Thinking of moving to Portland - Democratic Underground

Book Lover

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Sep-07-09 08:29 PM
Original message

Thinking of moving to Portland

I currently live just south of San Francisco, and for several reasons am thinking of moving up to the Portland area. Any advice? I am an artist and print publishing professional, though I'll take any kind of work I can get that supports me and two others. Thanks!

Refresh | 0 Recommendations

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

ClearPresentDanger

(139 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Sep-07-09 09:18 PM
Response to Original message

1. Really high unemployment

Only publishers I know of are Dark Horse Comics and Wizards of the Coast (are they even still around?). Stan Vinton studios did the movie "Coraline".

State aid has got to be better than CA by now, but you have to be a resident for a year.

Try craigslist portland or wweek.com.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Book Lover

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Sep-08-09 11:47 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. Thanks for your reply

I checked craigslist before I posted here - I was looking for some context to put that info into. wweek.com is great - thanks for the link!

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

ClearPresentDanger

(139 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Sep-09-09 10:21 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. just noticed your nick was 'book lover'

Powells is supposedly the largest independent bookstore in the country (It's a city block). Very trendy bohemian twentysomething atmosphere.

http://powells.com/

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Book Lover

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Sep-12-09 07:39 PM
Response to Reply #3

8. Yes, I do need to go there someday anyway

No matter what, I am hoping to make a fact-finding trip in the spring, and Powell's is definitely on the itinerary.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Quantess

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Sep-10-09 12:08 AM
Response to Original message

4. I understand the attraction.

However, right now might not be a good time to move to anywhere in Oregon, because the unemployment is super high. The only jobs available are low paid ones, and people are fighting over those.

Washington might be a better choice, because their job outlook is better.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Book Lover

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Sep-12-09 07:36 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. Thanks for the info

My first thoughts have been to Portland because of the arts scene - I have had work shown there, and whenever I post to the craigslist artist section with a blog update, Portland is consistently the palce where I get most hits from...

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Trajan

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Sep-11-09 10:37 PM
Response to Original message

5. I shouldn't be surprised when I see NWers discourage movement to the NW

I see/hear it all the time ... Yet I came anyways, and I love it here ....

FYI: I did have a job here before I moved here ...

Good Luck ....

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Book Lover

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Sep-12-09 07:38 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. Thanks

And to be honest, I discourage people from moving here to the SF Bay Area - lol. Nobody wats anyone else culttering up the place, eh?

I would have to have a job before moving anyway, just my personal situation...

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Jeramy

(26 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Sep-15-09 08:38 PM
Response to Original message

9. Portland Rocks

I love Portland and plan to move back there when I get out of the Navy. As far as the unemployment goes, I think it is a symptom of a phenomenom Chuck Palahnuik talked about in his book Fugatives and Refugees a guide book to Portland Oregon (If you plan on moving to Portland you should check it out) "Everyone looking to make a new life migrates west, across america to the pacific ocean. Once there the cheapest city where they can live is portland. This gives us the most cracked of the crackpots. the misfits among misfits."

Pretty much describes Portland perfectly.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Book Lover

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Sep-18-09 12:18 PM
Response to Reply #9

10. I sure did

I left New York City to come to San Francisco before the dotcon happened. I guess the only place left to go (if I don't go overseas to teach English) is north!

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Arugula Latte

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Sep-22-09 05:18 PM
Response to Original message

11. I grew up in the Bay Area (East Bay) and live in Portland now.

I lived in Walnut Creek, Berkeley and San Francisco.

We came to Portland in '95 (although we moved from Wash. DC, not Bay Area). They were practically giving away houses then ;). We love it. The people are great. It's very eco-oriented, artsy, great food scene, wonderful old houses, close to nature.

Yes it often rains and is gray, but every place has some down side, in my experience.

I wonder if you can get some work that's not necessarily based in Portland if you have a hard time finding work here. I work a New York-based company, for example. Technology and e-mail and cyberspace are wonderful things!

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Book Lover

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Oct-06-09 01:54 PM
Response to Reply #11

14. Well, if you know the Bay Area...

I live in Pacifica, so cloudy and chilly days are no surprise to me! I've had a few pieces in small art shows in Portland, and the good folks who peruse the artists section of Portland craigslist click through my ads to my blog frequently, so I feel like I've got a (small and not job related) in in the culture there.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

OregonBlue

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Oct-02-09 11:12 AM
Response to Original message

12. Economy is not good here but then again, it costs much less to live in Portland than San Francisco.

I returned to Oregon but decided to live in rural Oregon and start my own import company. If you get out of the city it can be really, really cheap to live here.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Book Lover

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Oct-06-09 01:52 PM
Response to Reply #12

13. I keep looking at 5 acre parcels

I'm a book and paper artist and I'm sure I can make papermaking, selling my artwork (I sell linocuts and other stuff by subscription), and hosting artist retreats work financially, as long as the cost of living is low. First, I have to pay off my current debt, though. My credit score is low and so I can't imagine I could swing a loan, even a small one for acreage only, solo at this time.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to do what you;ve done?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

lastone

(87 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Oct-23-09 08:36 PM
Response to Original message

15. oregon vs sf

I've lived in sf (San Carlos) and while there is much to do it doesn't compare to PDX as far as livability. PDX is a very "user-friendly" city and although long time locals complain about the traffic it is such an old town that there are alt routes everywhere. Best advise would be to have some form of income before making the move, as already advised craigslist and wweek are good starters then plan a trip up and check it out before taking the plunge - i think amtrack has a reasonable fare between sfo and pdx.
good luck

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

BadGimp

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Oct-26-09 12:53 AM
Response to Original message

16. LUV me some Portland

Moved up myself in late 07, just bought my first house (closing tomorrow)

One of the most liveable cities in the nation

The economy is no where near as robust as N Cal however

Good Luck!

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Wed May 01st 2024, 04:53 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.