Thread:

From SoCal/Havi to Portland...

Howdy all...thought I'd drop in and say hi. Please don't hold it against us, but the wife & I just relocated to Beaverton Oregon, from SoCal. Got laid off after 23 years with Siemens...searched for jobs in the great PNW, and I am now working for Providence Hospital at St. Vincent's...2 miles from our house. The wifey poo is still lookin...oh well. Outa the L.A. rat race and lovin Oregon like a cold frosty "Dead Guy"....LOL. Been here 3 months, kinda settled in and comfey, bought me a jeep! Why...cuz I said I would before I left family & friends to carve out a life up here in the trees...we are both very happy. Ordered some new Oregon plates (tree) for the wifey's 4Runner...trying to wash the stench of Cali off us as quick as possible...shouldn't take too long I hope...
But things change and you got to roll with the punches...life's a river, you got to get with the flow, so here we are. And speaking of rivers...HOLY B-JESUS! I'm in love, it's heaven up hear for boaters...damn
The relocation up here was expensive, cost us some serious coin, we sacrificed the toys, but we are here. There will be a new boat in our future...just won't be a 50K hot boat...LOL. But it will be fun and something better suited for the mighty Columbia and overnight camping/fishing etc. Just a "tad" different from boating in Havasu and the AZ desert...we look forward to the change. It's all good rain or shine.
OK, enough jibber-jabber from me...I just had some Moh's surgery today on my head and I'm buzzin on Vicodine and a drop top! Hope to see ya'll on the river soon. Here is a pic from our boat in Havi, and some pic's we took on the Willamette last weekend on one of those monster jet boats rides from OMSI...that was pretty darn fun I must say! We saw 2 Osprey's and their nest, a Bald Eagle eating a fish, lots of bridges, and lots of boaters enjoying the river...we were in love! Hope to see ya out there soon...Robert

Go see Tim at Oregon Custom Marine:
Oregon Custom Marine
www.oregoncustommarine.com

5771 NW Cornelius Pass Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124-9322
(503) 531-9300

He'll hook you up. You'll be surprised when you see the number of performance boaters in the Northwest. Tim's got a sweet F-26 DCB with your name on it.

Welome to the north. A run down the Gorge is a great day trip when you get the time. Hit the Char Burger at Cascade Locks. Good food/staff.

Glad you are liking Portland. There is no place better that the NW when the weather is good in the summer. Please post you impression again in May, when the sun starts to occasionally show up again, or in December/Janurary when the the sun doesn't come up until 8:30 and is back down by 3:30.

I left there a couple of years ago after living in Hillsboro for more than 20 years and lived across the river in Vancouver since 1959. Went back on vacation to visit friends and family for a couple of weeks in July and was reminded of why we left (it was cloudy or raining half the time we were there).

The rain isn't really the issue there. You learn how to dress, how to ignore the rain/snow, how to drink coffee. The issue is the lack of sunlight and the governmental policies. Oregon follows California alot.

With all that said, I do hope you enjoy the PNW. There is a lot to see and do. It does have its good points. (Don't tell people you are from SoCal, really, don't. They will not be impressed. Especially the native Oregonians.)

Thank you "all" for the nice welcome and thoughts. After 7 years in Havasu, and being brought up in SoCal, we are basically "parched"...LOL. Bring on the rain, the gray, the short days of sun...I think we will be fine. We love the rain...haven't seen it for years!!! The long dark days will be strange though.
It's nice to see the performance boating crowd up here...I was beginning to think it was all trick aluminum fishing boats! By the way, I've already seen those DCB's for sale...lets just say "I wish" at this point. I'm so drained of funds I'd probably settle for a 79 Crestliner at this point!
We've been to Chinook, the Locks, and the Hood River in the car. The Columbia looks very awesome and beautiful, intimidating and difficult to navigate at spots.. I can hardly wait.
Labor Day at Mardon Resort...that just has a nice sound about it BrotherWolf...LOL We have so much to learn.
cruzer, I hear you're post...it will be different for sure but I thnik we will be fine. Change is good...and we have had a lot of it lately! It's all good.
Thanks again all...I'll keep an eye on the goings on up here and will score a boat ASAP!

Dogman

Sorry to sound like such a downer about the Portland area. I had a bad week (emergency gallbladder removal) and some other things that haven't gone the way I'd planned here. I may end up going back myself if things don't turn around which would reall bum me out.

The NW is beautiful and has much to offer. There are however concessions that must be made in order to enjoy the beauty.

Let me know what kind of activities you are interested in and I will try to point you in the correct direction.

You WILL have to learn how to play well with Libs. Especially @ St. V's and in Beaverton.