you're going to love a whole lot about your new home.

(although no place is perfect, or a fairy tale - and OR has a few warts of its own, and some history to live down. but South Carolina and Gamecock it ain't!

Hope you work your way down to beautiful Florence some day.

I am not sure if you are a born and raised southerner but the South is always 10 years behind most of the rest of the country,

But I lived there for 24 years, in the same house

NC used to be less than that. We were fairly progressive for a Southern state. After the Klanbagger takeover in 2010 however, we fell behind... and it only seems to get worse.

From what I could tell during the time I lived in SC, it was way more than 10 years behind back then (2002-2005). It doesn’t appear to have gotten better judging by the political news I see coming out of Columbia.

I have one relative waiting to make a similar move to New England.

I was born and raised in Texas to an all-Southern family with roots in Alabama and Georgia. My mother is very liberal, so I learned from an early age the truth about slavery and the Civil War, and have tried, not always with success, to look for the good, progressive things about the South; you know, all three of them.

My parents transplanted us up to the Pacific Northwest, where I have actually lived most of my life now, and don't really miss Texas or the South anymore.

But I predict that there are some things that will always stay with you., I will say "y'all" until the day I die. Adults are Sir or Ma'am, Mister, Missus, or Ms. unless told otherwise, and biscuits and gravy will always be my favorite breakfast. (I don't really have it that often. I'm fifty-four; have to think about my health.)

Enjoy Portland! It's an amazing, quirky, liberal city with a vibrant street culture, and a weird but brainy atmosphere.

even though I'm from the West / Northwest. It's a really useful word.

That’s not going to help get rid of Lindsey Graham.

And it never made any difference. So I don't feel at all guilty

When we left, it became 8.0001 to 1.9999, i.e., it didn't matter one damn bit. In 2020, long after we skedaddled, the county went 85% for Trump. 85 bleeping percent! After all the scandals and impeachments. You just can't fix Jebus and Fux News in one generation. Maybe someday we can go back. But now? Oh fuck no! In short, some places just can't be fixed. They can't be reasoned with. They will not change.

Quirkiness rules and PDX shall rise again!

I hope you’re aware that rural Oregon is filled with MAGA nut jobs, so if you’re looking for a progressive community, stick to Portland/Beaverton or Salem for the most part.

Hope you enjoy your new home!

P.S. If you ride a Portland city bus driven by a handsome thirtysomething young man with shoulder length dirty blond hair, that’s my son!

And as I'm sure you've discovered, Portland wasn't burned to the ground by rioting leftists like Fux News leads its sheep to believe.

Enjoy the town. I use to work for a company with operations there and visited many times in the late 90's / early 2000's. Went back on vacation in 2012. Wonderful place.

Live in NW Washington state. I don't really like telling people I meet about my SC background, they often assume the worst about you. I still have the accent a little, found it can be useful in business. People hear it and think I must be a dumb hillbilly. Before they realize I am not dumb, the deal is done. BTW I am a hillbilly.

and landed in Boston. You'll feel like you've landed on another planet from time to time, give yourself time and allow yourself to grieve over the things you miss. Learning a new place also takes time.

The PNW was on my list when I left Boston, but I chose the high desert, instead.

I would never have left CA to move back to NE FL but dad got cancer and mom needed help, so here I am. The kids live here or I would definitely move back to the left coast.

She is an Alabama girl, I was born and reared in Mississippi. We met in college in Alabama. We were married 57 years ago after we graduated, left the South and have never returned except for the occasional funeral.

Glad to hear that you escaped.

Be careful where you settle. We settled in Virginia, but wound up in an area that voted 70% for Trump and we are surrounded by MAGAts. I'm something of an asshole so I enjoy tweaking my MAGAt neighbors, just to see them froth at the mouth.

Enjoy your new home with like-minded friends on the left coast.

Is Oregon more or less expensive than SC? More or less crime? More or less opportunities?
m

will still take some southerner with you. Best of luck!

Welcome to the Left Coast!

I moved from my home state of Texas in 1988 (when I was 31) and have NEVER looked back! I LOVE Southern California SO much. In fact, I'm still in awe of the beautiful beaches, mountains, and people.

I realize some folks who've come out here with hopes and dreams of show biz, music, etc. have had some bad experiences and some say negative things about it here. I'm not in show biz (although I write on the side but haven't completed anything to submit). My personal experiences have been wonderful. I can't imagine living my life anywhere else!

I went to Oregon and Washington State for the first time in 2021. I've ALWAYS had a really strong connection to the Pacific Northwest. I fell in love.

I'm in Tx. right now working for/with a friend who has her own small business. I'm a teacher and there's no work in the summer when the kids are out. I need to have a reveue strea. I'm very much enjoying the work we're doing and my friend is progressive and has some liberal friends who are great. She also has some Christian Republican friends who know that when we're around each other no one brings up religion or politics...

I wish you all the best as you've relocated to Oregon!

But life has been slightly busy and complicated here for a few years while
my wife recovers slowly from a deep illness.

Anyway, we live near the edge of the SW Portland metro boundary,
near the Tualatin river. We have been and out of the metro area for
more than 35 years, arriving shortly after we were married, looking
for a quieter, more peaceful life than the place we were living.

My wife's Father was born in a fairly poor and large family in
North Carolina 100 years ago, and he lied to the Marine recruiter
about his age (16) to join up and see the world. He saw things about
the world that he refused to discuss, but his choice to join eventally
led to his being in charge of logistics at Camp Pendleton (Calif), and working
with many starry-eyed recruits who had left similarly bad situations to his.

He particularly liked working with the black guys, who he called some of
his best and most loyal workers. His old friends and family probably wouldn't
have approved of statements like that, but they were no longer his friends,
and he mostly lost touch with his family and wouldn't really say much about
them either. So new beginnings are often good and positive things, and after
a few bumps and adjustments, allow us to settle into a new and often better
life than we would have ever had available if we had just stayed where we were.

You are welcome to reach out sometime if you have questions about the area,
the neighborhoods or just need ideas about how to get something done.

We don't really go out much these days because my wife is still a little immune
compromized, but her condition continues improving nicely around 4.5 years
after two weeks in the hospital where the doctors didn't expect her survival.

We hope to be out and around a bit more by next year and possibly will do some
RV camping next year. This winter we plan to go into deep hibernation for the
long but pleasant winters this area is known for.

Best of luck to you in your new home!