Alright guys looking to make a big change and wanting to relocate. Currently live in South Florida but I'm really into camping and going on adventures and it seems like the east coast has some good areas to go on adventures but it seems like the west coast is where it's at. I've done some research and I really like a lot of areas in Oregon but Colorado also seems like an amazing state also. If you guys had to pick one state or the other which would it be and why? I know this is for the Oregon region but I'm going to post this same thread in the Colorado region section also. Thanks guys
Would you choose Oregon or Colorado?
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I'd choose Oregon because of central location in the PNW....you can roll into Washington, Idaho,California, Canada, and Colorado easily from there. Two different types of climate based on which side of Cascades you live. Same in Washington. I am born and raised Washington and headed for my next life adventures in Central Oregon. Absolutely beautiful and excited to go.
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Tough decision... What do you do for money? I think the cost of living is cheaper in Oregon. There's a lot to like about both of them. Personally, I'd go with Oregon, probably Bend. I like the high desert and the river. You get all the seasons not just rain like further towards the coast. I haven't explored Colorado much.
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I chose OR, loved living there and would have never come back to CA if it wasn't for a grandchild.
I'm not familiar with CO at all but I know Oregon pretty well. If you haven't spent much time here just know there is a pretty big difference between being from "Oregon" and being from "Portland."
If you can avoid Portland do it. Becoming way too crowded. Traffic 7 days a week. Protests every other weekend. Homeless everywhere with no end in sight. Etc. Etc. That being said, nearly all the well paying jobs are in Portland. If you by chance are in a situation where you don't need a Portland job there are some great areas even just an hour outside of Portland.
I live about 45-60 minutes from downtown Portland out in the country and love it. I do however commute into Portland everyday for work. From home I'm about 2 hours from any part of the northern Oregon coast, an hour from any ski resort on Mt. Hood, 2 hours from the high desert of Central Oregon, and hour from the Columbia River Gorge, and a whole lot in between. I've also got a ton of wilderness within an hour of my house that I have yet to explore. On occasion we do weekend trips to Seattle which is just under 4 hours away.
Central Oregon is nice. A little more laid back, less hustle, more country, and seems everyone wants to make their way there. Over the last 15-20 years it has gotten real expensive and very Californian in parts. It gets hot in the summer, cold with lots of snow in the winter, but the positive is very little rain. There also isn't much in the way of work in central Oregon.
With all that, I don't plan on ever leaving Oregon unless for political reasons.
If you want to explore NW Oregon in pictures check out my instagram @jacobcarrollphotography
If you can avoid Portland do it. Becoming way too crowded. Traffic 7 days a week. Protests every other weekend. Homeless everywhere with no end in sight. Etc. Etc. That being said, nearly all the well paying jobs are in Portland. If you by chance are in a situation where you don't need a Portland job there are some great areas even just an hour outside of Portland.
I live about 45-60 minutes from downtown Portland out in the country and love it. I do however commute into Portland everyday for work. From home I'm about 2 hours from any part of the northern Oregon coast, an hour from any ski resort on Mt. Hood, 2 hours from the high desert of Central Oregon, and hour from the Columbia River Gorge, and a whole lot in between. I've also got a ton of wilderness within an hour of my house that I have yet to explore. On occasion we do weekend trips to Seattle which is just under 4 hours away.
Central Oregon is nice. A little more laid back, less hustle, more country, and seems everyone wants to make their way there. Over the last 15-20 years it has gotten real expensive and very Californian in parts. It gets hot in the summer, cold with lots of snow in the winter, but the positive is very little rain. There also isn't much in the way of work in central Oregon.
With all that, I don't plan on ever leaving Oregon unless for political reasons.
If you want to explore NW Oregon in pictures check out my instagram @jacobcarrollphotography
Thanks for the replys guys looks like oregon is winning out. It was my first choice but never really looked into Colorado so I was curious. I have a trip planned in October for a week in oregon so I'm hoping to explore and map out a place to live. I'll be renting probably thr first year.
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The first weekend in October I’m planing a meet-up in the Portland area if you’re interested
That would be awesome but I gotta double check the dates I think we are going the second or third week of October
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I grew up just south of Portland and have many good memories - but that was a long time ago. My parents resettled to the north side of the Columbia river, in Vancouver. Might be worth researching a little: cost, pace, etc. Commute times are similar to any around Portland. Just more good for thought.
For the foreseeable future, I'm stuck in SoCal. My heart has always wished to return to the PacNW though!
Good luck in your visit and pending decisions.
For the foreseeable future, I'm stuck in SoCal. My heart has always wished to return to the PacNW though!
Good luck in your visit and pending decisions.
Spent 9 years behind the orange county curtain. It's never too late to run for the hills and back to the PNW. You're always welcome anytime.
I'll be staying in a cabin close to Mt.Hood so east of portland. I would like to visit cvt and other tent companies while I'm there and if there's some kind of overland meet up I would be happy to join.
You will, in my opinion, be in one of the most beautiful parts of Oregon. The Mt Hood area is incredible and where I spend most my time. I live right on the edge of the Mt Hood National Forest. There are some incredible hikes and waterfalls all over the place. A coworker just did a 40 mile hike this weekend from Timberline Lodge to Ramona Falls then continued around Mt Hood back to Timberline. He got back to work today and the pictures are incredible.
Be fore warned, due to the Eagle Creek Fire last year in the gorge much of the gorge is still off limits so the rest of the area is more crowded than normal. If you avoid the tourist attractions it's not bad. I still manage to get away from people without issue.
If you want specific things to check out in the area let me know and I'll help however I can. There is a decent chance I've camped/spent time where ever you are staying.
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6 Gen Oregonian, grew up in very nice part of Portland, but I don't recognize it anymore. The streets, the people, the attitude, the vibe have all changed with the influx of transplants. I don't blame anyone for wanting to live here, it was a great place to grow up. Crime forced us to move. Car prowls in a nicer neighborhood drove my insurance company crazy. Fog lights, radios, you name it, I lost it. Alarms, removable audio units, keeping the porch lights on, nothing helped. With no off street parking it sucked. I now live south of the city in West Linn. I can see the Rose Quarter (MODA Center) from my deck, but I avoid Portland like a root canal. Luckily from my home I can head N-E-S or W without dealing with the city. Everything changes in time, we all get older, but I do miss the old Portland...
Agreed. I live a little further out for similar reasons. Basically head to Oregon City then go another 20 minutes away from people.
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This.. this right here...
Funny enough for many of the reasons in this post and others, my family and extended family have been looking to move out or Oregon. Portland runs the whole state, which rubs pretty much everyone I know the wrong way.
That being said, we have been scouting parts of Colorado earlier this year, and planning to check out the Spokane WA / west border of Idaho for our next home before the end of the year. We are planted here until next summer, so for now we are enjoying what we can.
For reference, I transplanted two decades ago from Oklahoma, and my wife has been here about 4 years from Georgia. The change in culture and traffic in my time here has been staggering.
Feel free to drop me a note for more specific information about the area.
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We just passed a new law in Colorado, you have to bring your own job with you.
I would choose Oregon (PNW) definitely in a heartbeat if I didn't love Seattle.
I currently live in California but love to travel to Oregon, Seattle and the PNW.
Oregon has a lot of great places to goto.
Cannon Beach
Multnomah Falls
Plus you aren't that far from a lot of beautiful places in Shasta County.
I currently live in California but love to travel to Oregon, Seattle and the PNW.
Oregon has a lot of great places to goto.
Cannon Beach
Multnomah Falls
Plus you aren't that far from a lot of beautiful places in Shasta County.
