[James]

Hey-
Possibility of a gig up there, I'm currently in SoCal, between Santa Barbara and LA, and just wanted to get an idea of what it's like up there.
I know one thing I'm totally in love with is the rental market, just wow.
Anyway, I'm not looking for a treatise, just your general likes/dislikes maybe?
Any help is VERY much appreciated.
Probably want to live within a 15 min max drive of downtown too, if that matters...

JJames

 

[Freak]

You can only move up here as long as you don't bring the Hamm's!!!!!!

 

[James]

You can only move up here as long as you don't bring the Hamm's!!!!!!

Don't worry, the Hamms stays where it belongs: the bargin bin at Safeway...

 

[Ridemonkey]

Portland is great except for the weather 8 months outta the year. If you dig socal weather you aren't going to like Portland much.

 

[oly]

If you move to portland you need to drink henrys....... othwerwise they run you out of town......

 

[James]

Portland is great except for the weather 8 months outta the year. If you dig socal weather you aren't going to like Portland much.

I grew up on the East Coast of Canada and the US, so the 4 months of "bad" weather don't really scare me. I'm looking to get out of SoCal, hence one of the reasons for looking at Portland. I used to do a fair amount of canoeing, and some kayaking, so those are secondary reasons.
Mostly I need change of pace from LA. I swear it's sucking my soul dry...

JJames

 

[Toshi]

i liked living in portland. sorta small town feel since there's not a huge downtown. great public transportation provided you're on the lines. the riding in hood river/post canyon (1 hr away, straight shot on I-84) is awesome, too.

here's my photo take on the six months i spent there: portland life

 

[zane]

I love this area, it has the best of everything- close to city, close to country, good riding, lots of outdoor activities, decent job market, not-too-high rental prices, good colleges.....

The only downside could be the 6 months of rain, but I've lived around here all my life so I'm used to it.

 

[oly]

So cal is getting used to the rain these past few years... I think the PNW has actually been dryer for us......

 

[H8R]

Hey-
Possibility of a gig up there, I'm currently in SoCal, between Santa Barbara and LA, and just wanted to get an idea of what it's like up there.
I know one thing I'm totally in love with is the rental market, just wow.
Anyway, I'm not looking for a treatise, just your general likes/dislikes maybe?
Any help is VERY much appreciated.
Probably want to live within a 15 min max drive of downtown too, if that matters...

JJames

Never lived there, been there a million times though. Great place. MTB trails in the city park? Yes please.

If I moved away from the SF Bay Area, that's where I'd go.

 

[James]

Never lived there, been there a million times though. Great place. MTB trails in the city park? Yes please.

If I moved away from the SF Bay Area, that's where I'd go.

That's somewhat of an option as well, so...we'll see as things progress what the final verdict is...

 

[thesacrifice]

the Pacific Northwest is where it's at... plain and simple

 

[thatoneguy]

James, I think you would like it. The housing market is really great too. You could afford a good sized house for what you are probably paying in rent in SoCal. Within 15 minutes of downtown, there are a lot of places to live. The MAX rail system basically goes to every Portland suburb, and goes strait to the center of down town. And the weather isn't so bad, you will get used to it...

 

[H8R]

That's somewhat of an option as well, so...we'll see as things progress what the final verdict is...

Bay Area home prices are through the roof. And the sky. I moved to the north bay to hopefully buy a house someday.

$506,000.00 MEDIAN home price.

 

[James]

James, I think you would like it. The housing market is really great too. You could afford a good sized house for what you are probably paying in rent in SoCal. Within 15 minutes of downtown, there are a lot of places to live. The MAX rail system basically goes to every Portland suburb, and goes strait to the center of down town. And the weather isn't so bad, you will get used to it...

I'm currently paying $1k/mo for a s****y 1 bedroom, super generic place.
Ouch.
A 5 minute search of CraigsList has shown me the light. Wow.
Buying would be a very huge option at some point to.
Unlike the Bar Area. There I could maybe afford to live in someone's garage...

JJames

 

[H8R]

I'm currently paying $1k/mo for a s****y 1 bedroom, super generic place.
Ouch.
A 5 minute search of CraigsList has shown me the light. Wow.
Buying would be a very huge option at some point to.
Unlike the Bar Area. There I could maybe afford to live in someone's garage...

JJames

I can come up and mooch beers off you if you move to Portland. I have to go up there on business once in awhile.

I like pils or stout. Thanks.

 

[James]

I can come up and mooch beers off you if you move to Portland. I have to go up there on business once in awhile.

I like pils or stout. Thanks.

And I'll do the same if I end up in the Bay Area. I prefer wheat or Belgian been.
That McKenzie River Trail seems like it's worth it just for that alone...though my fave ride to date have been in Santa Cruz. That is the dirt I want to be buried in. Tacky, fast, unstoppable...

JJames

 

[sam_little]

As Tom McCall, the Oregon governor during the early 70's, said on national television in 1971: "Come visit us again and again, but for heaven's sake, don't come here to live."

What he was getting at is this: Oregon, especially Portland, rocks. It is awfully hard to go wrong with Portland, given the housing market, extensive outdoor activites and active population, great coffee and amazing beer. Oregon has great planning laws that make it a fantastic place to live, but word is finally getting out.

The current population in Portland, within the Urban Growth Boundary, is estimated at about 550,000. In 1990 it was 450,000. I have heard several population projections that show an influx of 500,000 new people by 2015. In other words, if you do have interest in coming here, do so soon and buy a house. With the rest of the nation facing a real estate "bubble-burst" (think dot-bomb proportions), Portland has a projected housing price increase into the forseeable future. Again, hard to go wrong.

The riding is great, the paddling is amazing, especially in the Hood River region (about an hour from downtown).

I loved California, but I couldn't be happier than I have been here. I would say come here, but do so soon, and DON'T tell anyone you're from CA.

My $0.02.

 

[James]

The riding is great, the paddling is amazing, especially in the Hood River region (about an hour from downtown).

I loved California, but I couldn't be happier than I have been here. I would say come here, but do so soon, and DON'T tell anyone you're from CA.

My $0.02.

Kinda what I'm looking for. I have a really, really, really good buddy in Vanvouver, plus some other buddies in town.
We'll see I suppse, all depends on the gig...


JJames