Where are you from?

[CRFSaver]

Re: Where are you from?

Zakity, what can you tell me about Portland? I have had several interviews there...

[CRFSaver]

Re: Where are you from?

I'm originally from Japan and moved to the U.S. six years ago. Now, I live in Sacramento, CA.

I used to live in El Dorado Hills...

[Maismom]

Re: Where are you from?

I used to live in El Dorado Hills...

El Dorado is nice. I live in Rocklin and loving it!

[CRFSaver]

Re: Where are you from?

Would love to move back. Damn finding a job thing is holding me back... LOL

[zakity]

Re: Where are you from?

What do you want to know about Portland? What kind of info do you need? Schools, cost of living, etc?

[CRFSaver]

Re: Where are you from?

Well I am a single person so at the moment schools are nto important but cost of living, quality of life, things to do. Eventually I may need to worry about schools but was kinda curious how single guys like me like it out there... Oh yeah, I am also from Illinois but escaped

[zakity]

Re: Where are you from?

Housing: Rent for a house is about 1200 to 1500 (could be more or less depending on where you live of course). Rent on an apartment is probably 1000 to 1200 (again depending on where you live). You can get cheaper, but it depends on where you want to live and where you work and stuff. I haven't looked for apartments or houses to rent for years because we bought our own home so I am not totally up on the prices. These prices are from what other people have talked about what they are paying. You can rent houses for cheaper. I live in Scappoose and the houses go for 800, but it is a 1/2 hour drive to get to the edge of Portland from here.

Quality of life: Oh man, this is a great place to live. There is tons of stuff to do. The coast is 2 hours away. Snow is 2 hours away. There are waterfalls an hour away (hiking or just to relax by on a hot day). There is hiking all over. There is kayaking and windsurfing and tons of other stuff to do close. There are tons of museums and that type of stuff. There are shows (ballet, opera, symphony) if that is what floats your boat. You can find lots to do just for the price of gas (and taking a picnic lunch). There are organic stores (Trader Joe's and Nature's off the top of my head-hmmm, nature's might be called Wild Oats now). There is a store called Grocery Outlet and you can get decent deals there. There are tons of restaurants with tons of different types of food.

Cost of living: We are living on one income and I know of a ton of people who are doing it (like 95% of the homeschooling community). Houses are astronomically priced. Lots in Portland are 50x100 and houses go for 200,000 to 300,000. If I really tried, I could feed my family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids-one of which eats like an adult) for $200 to $300. I have done it before, but just haven't been that disciplined lately. Cost of living is supposed to be high here though. I probably pay $200 a month in the winter and slightly less in the summer for natural gas (heat), electric, and phone. We have well water and so I don't know how expensive water is in Portland or the surrounding cities.

Job outlook: Good luck in this department. It is looking better, but I don't know what field you are in. We are still a pretty depressed economy, no matter what the bigwigs say. I live in Columbia County and our unemployment is still close to 15% or higher. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't higher than that, but the bigwigs say around 15%.

Schools: Well, I am a homeschooler. I am not a great judge for the public schools. But, from what I have seen, I am not interested in putting my kids in to the system.

[CRFSaver]

Re: Where are you from?

Thanks. I work in the Capital Markets and Treasury fields. Thats what I have been interviewing from. I imagine it has a lower cost of living then where I am right now (outside of DC). Thanks!

[MrsChambers]

Re: Where are you from?

oh, I love it... I have to participate!

I was born in Williamsville, NY

moved to Prescott, Az (aka Eastern California) after the blizzard of 77' (great place back then)

moved to Tempe, Az to go to America's ****iest University (HOT HOT HOT)

moved to Paso Robles, Ca after college (bad move, no housing)

moved back to Prescot,Az because apparently I have a fondness of watching all the baby-boomer Californians come and completely RUIN my hometown!!

NOW we are making plans to move to Oregon.. would LOVE to go to Bandon (no jobs) but we are going to settle for the Astoria/Warrenton area. (gotta love the Goonies!!)

[fultron]

Re: Where are you from?

Northern New Jersey

[SicilyYoder]

Re: Where are you from?

In the Bluegrass State- Kentucky. Used to live in Lancaster, PA when I was Amish.

[Hez]

Re: Where are you from?

I grew up in a very small town, but I'm living in Toronto now for university & plan on staying here a while.

[markio26]

Re: Where are you from?

``````ohio````````

[kealina]

Re: Where are you from?

i'm from the "island in the middle of the sea" aka hawaii...

[tgavin71]

Re: Where are you from?

Newcastle, New South Wales. Australia