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Others have asked the same question now and then.

Oregon is not all one brand of politics, you know. Eugene is very progressive. Many other parts of Oregon are very conservative.

Eugene is a university town. My nephew shares a house with two other students, and pays $1200 for his rent and utilities.

Dohhhh

I definitely want to stay away from the conservative communities. So I have a lot to learn about the area and the outlying towns

I am miles down the road from being a university student, so I am looking for a miracle driven loop-hole type of living situation. There are always possibilities.

Thank you for responding.

but moved to Portland 13 years ago, where I've been ever since.
Yes, those number are correct ... I am ancient.

Back in the late 80s, there was a popular joke about Eugene, that went:
Q: "why do so many hippies move to Eugene?"
A: "because there are no jobs there".

But that was back in the wake of the decline of the timber industry
there; but since then they've attracted diverse kinds of employers, to the point
where it's pretty much fully bounced back. Moreover, recently unemployment
spiked to nearly 14% in the wake of the 2008 recession, but has bounced back
to about 8.5%, which is pretty close to national average.

It is a charming place, but esp. if you like not being able to swing a cat
by the tail without hitting an Old Hippie or two, who despite their arthritis, still
manage to run around in the woods naked & wild every year at the "Country Fair".
http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/

And then there's the Annual Bach Festival, which illustrates how even old
Hippies can also be cultured and refined. http://oregonbachfestival.com/

I work in the non- profit sector of the entertainment industry. Of course I don't expect to find similar work there, but I am also a musician.. so I want to see what I can scare up.

Rents seem a little high though.. so I am sussing it all out. I like the idea of Portland, but would like to not live in a city that large..are there other cities around there like Eugene?

I like Bach.. I also like Thelonious Monk. I am craving rain and an alpine or quasi-alpine environment.


Thanks for the links. All information is great to have

You ask about other city's "like Eugene" ... I do often hear good things about Ashland,
which is way South and way smaller than Eugene; but I've never personally spent much
time there, so can't vouch for much of anything Ashland. Roseburg is also smaller and
way South, and I've heard it has some hippy-friendly charms about it. To me, Eugene
sounds like your best bet, given yours city-size preferences and being something of an
old Hippy yourself.

I also fit squarely into the hippy demographic myself, just so you know. I only talk about
"hippies" in the third person like that when I don't know yet where someone is coming
from. Feels a little like a hang-over from watching Easy Rider too many times.

Have you ever actually been to Eugene and visited? Or just now sort of investigating it
"from a distance" in your contemplation about moving there? or something else? I'm
also a musician, mandolin/melodica and a little keyboard. Lots recorded in home studio,
and busking at the park nearby; but none of my music has been "released". My middle
son is also a musician and works at CD Baby in Portland.

Best of luck to you in making your upcoming changes . I'm excited for you. feel
free to check back in, if any questions occur to you that I might assist with.

Ciao, ~John (aka 99th_Monkey)

Thanks for getting back to me.

I am not really interested in going 'south' either literally or figuratively, not yet anyway.

I visited Eugene a few years ago and I liked it. I have always wanted to live in the NW, but life keeps taking me to the West and the SW and I am tired of the heat and drought and wild fires. I need moisture!! I am a musician. too.. I sing blues and jazz and have done my share of busking.

It's going to be a while.. making the move I mean. It's not easy changing location and starting a new life like this without knowing anyone, although I have done it before....so I'm going to take it slow.

Thanks for your enthusiasm and support. It's really nice to have a vote of confidence from someone 'out there'


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