Possible move to Salem or Portland
 

Need some insight on the two towns. I'll likely not have a choice but it will be a job.....

Thanks in advance.

PM me with emails if you'd like to help.

Might get hold of Doug&Julie.

Pretty big thread of theirs around here somewhere about Portland.

i have lived in portland all my life, happy to answer any questons.
i will never live in salem-

Hi Mike - can't give you much insight into Salem, but Portland is pretty nice. I love the area, plenty to do and lots of good foody places to eat. For living, I'd try to stay out of Multnomah county, as they tend to have higher taxes and seem to follow the CA method or fiscal managment.

You can get more bang for your buck living in the surrounding areas. I live in Camas (Washington) and don't mind the commute to Portland. I got a lot more for my money and don't have to deal with the crazy traffic (non-rush hour)unless I want to. Besides having a little more elbow room, the schools are my other main reason for being in Camas. Probably not a factor for you.

That being said, if you're not looking to purchase and are looking for a life after work, Portland is hard to beat. If you want buy and live "in" Portland, North Portland is a great up and coming place. Still some deals to be had and the neighborhoods are being rejuvinated. Light rail is also more easily accessible.

Salem is smaller & more boring - maybe you want boring?

Salem is small, college town, state capitol type of place. Went to school there and really liked it a lot better than Portland. No night life at all in Salem, but an hour closer to Silver Creek State Park. Men's and women's state prison around Salem, as is the state mental hospital. That is where "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was set. Rode by that looney bin every day for 9 months on my bike.

do it!!

gotta be better than Reno. portland rocks! food, nice people, scenery..WINE.

Congrats on the apparent job we spoke about!!

I spent a summer on Mt Hood, near Portland way back in 1980 when the volcano went off. Very beautiful countryside...

salem- one good coffee shop
- lots of half way houses for recently relesed convicts and mental patients who like to drink coffee
- considerably more crime than portland
- small town

portland- mayor likes young smooth men
- highest per cap strip clubs in nation
- mass transit is real good
- volcano in the middle of the city

Lane912:

Good call. Pretty active PCA chapter in Portland- I attend most of the 'Arrive & Drive' events, and they're pretty good fun.

Paul.

Personally, I would pick Portland...hands down.

Mike, what are your requirements?

2 car garage, place to lay my head that accepts a small dog, landlord that doesn't mind 2 cars, a camp trailer and a Harley. Other than that.....not much.

I'm completely starting over. The divorce stripped me of everything....

Well Mike,

Portland has lots of strip clubs and lots of Micro-brewerieshttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo...s/beerchug.gif but on the not so good, can't pump your own gas & gets cold...
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That being said, there is still a chance that I may move out there myself:cool:

Mike,

If they give you a choice, choose Portland. Most of the state offices are in Salem, along with mental hospitals, half-way houses, prisons, etc. More of those per populace or area, however you want to count, than PDX. Better airport in PDX, a nice race track (PIR), and a greater variety of communities plus better mass transit if that flips your switch. Also, there is WAY better shopping in Portland - LOL!

angela

Saturday market baby, closer to killer windsurfing in Portland too, Hooterville(Hood River) is right up the gorge.

Does PIR have decent paving on it now?

They grow a lot of dope in Oregon. Had a friend from Dallas, OR tell me that at any given time, half the people on the two lane roads around the small towns were rockin' the chronic.

Yep, we're still trying to get out there...just taking us much longer than anticipated... :rolleyes:

Here are a couple of links that might help:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/441296-tell-me-about-portland-oregon.html

http://www.findyourspot.com/images/reports/pdfs/PortlandOR.pdf

Portland Concerts, Music, Events - kink.fm (I listen from here in Cinci)

Portland, Oregon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you like vacation photos....

Vacation October 2008 - Pt. 1 | Facebook

Vacation October 2008 - Pt. 2 | Facebook

SmileWavy

Edit: Don't know anything about Salem, sorry. Sounds like, if it's one or the other, it's a no brainer tho!

I heard it rains up there.

And cold... very cold (spent the holidays up there, Portland that is)...


Great food, beer, coffee, sking, love the gorge.

The locals don't seem to mind the cold thou... So Cal boy no likey

YMMV

Portland and the beautiful NW. Even with a rare snow storm it's beautiful. Welcome to Oregon.

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I wouldn't consider Portland cold. We do get some colder snaps, but nothing that lasts too long. Our winter averages are usually in the mid 40's. Of course everything is relative and coming from the NE, that's a warm winter. Coming from Cali or AZ, that's cold.

I have no idea where Byron got that snow pic from, but snow is a pretty rare sight here, especially in that quantity. As a result, the city doesn't have the equipment to deal with it when we do get it. So much so, that as little as a 1/2" of snow can shut down the city.

However, we tend to get more ice storms than snow storms (had one last night) and there seems to be plenty of de-icers in the city's arsenal. Also, if you plan to head down the gorge during the winter months, you are required to have snow tires.

That isn't cold. My second winter here in the Sierras. Zero and below is not uncommon.

I need to work if not just to stifle the boredom.

BTW, how are the gun laws? Is WA reciprocal with OR on CCWs?

Bzzzzt...answered my own question....no recip with anyone. That sucks.

Which is the less hassle County in OR to get one?

Probably Union, Baker or Grant. They are less 'up tight' about guns on this side of the state!

Yes it does!

Salem is a pit. As a life long resident of the Portland area, I have perspective. Salem has a bunch of prisons and other institutional facilities. The families of the residents move to Salem. Most folks I know in Salem are druggies or at least poor folk. If I worked in Salem, there are nice locations near by but I don't think I would live there.
Good luck,
Larry

washington county +1
realy close to downtown without the taxes

Old Girlfriend took it last winter, her back yard & deck..
For close to a week, she couldn't leave the house since it is on a hill.. She is the only person who could get me to leave my native FL:cool:..
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that was rare.....
I am 41 and have only that one winter has been like that.
ARCTIC BLAST 2009

I have lived in Portland since 1990 and for 7 years commuted to and worked in Salem. The idea of moving there never entered my mind even during the 45 minute commute each way.

The Portland area has much more to offer than Salem.

PDX gets more exciting weather than the cities down the valley - the storms come across the Pacific Ocean and have a nice shot right down the gorge

you need to describe what you like to really decide

BUT, be SURE you can handle the winters before you accept any job here - the suicide rate is high for a reason

Horse country....is there an area that has BLM land or public riding trails without having to trailer the horses?

I believe the BLM owns a staggering percentage of the state. A wild azz guess would be 30 - 50%. That would be on the East side of the Cascades. Riding horses is not a problem.

BTW, I amend my dis of Salem. I hear South Salem is nice. Never been there however. I knew some cute girls in HS from there. Thats about it.

Larry

Joe were you asking about ccw licenses? I got one in multnomah county (Portland) with no fuss at all.

no way in PDX & probably Salem - can be done in Eugene

If Portland, I have a 2 House with 1 bed room Apt. attached with very large garage 3-4 cars in, 4-5 out, plus shop and storage space. NW 95 & Cornell. @ 10 minuets from down town.
Rent until sold. Big yards front and back plus empty sub-dividable lot attached.

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OKEDOKEY....living in Salem is out.....even if I have to work there....:eek:

If you do get stuck in Salem, move out to Dallas or another outlying area. The commute is only a few minutes and you get away from "Salem".

Undersand that those of us who live in Oregon consider Salem a place where you get stuck rather than a place you choose, but even Salem beats the heck out of alot of other places I've been (e.g. Newark - blech).

angela