I want to move to the Pacific Northwest

[Lizanne440]

I grew up here in Southern CA and there's no way I want to stay here after I graduate. I'd love to live in Washington, Oregon or Northern CA, and I've been researching jobs/schools/apartments for awhile now. It costs approx.$600 for a room in Orange County, and a 1 bedroom apt. in any of those other areas can be as cheap as $500! At least that's what I've come across online. I cannot wait to move, but I'm nervous about going by myself. I have a friend that might go with me, but that's tentative. I really think it's what I need to do, though. I'm 25 and I've always lived in the same house. There's no way I can afford rent down here. My #1 fear is that I'll have to move back home. I knew from a young age that I wouldn't move out until I knew for sure, that I could afford it and never have to come back. Well, I guess it's not that bad, but I'd rather not.

[and1grad]

The only places on your list that I've been to are Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle. I can vouch for Sac being a cool place as I've lived here for over 5 years but its not LA. There really isnt anyplace on the west coast thats like So Cal so know what you're giving up by leaving. The closest is the Bay Area. Anyway, I thought Seattle was a disappointment and Portland was a fantastic city. Personally, I'd choose Portland as being head and shoulders above the rest.

[emmyb]

Portland! Portland!

I would LOVE to move there and one day I just might. Awesome place!

[arrow]

I love Seattle. I spent a summer there one year and now my brother lives there, and it's an absolutely wonderful city. I've considered moving there myself, if only I could convince the boyfriend to come too. However, the COL in Seattle is exploding, and its housing market is rising while everywhere else it is falling. Even so, surrounding areas are still cheap and awesome. Good luck and have fun. I doubt you'd have to move back home.

[and1grad]

I love Seattle. I spent a summer there one year and now my brother lives there, and it's an absolutely wonderful city. I've considered moving there myself, if only I could convince the boyfriend to come too. However, the COL in Seattle is exploding, and its housing market is rising while everywhere else it is falling. Even so, surrounding areas are still cheap and awesome. Good luck and have fun. I doubt you'd have to move back home.
But isnt it pretty much miserable there thru the rest of the year? The weather was the reason I'm not a big fan of it.

[SmilesSoSweet]

My sister moved from San Diego to Portland back in 2003. She loves it up there. I've been there a couple of times and it's a beautiful city.

The Bay Area is really, really expensive. I have a cousin that moved there from Washington, DC and if it weren't for already owning property in DC she wouldn't be able to afford to live in the Bay Area. She sold her condo in DC and was able have the equity off of that to live off of for a bit.

Whichever city you decide to move to, make sure you know all the pros and cons of each one.

I moved from Orange County to Phoenix in 2005. My rent in OC was over $700 for half the rent of an apartment with a roommate. My rent here is still less that that and I live by myself.

[arrow]

But isnt it pretty much miserable there thru the rest of the year? The weather was the reason I'm not a big fan of it.

It's not as bad as all that, really. Since you live in CA you may have a different opinion, but where I come from (MI), Seattle is far less extreme.

[and1grad]

It's not as bad as all that, really. Since you live in CA you may have a different opinion, but where I come from (MI), Seattle is far less extreme.
Good point.

[Irish79]

I'm from Oregon, so I'm probably biased - but I think you'd love Portland! It's close to the mountains and the coast, and it has a great Saturday Market. The only downfall is the traffic - the roads there have not grown at the same rate as the population, so it can be a real pain driving at rush hour... although being from S.Cal you may think it's nothing. :)

[shorty]

I live near Portland. It's okay. I've heard Portland's housing isn't really cheap though. It is cheaper than some other places though. I live across the river (in Washington) so I get cheaper housing and it's still close enough to drive to Portland for tax-free shopping.

Seattle's housing prices are horrible though. I was LUCKY to get a studio for $500 (and it was TINY).

The weather isn't too bad here either. Yeah, it's gray and drizzly a lot in the winter. But the summers are great.

[Fleagle]

I'm going to be visiting Portland and Seattle next month for a week. Any suggestions on what to do? I have some ideas.

[Kitty]

I live in the Bay Area and love it.

[Lizanne440]

I knew since I was a little girl that I wanted to live in a rainy climate as an adult. I loverain and dark, gloomy weather. Down here in So. CA, I get way too much sun. I hate the heat and can't wait to move to a rainy place. That's one of the main reasons I want to move. I have some friends up in Oregon and Washington and I want to follow them up there. I will have a bachelor's in psychology, but I don't know if that'd even help me out up there. And I do want to get my teaching credential eventually, but I know you need to be a resident of the state for a certain number of years so I'm assuming I'll have to wait a couple of years for that. Plus, I like the guys up there better than down here in the stupid "OC". The fakeness of OC is what is making me want out, NOW!

[and1grad]

I think you'd probably love Seattle then. I have a friend thats from there and lives in So Cal now and she cant wait to get a chance to move back for that very same reason.

[Samwell]

But isnt it pretty much miserable there thru the rest of the year? The weather was the reason I'm not a big fan of it.

That's just what we want you to think...

[vivo]

I knew since I was a little girl that I wanted to live in a rainy climate as an adult. I loverain and dark, gloomy weather. Down here in So. CA, I get way too much sun. I hate the heat and can't wait to move to a rainy place. That's one of the main reasons I want to move. I have some friends up in Oregon and Washington and I want to follow them up there. I will have a bachelor's in psychology, but I don't know if that'd even help me out up there. And I do want to get my teaching credential eventually, but I know you need to be a resident of the state for a certain number of years so I'm assuming I'll have to wait a couple of years for that. Plus, I like the guys up there better than down here in the stupid "OC". The fakeness of OC is what is making me want out, NOW!

haha i'm from central maryland southwest of baltimore and lived in the baltimore area and went to school in the dc area in md. just moved down to the oc because family is here. if it weren't for them I wouldn't be here. the pac nw portland and seattle seem cool but never been there. the col is i think a little lower than dc. i believe the annual amt of rainfall in seattle is 37 or 38 inches which is less than where I am from in md but for some reason it seems like more.

[Lizanne440]

For Southern CA, this was our driest year on record (since they started taking records in the late 1890's)! I think we got like 2 inches of rain, if that.

[Lizanne440]

What's up with people in Oregon complaining about Californians? I've always lived in OC (not by choice) and yeah, I hate that people are constantly moving here but I really don't care since I wanna leave. And Oregon residents move down here to CA all the time. What's with the territorial issues? I don't judge a person by where they're from. That, in some cases, can be a terrible indicator of the person they are. I was born in raised in OC but I am definitely do not fit the steretype for this place. I'm anti-OC. But, I think the real factor in the population boom is housing. It costs $700/month for a room down here, and what, about 700 for a one-bedroom apt. up there?

[and1grad]

People in Oregon complain about Californians?

[embrassezla]

I'm mad jealous that my SO is in Seattle this week for work. I want to visit that area SO bad. Someone should arrange a QLC meetup out that way :)

[Irish79]

People in Oregon complain about Californians?

Yep, being a native Oregonian, we do in fact complain about Californians - and half of my family lives in Sacramento so it's kind of a joke with them.:) I think it's the same in a lot of places where people feel that their way of life is threatened by population growth. For example, when I was in Montana years ago, there were cars with bumper stickers saying "welcome to Montana, now go home!" Maybe it's that Oregon and Montana are known for being more rural, where people value nature and the great outdoors... and Californians have a bit of a different stereotype associated with them...

not to mention that Californians are terrible drivers! :D