Consider, too, the coastal area between Malibu and Ventura. It's real estate values are much lower than those in Malibu. It is still largely undeveloped and thus uncrowded yet only thirty to forty-five minutes from what is arguably the world's most important metropolitan area. I myself have explored the possibility of relocating to that very spot. But were I to do so, I would have a commute of at least three hours per day
Good luck.

 

PaS2K: I've done 4 loops into Oregon. One time on US 395 in eastern OR on a motorcycle. Once you get past the lake country area close to CA border, you are into pastoral emptiness. We considered taking US 20 out of Burns toward Brothers/Sisters/Bend/Redmond but went South via US 95 back toward Lake Tahoe instead. These are not places to break down on a motorcycle! Mostly, we did not go via Bend because our return would have via Crater Lake and we've been there before. Thus, I'm no help on that one. Another time we went North from Redding, CA on I-5 via Medford to Crater Lake NP. That NP is certainly worth visiting. Our appreciation of the Rogue River was limited to side-of-the-road stops along the way. I really only remember scenic river banks and white water, with no knowledge of specific places to stop and appreciate. A third trip was along the coast on US 101 out of Eureka, CA with a destination of Eugene, OR. There are few towns and lots of trees and rugged coast line along the way. The coast line reminds me somewhat of the Olympic Peninsula coast road in WA. Quite scenic and rugged and empty. Coos Bay and the dunes area north of North Bend are worthwhile diversions. Eugene is kind of like advertised. It's clean and college town like with an outdoorish atmoshere. In some ways it's not unlike Charlottesville, VA in attitude and flavor. +1 and I enjoyed the visit, but it's a bit too busy for me and too far away from family. My last loop was a trip from Seattle to Vancouver, WA to visit a retired military friend and with a side visit into Portland, OR. It was OK for me, but I was more interested in Mt. St. Helens at the time. Got the T-shirt and got the post card and probably won't go back. The weather was favorable because of planning, but there was a lot of cloudiness in southern and coastal OR. That's about all I got. I'd have to say I like what I've seen of OR, because I'm a sucker for open spaces and scenery.

 

I had a friend (and mentor) who moved to Ashland when his docs told him that the high altitude of the Colorado San Juans wasn't providing him with enough oxygen. They chose Ashland for its location and the fact that it's a small college town, relatively quiet yet sophisticated. I've been through it (on a trip to Crater Lake), and it looked like a good possibility to me. HPH

 

Boomvang: I lived for several years in Tacoma, WA. I've visited Seattle many, many times. My daughter went to college in Bellingham and the along with her husband later finsihed at Univ of Wash. I truly love the area and the entire state west of the Rockies. It is lush and green and the weather is much better than often advertised. The late Fall and Winter is cloudy and rainy but not freezing and cold. Weather reminds me of southern Germany in the winter. If you crave the outdoors, WA has a lot to offer. The Seattle area is very traffic intense. Cultural diversions abound and one kind of gets the feeling that the people who live there really would not want to be anywhere else. I used to spend a lot of weekends at Pike's Market and along Puget Sound. This is a very avid sailing area, and you can sail year-round. Fishing is exceptional by any standard. People here love the outdoors and you get the feeling people are always on the move. I'm sure there are plenty of elderly people in Seattle, but they seem to better blend into the shuffle of outdoor vigor and trendy youth and yuppy. In some ways, it reminds me of the Skandinavian capitols where people love the outdoors, walk a lot and seem to get dressed up to shop, eat in restaurants, and be seen. Frankly, I planned to move back there in the 70s and start a business and plant roots. It still remains one of my favorite places, though the scattering of my family all over this country made it too difficult to be that far away. My daughter had a horse farm near Senomish(sp), but moved her operation to TX when her husband got a job offer that could not be refused. They still vacation there every year, call it home, and hope some day to go back. I'm not much for Florida like let's-share-near-death, good weather retirement communities. I think being around vibrant people on the go and enjoying the outdoors also keeps one feeling and thinking young. Seattle is not cheap, but many of the outlying small towns are affordable. Again, don't get caught up by the weather; these people gear up and go. Another observation was the cars. This is not a hotbed for what Detroit has to offer. I give it a 9 out of 10 on an all around basis.
I don't know which Vancouver you meant. Vancouver, WA is clean, orderly and laid back. Very nice but not inspiring for me. You can get into some very scenic countryside very quickly. If I wanted to lose my identity, I could hide out there. Portland, OR is across the river and has a lot to offer - if you like urban life. Vancouver, BC is a cosmopolitan, international flavor fun city to visit. I really like the waterfront area and the endless international cousine and nightlife bussle. The oriental flavor of the city is distinct. Stay a weekend then head for Banff or Victoria. That's all I got. Do yourself a favor and visit the Seattle area in the late summer before you make a decision. Family always is an issue, but what's the difference between an 8 hour flight and an 8 hour drive? Good hunting.

 

I bet you mean "west of the Cascades".

I've looked long and hard at eastern WA (Tri-Cities area) and it's now off my list. HPH

 

DrCoud: That's a Roger on the first and a Concur on the other. Thanks.

 

[QUOTE=RC - Ryder,Dec 22 2005, 11:37 AM] Boomvang:

 

The San Juans bear looking into. I believe access is by ferry only?

 

Live in an area where most of the people are local or have been here a good number of years. Recently with the addition of the Honda plants there are people moving in from various parts of north and south. Acceptance for us has been good. My son will never leave the Auburn area. He went to school there and has made that his home. I think some of the horror stories are from the ones who come in with an attitude about the south.

 

I've lived in the Seattle area since '88. I lived in Los Angeles for fifteen years before that and grew up on the Mojave desert.

It took some time to get used to the constant gray skies of winter here. There are still times they are too much . . . but then summer rolls around and I'm in heaven. WA state has three national parks, loads of national forest and water everywhere. I like the great out of doors. I head a 1/2 hour west and I'm in the city, a 1/2 hour east and the dog and I are roaming through the woods. After living in L.A., Seattle doesn't seem like a large city to me.

The San Juans are beautiful, but island living wouldn't be for me. The ferry lines are way too long in the summer. Whidbey has access by road to the north though. So far, if I had my choice, I believe I would plop down near Sequim or Port Angeles. There is a bit of a rain shadow cast by the Olympics there.

I also love the high desert and would consider Bend, OR and that area. Temperatures are more extreme than here but the outdoor lifestyle is similar to Seattle.

I've actually started to research what the logistics of moving to the Sunshine Coast in B.C. would be. It's a beautiful area, but again, you're held prisoner by a couple of ferry rides.

Then if things go bad personally for me, there's always my roots in the desert and that single wide with the tires on the roof to keep the desert wind from peeling it like a tin can.