Life on the West Coast

[sciphi]

Got a question for you folks on the West Coast, specifically Oregon and Washington:

What are your likes/dislikes about the area you live in?

Reason I'm asking is because the wifey is needing a change of scenery in the job market. We're both educators. I can do either private or public work (working privately right now), while her specialty is more geared to public schools. I love my job, she hates hers. We're thinking a change in coasts might do us some good. We're thinking Washington or Oregon, some place that has a lot of outdoorsy stuff to do year-round, and is a bigger city, about 70-100k population or so. Weather-wise, living under gray skies is what we're used to, so it would be a wash.

We'd look to move in late spring/early summer of 2012, so we're still in the "where do we want to go" stage of planning/job hunting. Any other advice/tips?

 

[Stewart Fan]

Washington is about perfect IMO. I can drive 3 hours from my house and be in a rain forest,desert,a couple different mt. ranges,or the ocean.

We don't get nearly as much rain as people think we do.

 

[Patman]

Why not go further south on the west coast? If you're going to make such a big life changing move, might as well make it to somewhere that's going to have a nice warm climate!

 

[eljefino]

My cousin moved from VT to Oregon. She likes the optimism there that isn't in the northeast.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Patman
Why not go further south on the west coast? If you're going to make such a big life changing move, might as well make it to somewhere that's going to have a nice warm climate!

We don't want the traffic and foolishness that is southern California. A friend lives an hour outside of LA, and doesn't like it very much. Besides, LAUSD has been on a layoff spree lately, and their salaries can't cover costs down there.

 

[ajchien]

I believe Washington has no income tax. Oregon has no sales tax.

 

[JOD]

I've lived in Seattle for about 15 years, and I've traveled pretty extensively through both states for work, so I'm pretty familiar with most of the areas around here. I'm a native east coaster.

If it were a little drier and a little sunnier, I'd say this is pretty much the best place ever. This last winter, and our 'summer' have cracked me a little--but it's been unusually wet this past 9 months. Oh well... I really like it. I live downtown. I'm able to ride my bike everywhere, or walk to most of my basic services, which is nice. It's a weird city, though. It has a bunch of small, defined neighborhoods, which are created by various bridges and bodies of water. Which ever of these neighborhoods you live in, you tend to stay in, and they all have their own unique feel.

Portland is similar, though a little more centralized in a sense, though it also has the neighborhoods defined by bridges thing going on. I really like Portland as well.

If you can both find work in one of the smaller cities, like Bellingham, Corvallis, Bend, Eugene--all of those places are awesome as well. I like being able to walk to Trader Joes, ride from my house, or get on a sweet mountain bike trail in less than 30 minutes, so downtown Seattle works for me. The smaller cities will have less traffic, but a little less going on.

In terms of outdoor activities, I don't think there's another place in the country that can rival it;mountains, lakes, rivers, the ocean and very different micro-climates all in a small area makes it tough to beat.

 

[Mr Nice]

Go where you have a job and opportunities, good school districts, low crime....etc.

 

[Papa Bear]

Come to Canada.

 

[Pablo]

I was born in Cali. Did my time there. I've been in the PNW near 30 years now.

Pluses: Water. No smog. Green. Geography. Border.

Minuses: Without going P, the hippies run most everything. I don't mind certain things, but they used to be the ones screaming about "the man" and now they are "the man" and they are way way worse than the man. Traffic - don't let anyone fool you, traffic in Seattle sucks. It's limited by the geography and the man.

Honestly, I wouldn't live anywhere else. Today is really nasty. 71°F and lovely. A few clouds cruise by. Tomorrow 76°. Monday 74°F. It rains, and it rains in so many different ways, if you pay attention. My favorite is the dry rain. Hardly bugs me. Winter, maybe some years, snow, maybe some years no snow - but not super cold. End of Nov-Feb are the worst months, but they aren't THAT bad.

True, we have no income tax. But they get it out of you in other ways. I like it. I also liked it in OR, no sales tax, but they have a nasty income tax. Pick your poison.

I gotta go fire up the 'cue before the Sounders game.

 

[Stelth]

I have to agree with one of the above posters - southern California can be wonderful, but the state of California seems to be imploding right now. Plus, of course, traffic in the LA area is normally a nightmare. Sometimes it's worse than that. I love the SoCal climate, but not everyone does. If you like the "change of seasons" as many do, SoCal is not for you. Our seasons change, but not nearly as dramatically as most. In winter we get some rain, and it's occasionally cold enough to get frost.

There are places in the southland where it snows most winters, but it's nothing like the northwest. There are also lakes, but again not lakes like you have in most of the rest of the country. The San Diego River is only a part-time river. It flows during the winter.

And if you're teachers, California is not the place to be right now. The state is bankrupt, and teachers are suffering, along with other gov't employees. They're shortening school years here, laying school employees off, eliminating all sorts of programs, etc.

 

[sciphi]

Sounds like Washington and Oregon are the 2 states we should focus on, then. We both want a change of seasons, and both want lots of outdoors. A smaller city would be a good compromise, although Seattle does sound pretty decent.

They sock it to us here in NY too, so it's not that much different.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Pablo

Minuses: Without going P, the hippies run most everything.


not everyone considers that a minus! I don't think it's violating any forum rules to point out that it's a very liberal city--I figured everyone already knew that. Personally, I like it, and that's why I choose to live in it. But overall, the area is diverse--and if liberals and men holding hands bothers you, there are plenty of places you can live in the PNW and still be content;downtown Seattle and PDX probably aren't on that list, though. It's not exactly like Portlandia, but it's not that far off, either...

And coming from DC, I have to agree w/the traffic. It's not a huge issue for us, my schedule is flexible and my wife rides her bike 3 miles to work. But you absolutely have to plan out where you live/work or you could be in for a 90 minute commute, no doubt.

 

[Stewart Fan]

Originally Posted By: Pablo


Honestly, I wouldn't live anywhere else. Today is really nasty. 71°F and lovely. A few clouds cruise by. Tomorrow 76°. Monday 74°F.



Thats the thing I like most about Western Wa. The mild summer temps. Around here,85° is pretty hot. A couple days per summer we may push 90°. Every few years we may see a 95° day.

If you want the heat its just a couple hours away though. Eastern Wa. gets LOTS of 90°+ days.

 

[Mystic]

Pablo, that sounds just about perfect for me. I don't have any problem with rain-not coming from southeastern Colorado. Rain where I live is like a rare blessing. And temperatures like what you talk about are wondefful. And one guy here said that you could drive a couple hours and be in a rain forest, a couple of mountain ranges, the coastline, or the desert, whatever you want. Sounds pretty dang good to me.

 

[Pablo]

Well that's the other problem....lots of people think the same thing. But our RE prices eventually dove as well.

I actually have no problem with diversity, but when I can't express my views without being labeled? Always seemed odd coming from open minded folks. But as mentioned, get over to the eastside* (or just get away from downtown) and all is better....

* we have east of the mountains and east of Lake Washington

 

[84zmyfavorite]

Wenatchee, W.A. is where i have grown up and live. This valley and surrounding areas are known for having outdoor activities of almost every kind aplenty. Lake Chelan is a summer mecca at 40 miles to the north, high tech industry, orchards, off roading, Good fishing, lots of sunshine(they Say 300+ days a year, but not this year), its great.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Pablo

Minuses: Without going P, the hippies run most everything....

I gotta go fire up the 'cue before the Sounders game.


You know Pablo, I think you have pretty much unwittingly described the PNW better than anyone ever could have: hippie-loathing dude out living in the sticks is going to fire up the barbie and watch grown men run around in short pants kicking a ball around*. This place is just a little different...

*I apologize in advance for all I've offended. I'm sure yours is an awesome sport. I've tried, really, but I just can't get into it.

 

[dparm]

I spent four years on the west coast for school. Coming from the Midwest, it was a difficult change and I still never liked the culture. Ultimately I moved back once I graduated.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Sounds like Washington and Oregon are the 2 states we should focus on, then. We both want a change of seasons, and both want lots of outdoors. A smaller city would be a good compromise, although Seattle does sound pretty decent.

They sock it to us here in NY too, so it's not that much different.

You might consider BEND, OREGON in central OR (sits right up against the beautiful Cascade mountains). We're located in just about the center of the state. We have seven snow-covered mountains ranging from 8 to 10 thousand feet high, that can be viewed from most places in the city. Beautiful rivers and dozens of lakes within a 35 to 50 mile radius. (The beautiful Deschutes River runs right through town). River rafting, fly-fishing, hikeing, bicycling (Major bike races are run through here each year).

It meets your city size criteria with about 85,000 + or -, with an elevation of 3500 feet....and has all the shopping you need. We have four seasons....with clean and dry air (no humidity to speak of)....and very little rain (unlike Portland and Seattle). Average high today is 82...with lows in the low 50's (no matter how warm it gets...it always cools down in the evening). We get some snow in the winter....and Mt. Batchlor ski resort (about 10,000 ft.)... is less than a half hour drive away (many people come here from western Oregon and Washington to ski). Most winter days are sunny, but cold (average high in Jan. and Feb. would be in the high 30's to low 40's....but it can get down to 0 to 10 degrees on some winter days .

The real estate has gone down considerably...so the next year or two would be an ideal time to purchase....but rents of homes and condos are very reasonable.

Come out and visit us....and you'll be sold.

Check with the Bend Chamber....and they will send you a newcomers kit.