If you’re a child of the 1980s, you might think of Oregon solely as the setting for “The Goonies.” The town of Astoria, which served as the setting for the movie, actually exists, as does Cannon Beach. Therefore, it might be safe to assume most Oregon residents have at least a passing familiarity with The Truffle Shuffle. Just don’t do it without permission.
In more recent years, Oregon has turned into a destination spot, especially Portland, which tends to get all the attention as the state’s largest city. Portland boasts the professional basketball team, the cool neighborhoods, the green community reputation, and the universities. And while all of that certainly demands respect, Portland does not represent the limit of all that Oregon has to offer.
And when you’re done being amazed by all the state has, call us for information on how to get there.
Living in Oregon
Think of Oregon, and you may think of the Oregon Ducks football team, the forests, and, depending on your age, the Oregon Trail.
Like its neighbor Washington State, Oregon enjoys a reputation for having a relaxed and groovy population that enjoys coffeehouses, outdoor activities, and overcast days. With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Cascade Mountains on the other, Oregon serves as home to the diverse geography that includes the Columbia River, dense forests, and a high desert region.
Traffic will only be a problem in the more densely populated areas, which means anyone going anywhere near Portland will most likely get stuck.
Working in Oregon
According to the Census ACS 1-year survey, the median household income for Oregon was $60,212 in 2017, the latest figures available. In layman’s terms, a family of four with two working adults would need both working adults to be making $17.38 an hour to meet the state’s cost-of-living standard.
Understandably, housing prices tend to be high, particularly in the more populous areas like Portland. Why the expense? Location, location, location. Because Oregon sits on the Pacific Ocean, waterfront property can demand prices similar to those asked by east coast residents. Factor in the mountain ranges, educational facilities, and relative location to California, Nevada, Idaho, and Canada, Oregon has a great deal to offer in terms of real estate.
In addition to the state’s burgeoning tourist industry, Oregon sports a very business-friendly working market, ranking high among the best states for business. Nike, Intel, and Facebook all have offices in the state, and industrial mechanics and interpreters/translators currently rank in the top ten most in-demand jobs behind health care specialists.
Oh, and Oregon has no sales tax.
Oregon’s Typical Weather
Oregon sports a temperate oceanic climate, which means it can get cool even during the summer months. There may be some advantages there; while your friends back on the east coast complain about the humidity and live in mortal fear of their air conditioning units failing, an Oregonian resident might be enjoying the low 70s in August.
The tradeoff for that, however, rests with the overcast skies and long, wet winters. Keep in mind, however, that the specific region of Oregon plays a big role in how the weather will behave. Snow falls the heaviest in the Cascade Mountain Range while the Coastal Region will deal with more rain than snow.
Things to do when Moving to Oregon
As with other states in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon encourages residents to get outdoors. That means hiking and camping enjoy a healthy popularity not seen in, say, Arizona or New Jersey. And definitely not Mississippi.
Crater Lake National Park offers great scenery centered around the deepest lake in the United States (well, what else do you call the deepest lake? Puddle Lake would be misleading). Mt. Hood sports 11 (count ‘em) glaciers and and year-round skiing, including the historic Timberline Lodge. For fishing and horseback riding, hit up Mount St. Helens, or if you want to see an honest-to-goodness lighthouse, head for the coast; you’ll find ten of them.
Something else that might not come to mind immediately about Oregon? The surfing. While catching a big wave may seem the sole providence of nearby California, surfing on the Oregon coast does occur. But if hanging out in the Pacific Ocean doesn’t seem like fun, consider the windsurfing offered by Columbia River Gorge and the Hatchery.
While there is an Oregon Trail, do not attempt to ford a river in a covered wagon. And keep in mind that shooting a bear requires more skill than hitting the space bar on a computer keyboard. Don’t antagonize any bears or they’ll eat your feet and destroy your covered wagon. You’re better off hiding in a station wagon. Also, do not attempt to ford a river in a station wagon. Take a ferry. Don’t be weird.
Culture
Oregon has a reputation for being hispterish and weird. This reputation does not reflect the entire state, however. Portland has hipster culture, but Portland is not Oregon. True, the state does tend to swing left on the political spectrum, as reflected in the state’s emphasis on renewable energy and emphasis on bicycles for transportation in the more developed parts of the state. Residents also tend to display preference for growing its food by way of home gardens and the extensive farm land.
Oh, and the wine industry has a solid foothold here. And they like to consume seafood on holidays, which means you’re invited to partake of a crab dinner instead of a turkey or ham. Not that you can’t do this in other states, but it’s nice to enjoy coastal food offerings even during the big holidays.
Also, there’s a thousand-year-old mushroom in the Blue Mountains that over 2.4 miles wide. You’re not going to find that Idaho.
Hey you guys!
You hear that? That’s the sound of Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest, calling to you. Liking the idea of riding a bike and going green? What better place to do it than Oregon?
And don’t panic about how to get there. We get that moving down the street can be stressful, and moving to a new state can be downright horrifying. But Colonial Van Lines has the experience and the expertise to make sure your moving experience will be straight forward and stress free.
Call a Colonial Van Lines professional and find out how to start your journey to Oregon.
Long Distance Moving to Oregon
December 3, 2019