Seriously thinking about....

moving to Portland. Can anyone tell me the pro/cons? I'm currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area and have heard such wonderful things about Portland. melanie

Portland is wonderful!! We moved from S.F. 10 years ago.We would never go back.Not that its a bad city it Just doesent feel like home.You can actually buy a house here and a big one at that!It also feels alot cleaner.If you have any questions email me at [email protected] It took me 2 years to feel at home in Oregon. I never really did in S.F. but I do like to visit there when I can.Good luck!!!

Hi Melanie! I was a bit of gypsy in my 20s and I have lived in many areas of the country and moved to Oregon from Tennessee in 97. I can honestly say that Oregon (particulary the Portland area) is the absolute best place I've ever lived. We are two hours to the coast...and hour to the mountains....and two hours to the desert...and Portland is situated right at the meeting of two beautiful rivers, the Columbia and the Willamette. Just south of Portland is the Willamette Valley, the most fertile valley in the states...and home to many beautiful vineyards. Nowhere else have I ever been able to take a drive through the country past fields of tulips...then mint...then hopps...then orchards of hazelnut trees....all in one afternoon and be home in time for a nap! I mean....have you ever smelled an entire field of mint??? man...I absolutely fell in love with Oregon the first time I visited. I sound like a commercial....but I love this place and I doubt you will find anywhere more beautiful and diverse. I truley cannot think of any cons.....except one: Lots of people moving here. I wish you well in your consideration! Come visit...you'll never want to leave! Take care, -Mary P

I love Oregon and find many more pros than cons to living here. If you like SF culture but want a smaller town feel, Ashland is frequently referred to as San Francisco North. It is artsy, liberal, diverse and high tech. Home to the Shakespearean Festival and Southern Oregon University. Portland to me has a more Northwest feel to it, although likely more comfortable for someone looking to live in a more city environment. I love Portland too, but I rarely venture that far north. The thing about the whole valley is that it's green. I love that lush greenery you can find pretty much all up and down the I-5 corridor. Things I like about Oregon over California (keeping in mind I was born in LA and lived in Mendocino County until 10, and have lots of relatives there, so I'm not biased against it): *Greenery. There is just more of it. *Slower pace, less traffic congestion (although not totally absent) *No sales tax *We don't pump our own gas. When it's raining or 105 out, you really come to appreciate it! *Lower crime rate - in general. *More affordable housing. Although in Southern Oregon the housing market is getting pretty out of hand, you can build equity quickly. *Vehicle registration is $35 for 2 years. Wait - it may have gone up. Either way, it's cheap. That's just a snippett of some of the bennies of Oregon over California in general. I have a hard time comparing city to city since I've lived in neither, but I can do state to state somewhat. Hope that helps! Dina

I love Oregon and find many more pros than cons to living here. If you like SF culture but want a smaller town feel, Ashland is frequently referred to as San Francisco North. It is artsy, liberal, diverse and high tech. Home to the Shakespearean Festival and Southern Oregon University. Portland to me has a more Northwest feel to it, although likely more comfortable for someone looking to live in a more city environment. I love Portland too, but I rarely venture that far north. The thing about the whole valley is that it's green. I love that lush greenery you can find pretty much all up and down the I-5 corridor. Things I like about Oregon over California (keeping in mind I was born in LA and lived in Mendocino County until 10, and have lots of relatives there, so I'm not biased against it): *Greenery. There is just more of it. *Slower pace, less traffic congestion (although not totally absent) *No sales tax *We don't pump our own gas. When it's raining or 105 out, you really come to appreciate it! *Lower crime rate - in general. *More affordable housing. Although in Southern Oregon the housing market is getting pretty out of hand, you can build equity quickly. *Vehicle registration is $35 for 2 years. Wait - it may have gone up. Either way, it's cheap. That's just a snippett of some of the bennies of Oregon over California in general. I have a hard time comparing city to city since I've lived in neither, but I can do state to state somewhat. Hope that helps! Dina