Attn Souther Californians living in WA and OR
Dec 11th, 2003, 11:22 AM
#41
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Lizzard,
We loved living in the Beaverton area. We were there 13 yrs; moved to the Seattle area recently.
For our first few years there, my husband worked near where you will be working, right near Nike, at a computer company bought out later by IBM. There are lots of wonderful neighborhoods to live in near that area. You can find rental houses in most of them if you look closely enough. There are newer neighborhoods towards the west; older, established neighborhoods to the east towards town and closer to the activities you enjoy.
Raleigh Hills, located off 26, to the east, is between town and your wife's work, convenient to both. (Also equally convenient to Washington Sq, a major mall) Royal Woodlands is an established neighborhood in Raleigh Hills, where we rented the first year we were there. Restaurants are close, good stores, old theater, park nearby. It looks suburban but you can walk lots of places and it is close to town. Also check out other Raleigh Hills neighborhoods north of Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy. Go east and west of 78th Ave SW. We lived east of it, in Raleigh Park and loved the area. Lots of the older homes have been remodeled, so don't be put off by outward appearances.
I should add that we also lived west of your wife's work for awhile, in an area called Rock Creek. It was too far from town for us to go in much and we didn't care for the location.
Good luck. Keep us informed!
PS I've lived all over the US and prefer the Pacific NW in spite of the dark winters. This has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
We loved living in the Beaverton area. We were there 13 yrs; moved to the Seattle area recently.
For our first few years there, my husband worked near where you will be working, right near Nike, at a computer company bought out later by IBM. There are lots of wonderful neighborhoods to live in near that area. You can find rental houses in most of them if you look closely enough. There are newer neighborhoods towards the west; older, established neighborhoods to the east towards town and closer to the activities you enjoy.
Raleigh Hills, located off 26, to the east, is between town and your wife's work, convenient to both. (Also equally convenient to Washington Sq, a major mall) Royal Woodlands is an established neighborhood in Raleigh Hills, where we rented the first year we were there. Restaurants are close, good stores, old theater, park nearby. It looks suburban but you can walk lots of places and it is close to town. Also check out other Raleigh Hills neighborhoods north of Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy. Go east and west of 78th Ave SW. We lived east of it, in Raleigh Park and loved the area. Lots of the older homes have been remodeled, so don't be put off by outward appearances.
I should add that we also lived west of your wife's work for awhile, in an area called Rock Creek. It was too far from town for us to go in much and we didn't care for the location.
Good luck. Keep us informed!
PS I've lived all over the US and prefer the Pacific NW in spite of the dark winters. This has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Dec 11th, 2003, 12:54 PM
#43
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Grew up in Southern CA near the beach but I had the immense pleasure of living for a short time in Tigard just outside of Portland and near previously mentioned Beaverton. We absolutely loved Portland. So much to see in the area. We traveled through the Columbia River Gorge and over to Cannon Beach and the coast. Lots of great restaurants and the people were great. The one memory I have is that we were never able to coordinate having cash with the hours of operation at the liquer stores. No checks accepted.
I have a sister who has lived in Oregon for 20+ years and would never return to Southern CA to live.
I have a sister who has lived in Oregon for 20+ years and would never return to Southern CA to live.
Dec 17th, 2004, 10:21 AM
#44
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Lizzard: how is this going? Did you move and what do you think? My wife and I are now looking to relocate to the Portland area, though haven't found any jobs yet. We live in the Ventura area and have been in southern cal for decades.
Jan 23rd, 2005, 09:24 PM
#45
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gibraltar,
things are great. we've been here for a year now, and have adjusted well (it's old hat for my wife who is a native pac nw'er).
a few observations...
the traffic really is a bummer (and this coming from a southern californian!). you're lucky to have 3 lanes on the few freeways in the area. on the flip side, public transport is excellent, particularly if you live close-in.
few days go by without a news story about the local crystal meth problem. something particularly troubling as crystal meth was a problem that sort of a came and went in California 20 years ago. I know, the inland empire has their share of tweakers, but they can be spotted a mile away. it seems to be a relatively new thing here, and i don't think the local population is as hip to this nasty stuff as we are.
property is a relative (west coast) bargain. we recently purchased a home 10 mins from downtown (without traffic!!) in a nice quiet burb that easily would be in the 800-900k range (or more according to a friend from home that recectly visited) in san diego for less than 300K.
So much to do if you have youngsters (we have a toddler), and plenty else for the childless.
I meet so many Californians (mostly Northern) that it doesn't even phase me. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if 2/3 of people here are from south of the stateline.
Decent Mexican food CAN be found. You definitely have to look for it, and there is plenty of VERY bad Mexi, but I've been pleasantly surprised with the places I've discovered.
this thread is pushing a year and a half old, and you posted a month ago, so i'll save some more observations if you're still interested.
things are great. we've been here for a year now, and have adjusted well (it's old hat for my wife who is a native pac nw'er).
a few observations...
the traffic really is a bummer (and this coming from a southern californian!). you're lucky to have 3 lanes on the few freeways in the area. on the flip side, public transport is excellent, particularly if you live close-in.
few days go by without a news story about the local crystal meth problem. something particularly troubling as crystal meth was a problem that sort of a came and went in California 20 years ago. I know, the inland empire has their share of tweakers, but they can be spotted a mile away. it seems to be a relatively new thing here, and i don't think the local population is as hip to this nasty stuff as we are.
property is a relative (west coast) bargain. we recently purchased a home 10 mins from downtown (without traffic!!) in a nice quiet burb that easily would be in the 800-900k range (or more according to a friend from home that recectly visited) in san diego for less than 300K.
So much to do if you have youngsters (we have a toddler), and plenty else for the childless.
I meet so many Californians (mostly Northern) that it doesn't even phase me. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if 2/3 of people here are from south of the stateline.
Decent Mexican food CAN be found. You definitely have to look for it, and there is plenty of VERY bad Mexi, but I've been pleasantly surprised with the places I've discovered.
this thread is pushing a year and a half old, and you posted a month ago, so i'll save some more observations if you're still interested.
Jan 24th, 2005, 04:20 PM
#46
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Just to add to the observations. I was just back in LA visiting my best friend for a week and was SO HAPPY to come back here, I couldn't begin to tell you. We're in Bellevue--about 10 miles from Seattle, living in the woods. I haven't regretted the move for a second (except I do miss my best friend).
Jan 24th, 2005, 05:02 PM
#47
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Hi lizzard,
I am still interested
We were there in September and fell in love with Portland. We will be coming back within a few months, I hope.
I just read in the Portland Magazine about the meth problems..sheesh, I remember when San Diego went through all of that years ago
Are you loving the weather? lol or are you just happy to be there and it doesn't matter?
Do tell and congrats on the move!
I am still interested
We were there in September and fell in love with Portland. We will be coming back within a few months, I hope.
I just read in the Portland Magazine about the meth problems..sheesh, I remember when San Diego went through all of that years ago
Are you loving the weather? lol or are you just happy to be there and it doesn't matter?
Do tell and congrats on the move!
Apr 22nd, 2008, 04:01 PM
#48
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lizzard. It's been a while since your move and I need your down and dirty honest opinion about the weather. My husband's company wants to transfer us up to the Portland area from San Diego. We've been in SD for over 12 years(both originally from the East Coast). Portland sounds like a great place to live and a great place to raise a family- but.. the gray days might kill me and as silly as it sounds, the weather (actually- the thought of the weather) might be enough to be a deal breaker.
Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:42 PM
#49
the_great_one: This thread is VERY old, and lizzard has not posted on here since last September.
You will get more info/advice if you start a new thread w/ your own specific questions rather than riding along on a 5 year old thread.
there are lots of Californians and Oregonians on here who can help you . . . . .
You will get more info/advice if you start a new thread w/ your own specific questions rather than riding along on a 5 year old thread.
there are lots of Californians and Oregonians on here who can help you . . . . .
Apr 23rd, 2008, 09:00 AM
#50
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Janisj: LOL
I started to read this thread without looking at the dates. It wasn't until I got to a reference about the unemployment situation that it occurred to me this info was mostly out of date.
What surprised me though is how much is *still* accurate after 5-6 years. Some has changed for the better (employment), some for the worse (housing costs, traffic), some has remained the same (rain, chill).
I agree: might be good to start a fresh inquiry, and get the opinions of more recent Cali emigres.
I started to read this thread without looking at the dates. It wasn't until I got to a reference about the unemployment situation that it occurred to me this info was mostly out of date.
What surprised me though is how much is *still* accurate after 5-6 years. Some has changed for the better (employment), some for the worse (housing costs, traffic), some has remained the same (rain, chill).
I agree: might be good to start a fresh inquiry, and get the opinions of more recent Cali emigres.
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