Have You or Do You Live Oregon

I live here in Portland and wouldn't live anywhere else, for any reason.

If you look at a map, you'll find most of the nicer cities (big enough to be considered cities) closest to the ocean lie in the Willamette Valley. Each of them has their own personalities: Eugene is a somewhat hippie university town, as is Corvallis, but a little more conservative. Salem is the state capitol and is nice; there is certainly enough to do there, depending on where your tastes lie. I think Salem tends to be more conservative than Portland. I am partial to Portland because it has some of the cultural offerings of a major city (still provincial, but a lot of diversity); we have a progressive stance regarding moving toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly options. The other advantage Willamette Valley towns have is location; halfway between ocean and desert.

On the ocean, Newport is great and there are pocket communities all up and down the coast. With the smaller communities, the economies aren't so fabulous, so plan on driving a ways for work. Gold Beach, I also hear, is gorgeous.

Ha, Jane... I had to laugh. Yes, we are unkempt sometimes, especially in comparison to some parts of the country, where women wouldn't dream of leaving the house without doing their hair and face. I think it's the rain that keeps us honest. Curled hair goes flat and the humidity does any makeup in for me. I know lots of people who do dress up, but even very casual me-- I'm sometimes appalled with those that are a bit TOO casual out in public.!

It has been many many years... but my Dad is from Oregon, originally. He grew up around Eugene, I believe. We visited his Dad when I was young. He lived in Portland at the time. As a young child (probably age 10?) I thought Portland was fantastic!
GrandDad had a small house with stairs to an attic bedroom, and stairs down to a basement, where we played dominoes for hours. And the little patch of back yard was PERFECTLY manicured. Surrounded on all sides with blooming things. We sat on the patio in adirondack chairs and played mumbley-peg (?)(pocket knife game).
We also drove to the coast and went clamming. Visited the Siuslaw River, which is where I think we spent a few hours trying to catch crawfish. Tubed in another river, after picking fresh granny smith apples from a cousin's backyard trees.
Gosh, this post almost needs to go under the "memories" one... LOL

I haven't been in years. But back then, my brothers and I (the oldest no more than 14) walked just a few blocks to the city park and fed the ducks and played with the stuff there. It wasn't just swings and slides, but wooden board game contraptions and various heights of stilts and such. ACTUAL REAL THINGS to play with. I wonder if they still have that sort of thing....

My grandmother eventually retired in Bend. Currently my Dad's sister lives in Fossil and his SIL has a place in Spray. It is pretty rural territory. And Beautiful.

I went on vacation in Oregon. Best vacation I ever took. Did not like Medley so much. Eugene on the west coast or near it a college town seeemed really nice. Not right on the beach though

I've got to hand it to Jane. She is 100% accurate in her description of Oregon!

I am Oregon born and raised. Born in Corvallis and raised in southeast Portland. SE Portland is gross, and I am so proud to be from there ;-) This is the part of town where lots of people got hit with the ugly stick.

I have also lived in So Cal, Denver, Washington D.C. and now the Chicagoland. I would move back to Portland in a heartbeat if my husband had a job there.

I don't know if you would enjoy living in an Oregon beach town. The water is always cold, it is foggy and drizzly there all the time, and there aren't all that many ameneties -- especially if you need to be near a good hospital. Anyone who wants to visit you would have to fly into Portland or Eugene and rent a car to drive at least two hours to get to you. That being said, I have a friend who recently moved to Newport, and she loves it there. It's not too far of a drive to Portland either.

Another nice thing about Portland -- there are bike lanes everywhere! Anywhere you want to go, you can bike or walk there. And the public transportation system is really good too. It is easy to stay healthy there because you can bike or walk everywhere, and there is so much good food out there too.

You really should take a visit out there. And go there in January. That is when Oregon is usually as gray and depressing as it gets. Then you'll be able to get a feel for whether or not this is the place for you. Good luck! I'm so proud of my home state, but it's not for everyone.

This gal whom I follow on Twitter is always complaining about how much it rains in Portland.

Just thought I'd throw that out there! :)

I think the Pacific Northwest sounds amazing!