Retiring to the PNW?

[scottmandue]

Planing for retirement in 2-5 years.
Wife is from PNW (Portland) I'm a SoCal boy.
I have always wanted to get out of the big city.
However when we got married I owned a house in L.A. and been at the same job for +15 years (she was renting an apartment and been at her job for less the 5 years).
So she moved down here.
It is too darn hot and dry in SoCal for her.
I love the PNW... but... as I said born and lived my whole life here.
I don't mind moving up north, I know I will be tripling or quadrupling inches of rain I'm okay with that. I'm even okay with a few inches of snow.
However I don't want to freeze my a$$ off either.
Criteria:
Temps around 40-70 +/- 10 degrees.
150-200 days sunshine.
Reasonable cost of living and taxes (retired)
Close to medical (hospitals)
We are wavering on size of town... we started off talking small town but a laid back suburb may be doable.
3 bed 2 bath in the $300-$400K range.

What say ye PPOT?

[pwd72s]

150-200 days of sunshine tells me you should look East of the Cascade range...but it can be chilly winters over there. Do you like to ski? If so, there are good ski areas east in both states.

Right this moment, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, it's around 60, cloudy, rain threatening.

[island911]

It's not the amount of rain; it's the amount of gray. Months and months of gray.

[pwd72s]

Too bad you can't rent here for six months...beginning about now..then you'd know.

Lots of Californians have been here in the summer, fall in love with the place, buy in, then go bonkers during the gray months. With your wife being from the weird city, she should be okay with it. Will you?

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

150-200 days sunshine.

Decadally?

_

[Charles Freeborn]

We're in Laurelhurst (South East, but barely south - border line is Burnside Blvd) Our nearest cross is 39th ave. For what you're describing cost in this 'hood will be twice your budget.... at least... We are walking distance from Providence hospital and all it's satellites, walking distance from shopping, restaurants, etc. Love it here.
Portland in growing fast. Prices are climbing to ridiculous. There are many different neighborhoods depending on what you're after. "In close", as we are, has lots of older homes (ours is 100 yrs) and some new builds. "burbs" are newer, and more of the suburban type vibe. So, there's not much to go on. Can you be more specific on what sort of life you'll want to lead? What part of town is your wife from?
The rain thing is what it is. We tell everyone it sucks so they won't move here...

[Porsche-poor]

Sequim Washington.

From wikki

"Sequim lies within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and receives on average less than 16 inches (410 mm) of rain per year—about the same as Los Angeles, California—and has given itself the nickname of Sunny Sequim."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequim,_Washington

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Porsche-poor

Sequim Washington.

From wikki

"Sequim lies within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and receives on average less than 16 inches (410 mm) of rain per year—about the same as Los Angeles, California—and has given itself the nickname of Sunny Sequim."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequim,_Washington

Not Sequim....My mother lives there....I was born in Pt Angeles and grew up in Port Townsend....Sequim is right in between.......I considered Sequim and moved east of the Mtns'......Anyone recommending Sequim has not lived there in the past 20 years....It's changed a lot........An Example: The Sequim Police Chief lives down the road from me and communtes over the mountains each week........

I spend many hours researching Sequim for Pelican members...Even offered to PM, meet and show around..None have said thank your or even replied.......Members like Hugh and MRM recently.........

[HardDrive]

As others have said, East side of the mountains is totally different from the central valleys. Lots of options.

[LWJ]

Redmond, or is cheap. 300 sunny days / yr more or less. Colder than you want but sun covers that. Other cities are prineville, madras, Ontario, la grande. Some are a little red neck. The civilized folk all live on the west side. (Mostly)

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Redmond, or is cheap. 300 sunny days / yr more or less. Colder than you want but sun covers that. Other cities are prineville, madras, Ontario, la grande. Some are a little red neck. The civilized folk all live on the west side. (Mostly)

Redmond, Or vs Redmond, WA...........

[Tobra]

How do you feel about overcast days and hipsters?

Bend is pretty GD great, though it gets cold in the winter.

[Craig T]

I have an uncle in Sisters, just west of Bend near the Three Sisters peaks. A four season area, and MUCH drier (and cheaper) than Portland. My mother grew up in Bend. Bend is AWESOME. I'm considering that as a place to retire. Brewers, restaurants, and quaint but vibrant downtown. Great fishing!

If you want to be closer to Portland, look at Maupin. I go there to fly fish for steelhead and love the little town. VERY small walkable town. The only problem with Maupin is no local hospital.

Maupin Chamber of Commerce |

[kevin930t]

You should buy in Weed,Ca.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

I spend many hours researching Sequim for Pelican members...Even offered to PM, meet and show around..None have said thank your or even replied.......Members like Hugh and MRM recently.........

I did visit Sequim, and if I didn't reply, I sincerely apologize that was years ago.

I liked it, the wifey didn't.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Brookings, Yreka... if you don't have to be coastal try Yakima WA or out by LaGrande OR

[gatotom]

central WA, like Wenatchee, WA. Apple Capital

Not much rain and not much snow, mostly sunny, all the city things, hospital.
3-400k range for house very easily done.
Garden paradise.

I live in Leavenworth, west of Wenatchee by 25 miles. We are considered in the mountains, more snow and slightly colder but not much more rain than Wenatchee.

[R K T]

If you want to stay in Cal check out Eureka. Great, nice size town and you can get lost in the Redwoods!

Can't believe whats been happening in Pedro the past year or so. Bus loads of homeless from Long Beach being dumped in the middle of the night. Pedro is going down really fast and not much (nothing) is being done about it.

[jyl]

Portland is overpriced, the natives are all on meth, homeless camps almost everywhere, thoughtless hipsters everywhere else, traffic terrible, rains all the time, no good Mexican food. Don't move here. Please.

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by jyl

Portland is overpriced, the natives are all on meth, homeless camps almost everywhere, thoughtless hipsters everywhere else, traffic terrible, rains all the time, no good Mexican food. Don't move here. Please.

All true. The coffee and beer suck too...