McMinville Meet-up Thursday August 19, 2010

Had a very nice time at the meet up in July. Got to catch up and also meet a new face! This month we are going to hold the meeting at a residence so if you are interested in coming pm me and I'll give you the address and phone #. Meeting will be at 7pm and there will be WLS friendly snacks!

Katie

Hi Katie, I think I've seen you somewhere - R&R?

I live in NE but have started a job search and I found a couple in the NW area. can you tell me anything about McMinnville I might need to know? looks much bigger and more civilized than I am used to: I live in a very small, very rural area currently.

is the weather cloudy a lot?  I'm guessing yes!  basically, I like sun or I'd probalby already be there!

is it every warm enough to swim in the ocean?  (probably not, huh?) how long is the drive, I guess it's over the mountains?

lots of traffic to Portland?

and BTW, I have been really learning to like wine lately! 

appreciate any thing you'd want to let me know, thanks!

hugs
Jackie

Hi Jackie! Yep, You've seen me on R & R! LOL.

McMinnville itself is about 33,000 population. Nice little city. As for clouds. yes during fall- early spring. Usually summer is pretty nice! We have a historical downtown area that is lots of fun to walk around. Lots of nice parks and we just got our first specific DOG park! We have lots of wine, Evergreen Museum, are getting a new water park and upscale lodging.  We are about an hour from the coast and about an hour from Portland Oregon. 1/2 hour from Salem, Tigard, Tualatin and Hillsboro.  As for swimming in the ocean, yep we can do that to during the summer (it is kinda cold, but can be lots of fun), we even have some surfers out on occasion.
I really like it here, most people are very friendly and most of the town is very walkable depending on where you live. I'm a mile from two GREAT parks, the library, historic downtown, etc. So I do lots of walking! My husband works in Beaverton so commutes everyday. He doesn't mind it as the liveability here is GREAT.

There is a backroad to Portland so you don't have to hit any traffic at all, usually. We do have the occasional farm equipment or log truck but they usually book it pretty good through there.

Let me know if there is anything more specific you want to know (you can always PM me if you want!)

Katie

thanks, Katie, you are living proof the people are friendly!

what is Salem like? it looks like a nice place, too.

that size city looks ideal to me, much bigger than where I live now and yet not a monster city. and yet close to Portland - I always hear good things about Portland.

I am most a-scared of the humidity - when it's hot, humidity makes me lose the will to live.

do people commonly have central air there? I was looking at a real estate site  - at the lower end of the price scale! - and it wasn't mentioned!

We don't have the high hot dry humidity that you have in NE (lived in Omaha for a few years so yeah, I know what heat is there. lol). We also don't have the high WET humidity of the south/east. You'll never even notice any. AC isn't a huge item around here as it usually doesn't get that hot. Portable ones for the bedroom or such is usually enough for the occasional hot days.

Salem is actually a very nice city. Lots to do, fun, easy to get around. So is Portland, If you like public transportation you can get anywhere in PDX. The pub. trans is actually very good in PDX and surrounding area. I like living here because I'm close to both cities. LOL. Lots of options! and still small enough here to feel country. I'm actually right on city limits so when I go on a walk I can walk past horses, fields, barns, etc. and lots of great little state parks around these parts as well.

Okay, Yes I love Oregon. LOL.

Katie

Katie - I live in the very Western part of NE - to me, Omaha is humid! 

but your area sounds exellent in a lot of ways. the small city size of McMinnville with such easy access to Portland and Salem, Eugene... it all sounds like heaven.

thank you so much for your advice & help!

and, the Casino!


tee

Are they doing a Great Wolf type waterpark out there? Hadn't heard about that. Do tell.

tee

we are getting a cool waterpark and lodge next to the aviation museum. Supposed to be done sometime next spring I think. The waterpark is already under way, but I'm not sure they've started the lodge part yet.