Oregonians

[mimieliza]

I'm going to start a little Oregon thread here. We had a thriving one at one point on that other board, but I think it died out ofter we were through with all the weddings.

Anyway, I'm Michelle, and right now I live in Pendleton, which horrifies anyone who lives west of The Dalles. I grew up in Portland, and DH and I moved to Pendleton about a year ago. It has grown on us. At first I hated it, but I've met a lot of wonderful people and have a close group of friends. I love having a five minute commute, no traffic, no crowds, and the Blue and Wallowa mountains just minutes away.

Any more Oregonians out there? :)

[LuluGirl]

Hi! I'm Anna. I just moved here from AZ two weeks ago. I'm in Hillsboro. Where's Pendleton? What's it like?

I love it here in Hillsboro - it's so unique. I'm only a 5 minute commute from work (if I choose to go in, mostly I work at home) and I can't believe how close my doctor is and the hospital. I'm not used to this kind of life - in Arizona, it was a chore to just go across the street, with the traffic and the heat.

I'm going into Portland this weekend to have a spa appointment at Dosha. I can't wait! :D

[angio]

Hi! Another Oregonian here. I'm Angie and live about 30 miles from Portland. We're moving soon, but sticking around in Oregon. I love it here :)

[Juliana]

Hi girls- I'm down in Eugene while DH gets his MBA from UO. We moved out here from the east coast (Virginia), and we are having a great time getting to know the beautiful area!! :)

[mimieliza]

Anna -
DH and I lived in Beaverton when we were in Portland. I grew up in North Portland near U of P. You're lucky to have such a short commute. I worked in Wilsonville when I lived in Beaverton. I had an 18 mile commute that would easily take an hour each way.

Pendleton is 200 miles east of Portland on I-84. It's much more dry and hot out here. It's kind of a western town - cowboys and whatnot. Population is about 16,000. I'm totally a city kid, so it was kind of a shock moving here. No good restaurants and not very many shops. But it's grown on me. DH and I live within walking distance of nearly everyone we know in a cute neighborhood. The main employers here (aside from ranching and farming) are state and local government and the tribal government, so there are a lot of young professional types (DH is an attorney and I'm a social worker). There's a local orchestra called the Oregon East Symphony which I play in, so that has been fun (I was a music major in college). Buying a house will be easy here if we decide to stay. We've been poking around and have found a lot of nice houses in the $125,00-150,000 range.


Angie -
Do you know where you're moving yet?


Juliana -
Eugene is so beautiful. I was realy hoping DH would have found a job there or in Bend when he was looking all over the state.


So glad to see so many Oregon gals! :)

[angio]

Hi Michelle~
We're moving probably to the Milwaukie area. My hubby just got transfered there from Tigard and HATES driving. Anything to make his commute shorter is motivation. Plus, I'm in the early stages of owning my own photography business and I need a house that I can build a studio in.

I really enjoyed Pendleton. I haven't been since I was 12, but it was alot of fun. The drive is somethin' else, though.

[domesticdreamer]

Hello!

My name is Jennifer and I am a lifetime Oregon resident! I am currently living in the town where I was born and raised, but have lived in Corvallis, Salem, and West Linn during the progression of my undergrad and graduate work.
DH and I live in Lakeview, which is a town of about 2,500 people. Like Pendleton, it's very rich in agriculture- but that's about it. Not only is it a small town, but it is also very isolated and you have to drive several hours for any decent shopping! That being said, I absolutely LOVE it here. Life is so peaceful and simple!

Michelle- I'm embarrassed to admit that after 30 years of living here, I have never seen the Wallowa mountains in person. Photos of them are just breathtaking! I'm going to see the mtns. and the town of Joseph sometime soon I hope. I've really neglected the NE side of the state!!!

Angie- How cool that you are starting a photography business! One of my best friends grew up in Milwaukie. Pleasant area.

Juliana- Glad you're enjoying Oregon! Eugene is a very pretty town- so green!

[mimieliza]

Jennifer -
Hey, I had never even been to Pendleton before I moved here, and I had never even HEARD of the Wallowa mountains. They are like Oregon's best-kept secret. If they were closer to Portland, they'd be mobbed all the time (like Mt. Hood).

This is a pic DH took of the Wallowas last time we were in Enterprise:
http://mimieliza.smugmug.com/photos/13920144-M.jpg

[domesticdreamer]

Michelle-

Oooh! pretty pic! I agree, if they were closer, they would be mobbed! I went to Pendleton for the first time a few years ago for a conference- I love the rolling hills! That's what I love about Oregon- there's such an array of terrain.

[nuhmah]

Another Oregonian checking in! DH and I are transplant Oregon residents - I teach and live in Tigard (the driving in Tigard itself really stinks), and DH works in Hillsboro. We are purchasing a home in the NE section of Portland - we close in 12 days!

I visited Pendleton last year - a girl who I work with grew up there. Another woman I work with is from that area, as well. They both swear that I need to visit for the Round-Up!

We moved here from New York 2 years ago - the adjustment from the hustle and bustle of the east coast has been a difficult transformation to make. I have never been camping, I don't like to hike, and the idea of not having snow is making me a weird commodity here in OR.

[TJO]

I Live In Eugene And I Have For All My Life Except For The Two Years After High School.

Oregon Is Such A Beautiful Place To Live :d

[doradora]

Hi! Another Oregonian here. I live in SW Portland and work in Hillsboro. Nodding with all of you -- Oregon is a great and fantastic place to live! Such gorgeous scenery, still plenty to do, and more or less affordable too.

So many transplants here! We are also relatively fresh transplants from the East Coast -- Boston. Luckily, we both really love it out here.

Michelle! -- Fun to run into you here! This is Tina from the old book group. We are still meeting these days.. though it's much less about books and more just chatty. Anyways, the Wallowas are so beautiful.. i can't wait to get out there. Last summer we got out as far as John Days National monument which was so unique too.

[mimieliza]

Hi, Tina!
I'm glad the book group is still going strong. I still miss it - even though I left after only three months. It doesn't look like I'm going to make it back to Portland anytime soon - DH and I just started new jobs here, and assuming all goes well with these jobs, we're going to start looking for a house next spring. I never would have believed it, but I think we're here for awhile! :)

If you come to this part of the state, please let me know! We'd love to have you guys stay with us - do you still have my email address?

[doradora]

Thanks, Michelle :) Would definitely let you know if we are out your way! You should let us know too if you ever visit back here! We could hold an honorary meeting for you :P

Is anyone else sick of this hot weather yet? When I moved to Portland, everyone told me that we didn't need to get an AC. While that's true mostly, days like this are such a killer. My dogs and all their fur hate it too!

[mimieliza]

Pendleton is BAKING. And we don't have AC. It was 106 according to the bank (which may be a bit high, but STILL).

We're practically the only people here without AC. I still feel kind of stubborn after living in Portland. REAL oregonians don't use AC or umbrellas. :cool:

[libelle]

Any other Oregonians around here?

I'm in Portland, and am a true Oregonian (don't use an umbrella). : )

[summerbaby]

I'm not an Oregonian but my husband and I are contemplating moving there. We recently had a baby and are looking for a nice are to raise a family. He works from home so we could pretty much go anywhere... which actually makes it a hard decision. I wanted to ask you gals what areas near Portland are good for families (good schools, etc). I don't want to be too far away from the city for convenience factors plus my husband travels for work so we need to be somewhat close to the airport. Transplants, what do you love about Oregon??

Thanks in advance!

[steph111397]

Another Oregonian here! I live in Tualatin. I am a full-time student and mother. DH works in Hillsboro.

I've lived in Oregon for about 18 years now. Originally from Florida, then Alaska. DH has lived in Oregon for about 21 years. He is originally from Washington.

I love it here in Oregon. Getting to experience ALL the seasons is great. DH is anxious to move to Florida though. I made the mistake of taking him there for a visit when my parents moved back down there a few years ago and he just fell in love with it. So, who knows, when I'm done with school, we may end up moving down there.

summerbaby - Oregon truly is a great place to live. If you want to live in a suberb of Portland, Tualatin is great. My DD goes one of the best schools! The community is very nice. And you are only 20 minutes from downtown Portland and 35 minutes from the airport! :D

Slightly farther out are Sherwood and Newberg which are both great communities as well.

[libelle]

Another Portlander here. I'm a Roseburg-born, Corvallis-schooled Portlander. :) I've lived in Alaska, Florida & Washington and hope to remain an Oregonian for life. My husband and I live in SW Portland (not in a suburb, but in actual Portland), work at OHSU and are in the process of waiting on medical school interview requests.

I love Portland, and have a question ... would any of you like to make a new Portland girlfriend? I have hardly any friends here in town ... and am embrassed to say so ... but am "new" (16 months) to Portland and work full-time and have a hard time making friends. *whines* Wanna be friends with me?

[jnshanna]

Another Oregonian here. :) I adore Oregon and never want to move. I was born in California but have lived in Oregon for the past 20 or so years. DH has lived here most of his life too. We both love it. It's just such a pretty place to live with the mountains, the rivers, the ocean all so easily accesible.

I agree with steph about Tualatin/Sherwood/Newberg. They are all nice communities. DH and I are actually saving up to move to Sherwood someday. It's a very nice town and it continues to grow. It is a bit on the high side as far as price so we're building more equity in our current home before we move. Hopefully in the next year or two!

[nuhmah]

summerbaby - I teach in the Tigard-Tualatin school district, and I will tell you that it is one of the best around. I would (personally) stay away from Portland City Schools and check our the 'burbs. Sherwood has a great school district, Tualatin is fantastic, as well. :) You can check out TTSD by going to www.ttsd.k12.or.us - good luck with your decision!!!

[jojoswife]

Hello ladies. I am a former Oregonian, but when I saw this thread I thought I would drop by and read your stories. I miss Oregon so bad sometimes:( . I am currently a North Carolinian. I lived in Oregon for most of my life....about 25 yrs! I grew up on a ranch in the southeastern part of Oregon in a little town named Adel. My Dad managed all the irrigating for the MC Ranch, this ranch no longer exists of course, it was bought out by all the other ranchers in this same community. I have a lot of family that still lives there. They live in Lakeview, Silverlake, Gentura (sp?), Fort Rock, and my parents still live in Adel. I love to go visit, and hopefully I will be going back soon to see my family.

It was great to find this thread.

Ciao

[Jersl8y]

I am, just moved from midwest a year ago and am in Wilsonville. I go to PSU though, so i guess i just wanted to say hi.

[nuhmah]

DH and I getting ready to celebrate our 1st anniversay in December... anyone have any restaurant suggestions in the Portland area?

[nuhmah]

ok... this thread is dead! I hope we can revive it!

We ended up going to Portland City Grill for dinner... it was good. Not as fancy as people described it being, and the food was ok. You can't beat the view, though!

It snowed on our anniversary - it was gorgeous!

[Aletheia]

I'm not currently an Oregonian, but may be quite soon! DH just interviewed for a residency program at OHSU and loved it, so that may be where we end up this summer.

We went to college in Washington and know a little bit about Portland, but moving to a city you are even slightly familiar with is daunting! I'm eager to learn more about the burbs that have already been mentioned, but can anyone give me some advice/direction about relatively nice neighborhoods not too far from OHSU where we could buy a house for around $200,000??

I look forward to hanging around here and chatting with you ladies.

[libelle]

can anyone give me some advice/direction about relatively nice neighborhoods not too far from OHSU where we could buy a house for around $200,000??
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is a very very small chance that you'll find a house near OHSU for less than 300,000. The "Lair Hill" area is incredibly expensive to live in, even to just rent, and so you will most likely end up further out if that's what you're looking to spend.

Have you looked at CraigsList (http://portland.craigslist.org/) for Portland and seen what you can find in the area? My husband (who works on the hill and interviewed for med school last Wednesday) and I live in Hillsdale, which is expensive to live/rent in, but here are some areas for you and your husband to look at:
-Lair Hill
-Hillsdale - my husband rides his bike up the hill (~3 miles each way) to OHSU daily and I take a 10 minute bus ride to the patient billing office for OHSU in downtown Portland
-Multnomah Village
-Burlingame
-Raleigh Hills
-West Slope
-Garden Home
-the West Hills (incredibly expensive area of town though)
-"SW Portland" (which is all three of those areas "together") is on the West side of the river which is where I'd recommend for OHSU's commute.

(If you want to talk more, drop me an email and we'll talk. :) sarah libelle at gmail dot com)

I hope my rambling made SOME sense. :D

[Aletheia]

Great info- thanks, Sarah. DH gets home (finally!) from residency interviews on Thursday-- I'll certainly be talking with him about your suggestions.

After I posted my question, I spent some time looking at real estate in Portland and realized your "bad news," so don't worry! I was prepared to get it. :rolleyes: DH thinks we can afford more than $200, so we'll see.

I'm sure I'll be in touch again soon, but your "in the know" list gives me somewhere to start, so thank you thank you thank you!

[artist]

Hi! Looks like nobody has posted here in a long time, but I was curious about:

Tualatin, Oregon

I guess DH applied for a job there. We're pretty content to be in St. Paul, MN, but I have always heard great things about the state of Oregon and I have relatives who live there too. I've never been there myself and wouldn't move somewhere I've never traveled to. Chances are we'll probably just stay where we are as we're pretty settled in MN, have family in MN, etc. However, I am really curious and in the back of my mind I have always daydreamed of living in Oregon, so I'd like more information in case this becomes a real possibility.

I am already convinced your state is beautiful!

I am impressed with things (at least in Portland anyway) like cars that anyone can drive, "mental speedbumps" (traffic calming), etc. I also love coffee and love the rain.

Anyway, my questions are these...

What is Tualatin like? How long does it take to drive to Portland from there? If I am VERY MUCH a city/urban person, would it be better for me to live in Portland instead? (The job DH applied to is in Tualatin.)

In either Tualatin or Portland, what are neighborhoods that are worth looking at? We have a dog and 2 cats and someday want kids. Are there certain neighborhoods to definitely avoid? Are the schools good? Do people in Portland have school choice, meaning magnet schools and the kids can go to any school in the city, or do kids have to go to neighborhood schools? Are the public schools adequate? How safe are both places? What is the quality of life?

I like to live somewhere where there is plenty to do. I am used to living in a mid-sized city. I absolutely MUST live somewhere with a strong arts community to be happy. Can you tell me anything about the arts and culture of this area? What other fun things can a person do? (Such as sports events, boating, sight seeing, etc.)

I love really old houses and hardwood floors. Will it be possible to find an affordable old home like this?

What is an "affordable" home? What is a "typical salary" or rather, how much gross pay would a family need to survive?

I probably could think of other questions, but thanks in advance to anyone who can answer any of these questions!

[justHB]

Wow, it doesn't look like anyone's posted here in ages.

I'm doing some research and would appreciate any/all recommendations for real estate agents with good websites in Portland.

[gardenmommy]

HB~If you're still looking I have a great real estate agent and real estate company that we worked with. The company is http://www.hasson.com and they are a great local company that has really knowledgeable agents...our agent is Lee McKnight who is most knowledgeable about actual Portland (not the burbs) She is a spitfire!

[JamBray]

Hi Ladies. I just wanted to pop in here and say that I'll be moving up to Oregon soon (within the next 3 weeks) to Clackamas County. If anyone knows of any places for rent please let me know as I'm determined to find something before I go. Looking for a single family on a dead end or cul-de-sac that backs into a wooded area and is not near any major roads (have two cats). Rent to be around $1,000/month.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi to all of you, and hopefully attend a get together if you ever have them.

[steph111397]

Jambray - Is there a particular city you are looking into? Clackamas County is quite large...I did a quick on the Oregonian's site for rental houses in Clackamas (the city) and didn't come up with anything...I do have some friends that live in Clackamas County, so maybe I can have them keep an eye out...just would be easier if you know which area of Clackamas County you would like...

Good luck with your move up here!

[JamBray]

Jambray - Is there a particular city you are looking into? Clackamas County is quite large...I did a quick on the Oregonian's site for rental houses in Clackamas (the city) and didn't come up with anything...I do have some friends that live in Clackamas County, so maybe I can have them keep an eye out...just would be easier if you know which area of Clackamas County you would like...

Good luck with your move up here!
Yeah steph, I'm looking in and around West Linn, since that's where my friend is at. I'd like to be about 10-15 min. from her, so I'm currently scoping out West Linn, Oregon City, Lake Oswego. That would be great if your friends could keep an eye out! Let me know if they know/hear of anything, and thanks!

[JamBray]

Well I found a place in Oregon City, and will be moving there September 1. Aside from all of the crap that's causing this move, I'm really looking forward to starting over in a new place. :)