What do you suggest?

spersico008

My husband & I just got married two months ago. We live in Las Vegas right now, but are VERY MUCH looking to relocate. I don't know much about Oregon, just that it's far enough away from Vegas to still be semi-close. Anyway, I was wondering what your suggestions were on what cities to check out. We are looking to start a family in a year or two, so I need somewhere safe to raise my children, good schools, and at least a Walmart nearby.

 Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you! :]

Mrs.McGuire

First and foremost, congratulations on your recent marriage!

Second- are you coming to Oregon with a prospective employer or as a transfer? It's rough here right now and coming sans employer could prove to be uber difficult. 

spersico008

Yes, we are coming without an employer. My husband works for Primerica Financial Services, and they are supposedly very big in Portland. Granted that's not exactly where we want to be, but nevertheless. (My husband is a small-town kind of guy.) We understand that this is not a very good idea, but are just looking into it in case the Lord blesses us with the opportunity of moving. :]

Oh, and thank you for your kind words on my marriage!

DramaGeek

I would definitely only come if you have employment lined up for at least one of you.  We're just over a 10% unemployment rate right now, I believe.

 As far as where, that depends.  What kind of climate do you want?  If you want lush greens with rain during the winter, possible snow (but not much), and warm but dry in the summer, look in the Willamette Valley.  Depending on how small town you want, I'd try Newberg (45ish min from Portland), McMinnville (an hour from Portland), or Forest Grove.  If you want really rural, go to Gaston.  If you want beach, anywhere on the coast (though I'd personally look in Tillamook or Bandon) - but remember that our beaches are not warm like California or Hawaii!  If you want more of a desert climate with hot and dry in the summer, snowy in the winter, look in Central or Eastern Oregon.  Bend/Lapine, Pendelton, and Hermiston are towns I'd look at there.  River gorge?  Try Hood River or The Dalles.  You can also head to southern Oregon and try Medford.

 There are sooooo many places I could recommend, but it would really help to know more about what you're looking for.  Oregon's a big state!

estherandgeoff2

Definitely don't move here without a job. It's brutal and I know bc my DH was unemployed for 9 months. 

Read up on Oregon and its climate. It varies widely depending on where in the state you live. The Willamette Valley which is between the Coastal mountain range and the Cascade range  is where most people live and it is really rainy and dreary in winter. It can be like that from Oct-May (this year it lasted into June). So make sure you're up for that. Come visit in winter to get a better sense of what it is like. There are a lot of people here with Seasonal Affect Disorder and since you come from a very different climate it could be quite an adjustment.

peachypear

I suggest looking into Medford. It?s a large town in a rural area in Southern Oregon, where it won?t be as rainy. For small town near Portland, I suggest you look at Damascus/Boring (in addition to the places suggested by pp). If you need to be in Portland, I suggest Milwaukie or maybe SW Portland. You may also like SW Washington and Vancouver, although it?s an ugly commute into Portland. If you like desert, look at Eastern Oregon, like La Grande and Pendleton.

Aside from the big differences in whether, you?ll find that the Willamette Valley is the most liberal and the rest of the state is on the conservative side.

Ditto pp to only come if you have a job lined up. I know it?s brutal in Las Vegas, but the job market isn?t good here, either.

hurricanekeri

I used to live in Southern Oregon and know alot about Medford. Medford rarely gets snow but large passes are either side. The summer is finely dry and the winter is mild except the mountains which close the passes somethings in the winter. There are many pretty small towns in Oregon unfortunately must of the schools are underfunded. Eugene Is not as big as Portland and has good schools. It also does not snow in Eugene but it does rain A LOT. The Willamette valley also has a lot of pollen but the people are nicer than Southern Oregon. I Do not know much about the weather in Portland except it snows there but the ladies on this board already told you about that area.