of the humidity which is lacking here. The big difference is we don't shovel snow in the winter time. An added bonus we enjoy is our cars don't rust, they petrify instead.

Well, we moved to Washington about 20 years ago. I was born & raised in Ohio; lived in Europe for 2 years; Californis for 10 years (Bay area); Connecticut for 7 years; Saint Louis for 8 years .... then here in Puyallup, WA (near Tacoma, south of Seattle).

Yes, it does rain a lot, however, it never gets real cold nor real hot.

A great "outdoors" state.

As far as IT opportunities ..... I'd suggest you look around Seattle.

humfrz

I back this. Lived in Oregon all my life. Besides the 2 years I moved to Florida to dip into the racing world an enjoy the sun lol. I have friends/family in west linn and lake Oswego. Really nice places. I personally love living in Gresham. Keeps me close to my fav roads to drive in Corbett Oregon.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc39c6488.png

Live in Seattle for the past 28 years. I did travel across the country visiting other States and for some reason, I still love Seattle. I can't imagine I will move away from Seattle. Like Humfrz said, it never get too hot or too cold. Summer time is very, very nice.

I moved here from the east coast about 2 years ago and I like it quite a lot. The summers are some of the best in the country even though the fall/winter/spring is kinda "meh". And, at least in the case of Portland, you have got oceans, mountains, or desert all within 3 hours of the city.

Yea I think Portland is a hidden gem imo. I've traveled to many cities, domestic and international, and I still love this town! I do wish we had better refined restaurants/night life/shopping.

-Great restaurants at reasonable prices
-ski/snowboard 1 hour away, ocean 2 hours away, desert 4 hours away.
-no sales tax
-cost of living is cheaper here
-summer is kick ass

cons
-fall/winter/spring weather not so great
-nightlife not so refined
-this may be just me, but it has its own identity crisis, where its a mix of Hill Billy/Nerdy/Techy/Emo/Hipster. If you have 2 of those characteristics, you'll fit right in.

we moved from So Cal 8 years ago and live in West Salem and Love it, big city items are in town, Costco, Nordstrom and the like. One of the best hospitals in the state. we moved from LA area south-bay (Torrance) so it all depends what you are looking for in quality of life. Salem is an hour to and hour and a half to almost anything


the closer you get to Portland the more $ cost of living goes up

I've lived in Arizona till I was 13, been living in Portland since - I'm 25 now.

To me, I'll take scorching heat over rain every day. But one major difference I've noticed is the demographic. Yes, it depends where you go, but overall AZ is much more diverse. I also noticed (though it may be adult-me talking) that Oregonians are a whole lot nicer to strangers. Roads in AZ are straight, and very much parallel (you can take take 4 rights to get back to where you were). OR roads are not...

Go Blazers

This is actually pretty important to me. Obviously living in California, you get a mixed vibe from people, it can be really nice or really rude, mostly rude and impatient though.

That is good to know about OR. I assume WA is similar as well and has a majority of nicer people. That is also one of the things I like a lot about Texas. People are very courteous and aware of others.

Seattle - Home of rain, passive aggressive people, and bad drivers.

Summers are nice tho...

It takes rain to have an evergreen state! :p

IMO there are worse places to live other than Washington and Oregon, unless you want to base that solely on weather it's not fair to say they're the worst places to live. Every state has their good areas and bad areas. Weather is based on individuals preferences, some people enjoy being able to have a warm fire and whenever and actually like the smell and sound of rain. Plus there's always something to do if you're creative enough.

Also fyi, there are bad drivers EVERYWHERE it's kind of difficult avoiding those.

She sure did ..... but, we should cut Missy some slack .... she is having withdrawls .... :(

humfrz

Jesus I'm supposed to creep and see where these people live???
I quit -_-

Thanks humfrz, you commenting was the only way I figured tha out. Most people are just assholes when it comes to wa/or

Unless you like cold and rain and no sun, WA is for you.

New York rains and snows like no other, but people love it. Seems like people have an issue with pacific rain.

Lesser Seattle Society and the KBO

http://www.historylink.org/db_images/watson-04.JPG

@Monogram
First, what do you mean by transplants - like the rejects of CA/East coast? LOL
Second, are you just being ironic since the state you live in is WA? So in fact WA kicks ass - or does it really just plain suck?
Lastly, by nothing to do...does that = no movie theaters, bowling alley, night-life, clubs/bars, pool, windey and drifty roads, malls, snowboarding/skiing, hunting, camping, fishing, boating, tubing, jet ski, wakeboarding?

@Missy

Serious...bad drivers are inescapable! So you really do like WA or now it sucks...? all these mixed messages from yall loll is confusing

Soooooo what are you exactly trying to say?

How many states have u lived in or visited? I'm only 23 but I've lived in 2 and visited north of 30 states, Mexico, Bahamas and various parts of Europe.

Oregon has some of the nicest people I've ever encounters besides Norway.

As for the bad driving thing, try living in Florida. Been hit 3 times sitting at standing red lights in 2 years...

Not trying to attack you by any means. Just curious.

As for mono, guys just being a tool.

Oh Jesus I'm just going to avoid this one from here on out. Lol
But by the asshole statement I meant people not from washington/Oregon like being assholes and say our states suck. Didn't mean the people here are assholes, granted everywhere you go there will be some rotten apples but that's normal.

Mostly we encourage outsiders to think it's a wet, cold, dreary black hole out here to keep them where they are.

It's a running inside joke since the 50's. Not succeeding very well though.
Bellevue used to be acres of forest. Now it's nearly completely condos and suburbs.

Honestly Washington is the best place I have ever lived. I've lived in Cali, Texas, and Idaho. Honestly nothing is better then the pacific northwest, we get all four seasons, the roads aren't too bad, and it isn't as heavily populated. Wouldn't trade it for anywhere else. But prepare for some cold weather 8 months out the year

OK, @Monogram ..... THAT tears it !! ...... http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...shakingmad.gif

You are OFF the board of directors of the Washington State Chambers of Commerce AND the Washington State Visitors Bureau .....!!

Just turn in your rain soaked, moldy badge and waddle away on your webbed feet ..... http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...ages/cloud.gif

humfrz

Monogram forgets few things though... All Washington State's parks are full of mosquitoes. Lakes are dirty with sewer's lines going straight into lakes.

Which makes for good brown trout fishing... Much like the Willamette River here in Portland. ;)

I beg your pardon ..... they DO NOT go directly into the lakes ..... they fan out on the swimming beaches, to filter and dissipate the effluent, so as not to contaminate the shellfish and salmon ..... http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...mages/sigh.gif

humfrz

I grew up in Oregon, overall 28 years, wife and I moved to Arizona this last April as we were just completely sick of the weather. The weather sucks, there is no way around it, its always raining and misting, and ALWAYS cloudy. you get 1.5 months of summer if your lucky these past 5-8 years and honestly it gets depressing and you don't even realize it until you live sunnier places.

I would not give up growing up in Oregon for anything to be honest, people are nice there really are no "bad" area's. you don't notice racism hardly ever, and generally speaking people are really nice. But the weather gets to you, and if you like good sunny weather... you won't like it long term (more than a couple years)


Oregon is really expensive to live compared to Arizona, and hard to find jobs, IT work is there but it won't pay very good. My wife's salary almost doubled going to AZ (mine stayed close) and its way cheaper to live, we sold our house in Oregon for 270k and bought twice as big of a house, with 3x the lot size space and a pool and paid 30k less.

I love Oregon, and most of my family and friends are there, but I can't do rain/clouds 9/10's of the year anymore. -- Granted the weather used to be WAY better, about 15 years ago it was much closer to 50/50 rain/cloud vs sun.... but its gotten much worse over the years.

Seattle is very expensive, roads are shitty, traffic is horrible, I've got tons of friends in seattle, and most of them love it. I think its significantly worse than Oregon though.

Portland traffic is getting worse, roads are pretty good.

Phoenix has some traffic but the roads are SO efficient, you can plan a trip in rush hour all on side roads and never hit any of it.

Overall I think it boils down to these things

Culture/things to do/don't care about weather/want higher paying job - move to Seattle

Portland if you don't like "big city" but still want that nw culture/adventure

Phoenix if you want to live in the sun but live really well for the $$$ - also a ton of stuff to do in phoenix, you can wear shorts 99% of the year, tons of car stuff here, lots of race tracks, 5 hours from LA 5 hours from LAS Vegas, few hours from skiing/snowboarding 30 minutes from lakes.


Oh and Go Blazers!

Talking like this won't keep away the Californians. Native Oregonians have been trying it for decades.
:laughabove:

I visited Tucson last year in October and liked it. I'm not sure if I liked it enough to move there as it was a little depressing as far as scenery. I guess I'm used to hills and trees everywhere with snow peaked mountains in the distance. Not quite as hot as Phoenix but still shorts all year type of place. Every place is a trade off so pick what is most important to you. :) Maybe I'll move to Arizona in a few years, who knows? Or maybe San Diego or Austin. Depends on how tired of Living in the same spot all my life gets. Plus it's not warm enough for the ladies to dress nice around here for the most part. ;)
:wub:

Hey everyone, Im Michael and this last sunday the 29th I purchased a brand new 2014 Subaru BRZ!!! I love the car all around, besides lack of power. But non the less this car is amazing!

I want to get to know some fellow brz/frs owners in the tacoma and surrounding areas. I met a few people at the Paul Walker meet a few weeks ago. I told them I would be buying a BRZ soon... My last car which I still have and wont sell is a stanced SVT focus, red with the black bottom. Im sure many of you know of it from Stancewars.

Anyways, hope to hear from many of you!

CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME ..... http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...mages/wave.gif

humfrz