Relocating to Portland OR Looking for pointers

[Kyngfish]

Hey - looks like I’ll be moving in August. Just wanted to see if there’s anything I need to look out for with my car being inspected and etc in Oregon. It still has a cat and as far as I can tell - runs clean.

Do I need to worry about salt/rust?

Any other things to worry about?

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

watch every episode of Portlandia - twice

If you don't have rust now, you won't get it in Portland. Being a true socialist state (at least on the west side), you can't pump your own gas.

 

[MStudt]

We moved out almost 2 years ago, and love the area. You'll have some adjusting to get used to, and it might be overwhelming at first. We looked at moving to Portland at first, but didn't want to deal with the big town. Nice area, good place to visit, and close to a ton of different activities.

I believe Portland and Medford are the only places in the Oregon that actually do inspections. It's nothing out of the normal, and nothing like California. Oregon uses sand, and a chemical spray when needed in the winter months. The chemical spray is magnesium chloride (MgCl2) with rust inhibitor.

Watch out for tweakers, and thieves. If you get to the Eugene area let me know.

Mike

 

[rightyouareken]

Portland is definitely very weird now. And it takes pride in being weird. It jumped the shark years ago.

That said, the area is gorgeous, the climate is mild, and you won't have any rust issues. I've lived in the PNW my whole life (40 yrs, grew up in Portland, moved to Seattle 20 years ago) and never had any rust on my cars or family/friends' cars.

 

[mtbtim]

Watch out for liberal progressives, socialists, and members of the communist party that want to take your freedoms away. I live in the People's Republic of California so I know a thing or two about this. If you lean conservative, realize your vote won't mean shit anymore. I don't know about Portland's view on homeless, but if it's anything like Seattle, you'll be in for a little shocker. This video is a good watch: YouTube

What I've learned from being a firefighter in the City of Salinas is if you pander to the homeless, guess what, you will have an even bigger homeless problem. Tent cities and the filth and problems that comes with it is what you'll get. Most of these "homeless" people are substance abusers and aren't looking to improve their situation. They're just people looking for their next high and are willing to steal to support their habit because there really isn't much punishment going on in these cities either. The liberal leadership in these cities tie the hands of the cops so they can't do much about it. What you get is a cesspool of shit you get to see everyday in the city you live in. Currently, San Francisco and Seattle are #1 and #2 respectively for the amount of property crimes per 100,000 in population. The common denominator with these two cities is there liberal policies towards the homeless. So, make sure you don't leave valuables in your car when you go into the downtown areas because there's a real good chance some shitbag is going to do a smash and grab.

I know this comment has nothing to do with what the OP was inquiring about and would be better left for the off-topic area of the forum but I figured I'd shed some light on what you're about to experience that you possibly didn't experience in Miami. Some might think I'm a dick for posting this but I've earned the right to my opinion because I regularly respond to their overdoses and fight the fires they start in their bum camps wading through all their filth to put out the fires. I'd say at least 20-30% of our calls for service are for the homeless. When we're picking up the fallen down drunk off the sidewalk for the 20th time or bringing back another from the dead from a heroin overdose, somebody else that's not purposely pickling their body with drugs and alcohol might need our help and now that help is delayed because we're busy with this shitbag.

Anyway, enjoy your new life in Portland. Hopefully the view from your windows isn't a nasty tent city homeless camp.

 

[rightyouareken]

Watch out for liberal progressives, socialists, and members of the communist party that want to take your freedoms away. I live in the People's Republic of California so I know a thing or two about this. If you lean conservative, realize your vote won't mean shit anymore. I don't know about Portland's view on homeless, but if it's anything like Seattle, you'll be in for a little shocker. This video is a good watch: YouTube

What I've learned from being a firefighter in the City of Salinas is if you pander to the homeless, guess what, you will have an even bigger homeless problem. Tent cities and the filth and problems that comes with it is what you'll get. Most of these "homeless" people are substance abusers and aren't looking to improve their situation. They're just people looking for their next high and are willing to steal to support their habit because there really isn't much punishment going on in these cities either. The liberal leadership in these cities tie the hands of the cops so they can't do much about it. What you get is a cesspool of shit you get to see everyday in the city you live in. Currently, San Francisco and Seattle are #1 and #2 respectively for the amount of property crimes per 100,000 in population. The common denominator with these two cities is there liberal policies towards the homeless. So, make sure you don't leave valuables in your car when you go into the downtown areas because there's a real good chance some shitbag is going to do a smash and grab.

I know this comment has nothing to do with what the OP was inquiring about and would be better left for the off-topic area of the forum but I figured I'd shed some light on what you're about to experience that you possibly didn't experience in Miami. Some might think I'm a dick for posting this but I've earned the right to my opinion because I regularly respond to their overdoses and fight the fires they start in their bum camps wading through all their filth to put out the fires. I'd say at least 20-30% of our calls for service are for the homeless. When we're picking up the fallen down drunk off the sidewalk for the 20th time or bringing back another from the dead from a heroin overdose, somebody else that's not purposely pickling their body with drugs and alcohol might need our help and now that help is delayed because we're busy with this shitbag.

Anyway, enjoy your new life in Portland. Hopefully the view from your windows isn't a nasty tent city homeless camp.

Absolutely spot on IMHO.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Actually, I think he was being a little generous.

On the good side though, the Micro-brew community in Oregon is great, world class brewers all over the place. There's also a large old school hot-rod community, lots of customizing and a real culture of most things automobile.

 

[MStudt]

[MENTION=144406]Kyngfish[/MENTION] don't listen to the haters.

Your homeless population is a hair less than Portland's, and drug issues in Miami are also comparable.

If you want the honest truth about it. The entire West Coast has a homeless drug problem. What do you expect when you have stoners from across the country coming to Northern California to harvest crop for free weed year round. Humboidt County is the tropical getaway for these kind of jobs, and is comparable to Bora Bora.

Hippies still run Northern California, and most of Oregon. Washington is full of Oregon has bins who left due to the flocking of Californians. :hippie:

Mike

 

[Kyngfish]

Lol

Well - as a liberal progressive (and gun owning/clay shooting enthusiast!) - I'll probably fit right in.

Not having lived in California, I'll stop myself from commenting on the situation, though I imagine it can be rough. I will say, that living in a bastion of conservative economic law, South Florida has its pros and its cons. The reason I'm moving my entire family to the opposite corner of the US has to do with opportunities orders of magnitude better over there than over here. So - I don't see low taxes and easy regulation solving the systemic issues here either.

I have a lot of respect for what you do (both as a firefighter and on this forum) [MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION], but I think you're angry at the wrong people. I don't think we pay our public servants enough, not Firefighters, Police, Teachers...I don't think we pay our burger flippers enough either. In the meantime - people like Apple have the cash to stockpile billions.

It isn't my imagination that US corporations are producing more - and giving less to the workers that make that possible - and I can't help thinking that if working 40 hours a week could at least afford you an apartment, you'd find less people turn away to drugs and vagrancy.

Happy to have the debate over a beer and in person though, when I make my way over to that coast! I'll probably be towing the Porsche with the 4Runner - so we can take a drive through some back roads.

:thumb:

 

[OrRunner]

As a fellow gun owning 4 wheelin' California liberal transplant to Portland, it's a great place to live and a great place to own and drive a 4Runner. Tillamook National Forest is about an hour away and is gorgeous with miles of groomed trails of all difficulties to run. MBTim is correct about the homeless problem, definitely present with more than a smattering of drug abuse and mental illness, but for the most part it's not too problematic outside of certain areas.

If you're on Facebook join the PDXOverlanders and 4Runners of Oregon groups and you'll be meeting plenty of trail buddies in no time.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Watch out for liberal progressives, socialists, and members of the communist party that want to take your freedoms away. I live in the People's Republic of California so I know a thing or two about this. If you lean conservative, realize your vote won't mean shit anymore. I don't know about Portland's view on homeless, but if it's anything like Seattle, you'll be in for a little shocker. This video is a good watch: YouTube

What I've learned from being a firefighter in the City of Salinas is if you pander to the homeless, guess what, you will have an even bigger homeless problem. Tent cities and the filth and problems that comes with it is what you'll get. Most of these "homeless" people are substance abusers and aren't looking to improve their situation. They're just people looking for their next high and are willing to steal to support their habit because there really isn't much punishment going on in these cities either. The liberal leadership in these cities tie the hands of the cops so they can't do much about it. What you get is a cesspool of shit you get to see everyday in the city you live in. Currently, San Francisco and Seattle are #1 and #2 respectively for the amount of property crimes per 100,000 in population. The common denominator with these two cities is there liberal policies towards the homeless. So, make sure you don't leave valuables in your car when you go into the downtown areas because there's a real good chance some shitbag is going to do a smash and grab.

I know this comment has nothing to do with what the OP was inquiring about and would be better left for the off-topic area of the forum but I figured I'd shed some light on what you're about to experience that you possibly didn't experience in Miami. Some might think I'm a dick for posting this but I've earned the right to my opinion because I regularly respond to their overdoses and fight the fires they start in their bum camps wading through all their filth to put out the fires. I'd say at least 20-30% of our calls for service are for the homeless. When we're picking up the fallen down drunk off the sidewalk for the 20th time or bringing back another from the dead from a heroin overdose, somebody else that's not purposely pickling their body with drugs and alcohol might need our help and now that help is delayed because we're busy with this shitbag.

Anyway, enjoy your new life in Portland. Hopefully the view from your windows isn't a nasty tent city homeless camp.

Smash & grabs aren't just in the big cities, it's pretty much everywhere. First thing I did when we bought our first house was clear out the entire garage so we could park both cars in it.

I understand the dilemma with first responders & drug users and how you feel. Along with police officers, you guys see the worst of a city on a daily basis and the problem is only growing. It's getting really tough here in Sacramento and I live 1/4 from a growing homeless camp. I help the people that I can but it's hard when they ask for money right on the corner next to the liquor store and I find empty bottles of vodka and whiskey everywhere when I go for a walk with my kids.

I'm neither a Republican or a Democrat, I got tired of bi-partisan politics year ago, neither have any real solutions. I hope that at least Sacramento can get their act together and build some real housing for the homeless so they aren't homeless anymore. If they are not out on the streets all the time it will be better for everyone. The problem is there's no real political gain for any politician to help the homeless, not like they are going to vote to re-elect them!

 

[Jidaran]

List of United States cities by crime rate - Wikipedia

Sort by property crime. Portland is near the top of the list, but so are not-so-blue places like Albuquerque and Baton Rouge. CA is well represented the the bottom of the list as well.

I have no intention of getting into a political debate on here, but figured people could look at the stats and draw their own conclusions.

 

[RS Dude]

I too most likely will be relocating somewhere on the OR or WA coast next year from southern 3rdworldifornia. My biggest concern is the amount of rain and overcast days that the PNW is infamous for. Did spend many memorable summers in the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound in the 1970s.:

 

[MStudt]

I too most likely will be relocating somewhere on the OR or WA coast next year from southern 3rdworldifornia. My biggest concern is the amount of rain and overcast days that the PNW is infamous for. Did spend many memorable summers in the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound in the 1970s.:

That was my concern as well, but not anymore. Now my concern is how much good weather can I get before fire season comes.

Mike

 

[mtbtim]

Well - as a liberal progressive (and gun owning/clay shooting enthusiast!) - I'll probably fit right in.

Not having lived in California, I'll stop myself from commenting on the situation, though I imagine it can be rough. I will say, that living in a bastion of conservative economic law, South Florida has its pros and its cons. The reason I'm moving my entire family to the opposite corner of the US has to do with opportunities orders of magnitude better over there than over here. So - I don't see low taxes and easy regulation solving the systemic issues here either.

I have a lot of respect for what you do (both as a firefighter and on this forum) [MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION], but I think you're angry at the wrong people. I don't think we pay our public servants enough, not Firefighters, Police, Teachers...I don't think we pay our burger flippers enough either. In the meantime - people like Apple have the cash to stockpile billions.

It isn't my imagination that US corporations are producing more - and giving less to the workers that make that possible - and I can't help thinking that if working 40 hours a week could at least afford you an apartment, you'd find less people turn away to drugs and vagrancy.

Happy to have the debate over a beer and in person though, when I make my way over to that coast! I'll probably be towing the Porsche with the 4Runner - so we can take a drive through some back roads.

:thumb:

Well, personal responsibility is what it comes down to for me. Everybody has problems. Everybody! How you deal with these problems is what's makes us different. Some people go through a rough patch in life but get through it by working hard and staying focused. Others choose the easy route and just say f*ck it and turn to drugs and alcohol and try to forget their problems.

There is no doubt in my mind that there's a pretty significant percentage of the population that will never contribute shit to the greater good and I'm suppose to feel sorry for them. They take and take and take some more and are a drain on the system. I like to equate human society to the animal kingdom. In the animal kingdom, the strong survive and the weak get picked off by predators. In the human society, people can be non-functioning shitbags and they survive day in and day out no problem because we allow it. In my opinion, one of the biggest problems in our human society is we have a high toleration for the shitbags that can't seem to abide by society's rules. Say you're a wildebeest and decide you like to get high on wild peyote all day instead of paying attention to your surroundings? Guess what, you're going to be one of the herd picked off by the lions and hyenas first because you're too stoned to figure out there's predators stalking you.

When it comes to crime, we give people so many chances and some of them don't deserve a second chance. Parole for child molesters, rapists, killers, and other violent criminals? Hell no! These people need to be exterminated. 3 strikes and 25 to life? How about 3 strikes and you're dead? Why we spend so much money housing and feeding the shitbags of society is beyond comprehension. It makes no sense to me. There's better things we can do with that money.

I know what you're thinking. This Timmy guy is really screwed in the head. It's my strong opinion that not everyone has to the tools to make it in this world. I'm not without compassion towards people but I pretty much have zero compassion for people that can't seem to control their vices.

What am I trying to say? We need a culling of the herd in our human society. I'm getting older myself and might not be able to run fast enough from the predators at some point but I've seen how out of shape our society has become so I think I'll be fine for quite some time. When I get too slow, oh well, my suffering will be over and hopefully I was a good meal for the lions.

You can still like watching the videos I make even though my political and societal views are way out there. I'm kind of hoping for a zombie apocalypse to thin the herd. I'm not talking the slow type of zombies. I'm talking the fast zombies that will quickly chase you down. One can only hope. The demise of our existence on this planet will certainly be at some level overpopulation.

 

[Rallysport]

Well if the zombies are fast, we're dead ducks in our 3rd gens.

Politics aside, Portland is a great city full of awesome people with some of the best food / produce / coffee / beer / cannabis in the whole wide world. You're ~1.5 hrs from amazing coast and world-class mountain terrain. The winters really are wet but the summer and fall is amazing.

Just don't leave anything in you car, ever. Not even a gym bag with some smelly old socks. Otherwise you're good.

 

[Kyngfish]

Just don't leave anything in you car, ever. Not even a gym bag with some smelly old socks. Otherwise you're good.

Is it really that bad? I’ll probably in the Beaverton/Lake Oswego area... my wife is terrible about leaving stuff in her car.

 

[rightyouareken]

Is it really that bad? I’ll probably in the Beaverton/Lake Oswego area... my wife is terrible about leaving stuff in her car.

I believe Portland is similar to Seattle in that the homeless/drug issues are really focused most in the downtown core and a few pockets of lower income areas close to downtown. The richer suburbs tend to lean more moderate or even conservative in politics and tend not to put up with that stuff as much.

I live in the Seattle suburbs (Eastside) and work in downtown and it's almost like a different world. Beaverton and Lake Oswego especially are fairly affluent areas in the Portland area, so the crime, drugs and homeless are probably much, much less than downtown and the inner city areas.

 

[MStudt]

Is it really that bad? I’ll probably in the Beaverton/Lake Oswego area... my wife is terrible about leaving stuff in her car.

It's no that bad, and it's no different than any other big city. The crime rate in St. Louis where I moved from is significantly higher than Portland, and I never had any issues there. Like any other city, you have areas with more problems than others. There are places I won't leave my 4runner for fear that it might not be there when I get back. But, those are trailheads with no reception, and I'm not looking to walk out from there.

Beaverton
Lake Oswego

Mike

 

[Makakilo925]

I grew up in Portland. If you like rain and overcast skies 70%+ of the year you’ll enjoy it. I left 2.5 years ago, the climate was too cool for me. Watch out for the random tax bills that they continue to “loose track” of the money. I’d suggest staying away from Multnomah county if you have a choice.