Should I move to Portland?

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BZeto

Platinum Member
Apr 28, 2002
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Currently living in Vegas and not really enjoying it. I'm not really into partying or gambling, so the only thing really keeping me here is my job and the decent weather 2/3 of the year. I've been northwest a few times and really enjoyed both Seattle and Portland. I have some family in the Portland area so I'm leaning towards that instead of Seattle. I've done some job searching and there seems to be quite a lot (IT field).

Those of you in the area, what are some reasons that I should/should not move there? Is housing cost pretty high? Will I get depressed and kill myself seeing grey clouds for weeks on end? Hit me.
 
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thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
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Portland is nice. Less rain than Seattle and there's no sales tax in Oregon. It would be a big change weather-wise, coming from Vegas. You might want to hop on Southwest and spend a few days up there in the middle of winter and test it out before moving all the way up there. People accustomed to really nice climates don't adjust well to harsher climates.
 
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KillerCharlie

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
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Portland has a harsh climate? Hahaha... I guess it's all relative. I moved to Seattle from the midwest - I love this extremely mild weather! It never gets hot here and I don't have to put up with -20 degree temperatures and feet of snow.

If you stick it out a year or two, you get used to the weather.
 
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BZeto

Platinum Member
Apr 28, 2002
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Originally posted by: thegimp03
Portland is nice. Less rain than Seattle and there's no sales tax in Oregon. It would be a big change weather-wise, coming from Vegas. You might want to hop on Southwest and spend a few days up there in the middle of winter and test it out before moving all the way up there. People accustomed to really nice climates don't adjust well to harsher climates.
Click to expand...

I did live in north Utah before moving to Vegas. The winters there were pretty terrible, I HATE driving in snow and ice. So I would be at least somewhat familiar with such conditions. Does Portland get a lot of snow and icy roads? Overall I think it is something I can deal with again though.

 
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markgm

Diamond Member
Aug 23, 2001
3,291
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Yes, without a doubt. It'll be the best thing you do with your life in 2008.
 
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tasmanian

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2006
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Originally posted by: BZeto
Originally posted by: thegimp03
Portland is nice. Less rain than Seattle and there's no sales tax in Oregon. It would be a big change weather-wise, coming from Vegas. You might want to hop on Southwest and spend a few days up there in the middle of winter and test it out before moving all the way up there. People accustomed to really nice climates don't adjust well to harsher climates.
Click to expand...

I did live in north Utah before moving to Vegas. The winters there were pretty terrible, I HATE driving in snow and ice. So I would be at least somewhat familiar with such conditions. Does Portland get a lot of snow and icy roads? Overall I think it is something I can deal with again though.
Click to expand...

Lol snow and ice. We get 1 ice storm a couple of years if were lucky.
 
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tasmanian

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2006
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Originally posted by: BZeto
Weather.com shows rain/snow showers for tomorrow.
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Well it did snow on sunday for a total of 10 minutes but it didnt stick. So i doubt it will stick or happen tomorrow.
 
Capt Caveman

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
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I used to live in Seattle. Loved the summer but the fall and winter was so depressing, cloudy and rainy every day for weeks on end.
 
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KarmaPolice

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
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Seattle/Portland always seemed like cool places. I hear it doesn't get too cold there (relative to other places) and its pretty clean.
 
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jme5343

Platinum Member
Nov 21, 2003
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I liked the southern region, around Roseburg. Beautiful scenery all around, cost of living is realistic.

The only thing I didn't like about Oregon? You can't pump your own gas. :)
 
MBony

MBony

Platinum Member
Sep 16, 2003
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Looking into moving there in the next few months myself. Currently looking for a job in the same field. If you get a job before me you gotta hook it up for your pal Mbony!
 
StinkyPinky

StinkyPinky

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2002
6,982
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Originally posted by: BZeto
Currently living in Vegas and not really enjoying it. I'm not really into partying or gambling, so the only thing really keeping me here is my job and the decent weather 2/3 of the year. I've been northwest a few times and really enjoyed both Seattle and Portland. I have some family in the Portland area so I'm leaning towards that instead of Seattle. I've done some job searching and there seems to be quite a lot (IT field).

Those of you in the area, what are some reasons that I should/should not move there? Is housing cost pretty high? Will I get depressed and kill myself seeing grey clouds for weeks on end? Hit me.
Click to expand...


Las Vegas is a shithole. I hate the place. Warning to people thinking of moving to Vegas....DO NOT.
 
IEC

IEC

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jun 10, 2004
14,600
6,084
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As someone who lives in Portland when not attending school, I will give you a basic summary:

Nice medium-sized metro area
Good job and business opportunities
Beautiful surroundings (lots of trees, Mt. Hood, lakes, rivers, etc.)
Generally more friendly/tolerant people than other regions of the US
Good recreation opportunities (fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking, skiing, sight-seeing, Portland Trail Blazers, etc.)
Weather is not too hot in the summer, just right in the spring and fall - winter is the only dreary season due to gray skies and rain. Snow and ice very infrequently.

If you have kids...
Schools in Oregon are somewhat... lacking. Depends on the particular school and public/private, of course. I only went to high school a year in Oregon (moved from another state) so I can't really judge this that well however.

If you like hot deals...
RossMAN is rumored to live in the area. Actually, I know for a fact he has at least one (503) area code phone.
Costco in Sunnyside/Clackamas (I-205) and Wilsonville (I-5) as well as a few other places
Fry's Electronics in Wilsonville (I-5 south right below I-205 merger)

As far as living cost/surroundings and traffic:
Don't go to Beaverton/similar areas. Traffic is hell.
SE Portland and NE Portland are... undesirable. For the most part. Just do your research if crime rates are a concern.
Housing costs have moderated somewhat in the past year due to the housing bubble showing up :D
Housing/cost of living 1.5x-2.5x of less-developed areas and cheaper places such as Texas (Dallas for instance). Still much cheaper than Seattle or California cities.

I probably forgot some stuff but feel free to ask.
 
shortylickens

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,082
136
I've been living in Oregon for a year, and while I'll acknowledge its probably better than living in Vegas, you may wish to think about it.

Yes, we have no sales tax. That fact becomes immediately apparent when you see the average public school. For a long time Oregon has been ranked near the bottom, sometimes as low as number 47 in the country. If you can afford a private school for your kids (or have no kids) then it would be OK.
Also, its not NEARLY as cheap as most people think. I dont doubt that Portland is cheaper than Seattle, but after all the nonsense with the Seattle public schools I certainly wouldnt consider living there anyway.
Oregon housing (especially Portland) is really overpriced for what you get and what the average paying job is up here.
They say its the fault of the Californians, which I think may be possible. Whatever the cause I know I will have to do an aweful lot and move up many notches in my company before I can consider getting a house. I think I'd rather just find someplace cheaper to live.

But it is a nice place and folks here arent nearly as fucked up as the average Californian. I give it a B+. Maybe higher if the average house price comes down by about 50%.
 
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Tommouse

Senior member
Feb 29, 2004
986
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Portland Maine!!! w00t!


I have nothing further to add, just need to get in that Portland, ME vs Portland, OR jab ;)
 
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