r/Eugene • u/TheThirteenthCylon • May 11 '22
Eugene is amazing! Moving
My husband and I, a gay couple, are downsizing and moving from ultra-conservative Colorado Springs to Eugene this Summer. We're under contract on a condo in the Cal Young area, and we came out week before last with some friends, who are also considering a move, to visit. We instantly fell in love. Here are some highlights/observations:
- Every single person was friendly, and not the fake kind of friendly.
- Everything is green. Yeah, literally everyone has warned us about the rain and has told us we'd hate it, but it's not a turnoff; it's the price for all that green. In our experience, pretty much every state has maybe six months of not-so-great weather, from humidity (Alabama), to wind (Colorado), to snow and ice and long winters (again, Colorado), to insane heat (Phoenix). You're gonna have to pick your poison.
- Compared to Colorado, the roads are amazing, and traffic flows nicely. We observed only one instance of an impatient, rude driver.
- One of our friends remarked that, compared to Phoenix, y'all are practically giving away your weed.
- We observed homelessness, but it's everywhere. Some ascribe it to liberalism gone to its extreme, but we even have the problem here in Colorado Springs -- by some estimates either the first or fourth most conservative city in the nation. Homelessness is more of a housing issue than a political issue.
- Hendricks Park was spectacular! I've never seen rhododendron blossoms so large in my life.
- We were surprised to stumble upon a few giant sequoias while exploring the city. We weren't expecting that.
- The Saturday Market was pretty cool.
- Eugene has some parts that feel almost urban, some parts that are definitely suburban, and some parts that feel kind of like a small town Main Street. It's a nice mix that has much to offer.
- The city is perfectly situated. It's less than two hours from Portland, just over an hour from the beach, and just over an hour from McKenzie Pass and the Pacific Crest Trail. I actually drove as far as I could to the pass, but of course it's currently gated off due to snow (and in fact it WAS snowing). Amazing that you could theoretically swim in the (cold) ocean and hike along the PCT all on the same day!
Clearly, we had a great time, and we're looking to explore more once we officially move. Thanks for your kindness and hospitality, Eugene!
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u/gorgeous_wolf May 11 '22
it's the price for all that green. In our experience, pretty much every state has maybe six months of not-so-great weather,
Preach! Nothing wrong with the rain; we need it! I'd much rather have the friendly Oregon rains than droughts, forest fires, and low reservoirs. And I'd much rather have the rain than the oppressive humidity, hurricanes, and tornados of the midwest and east coast.
Maybe I'm a weirdo because I was born and raised in Oregon, but I missed the rain when I lived elsewhere.
Eugene has systemic problems and needs help, but your list is refreshing nevertheless.
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u/DodGamnBunofaSitch May 11 '22
Maybe I'm a weirdo because I was born and raised in Oregon, but I missed the rain when I lived elsewhere.
I grew up in eugene, and when I visited arizona, I ended up begging my friends to take me to a body of water.. the friend that brought me there took me to see a tiny trickle of water over rocks that he called 'a creek'. I've seen deeper puddles.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
Former Phoenician here. Sounds about right.
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u/DodGamnBunofaSitch May 11 '22
about a week later, I met some tourists who brought me to what can only be described as a natural water slide park. woulda been a great day if I didn't drop my sunglasses down the hole in an outhouse.
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u/oregonchick May 11 '22
For a couple of years, I lived in Montana in what's probably high desert (more like the climate in Bend) and was almost furiously grumpy by mid-January. I realized that the constant sunlight was irritating me; I missed gray, overcast days that I associate with "real winter." LOL
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u/Peter_Panarchy May 11 '22
Maybe I'm a weirdo because I was born and raised in Oregon, but I missed the rain when I lived elsewhere.
Summer months notwithstanding, I feel weird when we go more than a couple weeks without rain. Just isn't right.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
Eugene has systemic problems
What are some of them, in your estimation? I'd like to be aware of the problems and not exacerbate them (aside from the dearth/cost of housing -- that's happening nationwide).
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u/belaxi May 11 '22
It’s largely homelessness and housing. Poorer parts of town have widespread substance dependence problems.
Pretty much the same problems every other city has but sometimes it feels like we’re just a big town experiencing small city problems.
Worth noting that the cal young area is probably the most suburban area of town and has, also has no distinct culture.
The Whittaker neighborhood on the other hand is denitrified, but still relatively poor and absolutely full of culture.
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u/gorgeous_wolf May 12 '22 edited May 12 '22
My take? The city has an incredibly ineffective leadership team/structure. While the faces may change, the overall approach has been: "Try to please everyone and make everyone really angry instead - all while doing nothing."
The main problems are traffic and public transportation, which are intertwined, and housing.
There are solutions to these problems, multiple solutions: housing is the easiest to tackle. Gray-haired NIMBY types really just need to be ignored completely, because they created most of the problems and their approach is "maintain the status quo at all costs until I die." That doesn't really work anymore. There's a general feeling that it's an all-around good thing to protest - protest anything. Be an activist! Protest against everything! EVERYTHING! It's exhausting and idiotic, and it's really just masturbatory, self-centered activity much of the time here when applied to local issues. This cynical view, which I believe is a fair one, is not intended to extend to people protesting Roe-vs-Wade stuff (or anything non-local) - please continue that!
Eugene needs a leadership team that de-politicizes all of this and pushes through the best solutions (urban high-density infill for housing, multilevel buildings with commercial 1st floors and residential upper floors, allowing duplex/triplex housing in zones traditionally reserved for single family homes - capped at 10-15% or so). They also need to do this without relying on developers who demand tax breaks and then never complete work. Developers, both local and out-of-town, have been a plague. They are parasites, really, a net drain on all of us with their commercial version of house flipping. It's one thing if a project doesn't net out and just isn't worth it; it's another thing if a developer is demanding tax breaks so they can have a 3 year ROI and then they cut so many corners they're not even building the same project anymore (see: the downtown pit, and many other similar examples). I'm not suggesting the city issue bonds to build housing itself; it just needs to stop kowtowing to developers - a 5 year ROI is ok, fellas. Someone will build it.
Public transport is weird too. If you drive up river road you see people protesting EMX expansion. Why? I think mostly they just really like to protest and they really hate change. Public transport could be really well run here, but it's constantly being handicapped by people who have absolutely no business being involved. They can't even coherently explain why they want to stop EMX - their main concern seems to be they weren't consulted during planning (?!?!?).
Then there's homelessness, which isn't a Eugene-specific issue, but has gotten far worse in the last decade. The two immediate things that need to be done is to prohibit panhandling and camping on easements/city/state property within the city. The tiny-home settlements are a fantastic thing and I hope they continue, as long as they are well-maintained. If they turn into trash-ridden bogs, then they're just another problem.
If you back up a big step back, Eugene wants to be this uber-tolerant city where everyone is treated well. That's awesome, and I hope it ends up that way. But you can't get there this way - the current approach is completely feckless. The city leadership needs to treat this very differently - this isn't about feelings, nor is it even really about people. This is about buildings and roads and sewers. It needs to be run like a business where the KPI isn't profit, but instead happiness, safety, and efficiency.
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u/Useful-psychrn-6540 May 11 '22
Welcome!!! You can wear jeans or shorts to any restaurant or show here no matter how fancy. It is the best. People from bigger cities or back east tend to be shocked by our dress code, or lack of one. Enjoy being comfortable everywhere.
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u/expressivewords May 12 '22
My husband and I call it “Oregon Formal” - flannel, nice jeans, and clean Nikes will get you into the nicer restaurants in Portland no problem 😂
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
Sounds similar to Colorado Springs wear -- flannel, a Subie, and a golden.
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u/mrsclausemenopause May 13 '22
Blue jeans a shirt and blazer will often get me "nice suit" compliments or people asking me where I'm going/what I'm doing dressed so nice. It honestly gets annoying how many people will point out how much you don't fit in around here when you do as little as throw on a blazer.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
This was our experience with both Arizona and Colorado, as well, so we apparently don't need to freshen up our wardrobes. Thanks!
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May 12 '22
That being said the ath-leisure wear is held to a stronger judgement standard than normal clothes are so the question is - What’s worse? Getting judged for wearing sweatpants to brunch or wearing the wrong sweatpants to brunch. It’s a tossup
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u/Earthventures May 11 '22
You understand this town better than a lot of the commenters that will inevitably grace you with their version of things.
Regarding the weather, I grew up in a cold dry climate and I have lived in Boulder. I used to hate the idea of living in "The Valley" as we called it, but I love it now. One big perk - very few incessantly cold, windy days. Not much wind at all compared to the high country.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
You understand this town better than a lot of the commenters that will inevitably grace you with their version of things.
It's already started, below! :-P Thank you!
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u/headstar101 May 11 '22
You understand this town better than a lot of the commenters that will inevitably grace you with their version of things.
I think the routine of every day makes one myopic and you only see what you want to see because we take our immediate environment for granted.
Just my 2¢ on an interesting comment.
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May 11 '22
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
Thank you! Any hangouts or meetups you'd recommend to meet others in the community? We're not clubbers, but we did see one gay bar.
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u/Eugenonymous May 12 '22 edited May 12 '22
When you get here you'll find it a pretty friendly scene...
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u/dezzit May 11 '22
Aw this makes me so happy to hear! I grew up here and think it’s amazing to have the ocean and mountains so close! Portland and Seattle aren’t too bad about of a drive either. I really hope you guys like it and find some great people as well.
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u/Earthshoe12 May 11 '22
Been here 6 years and I like to say we’ve got three seasons: rain, smoke, and perfect.
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u/NotBadAndYou May 11 '22
You forgot one: pollen
That being said, with all the rain we've been getting this year I'm hopeful that fire season will be minimal this summer. We're currently at 184% of normal snow-pack for this time of year in the Willamette river basin! https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/data/water/wcs/gis/maps/or_swepctnormal_update.pdf
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u/popjunky May 12 '22
The smoke is very, very recent. I wouldn’t count it as a season until it’s happened 5 or more years of the last decade. Just like the 2 weeks of snow are more recent. Until 2010, it was 2 days in a given year, if any at all.
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May 11 '22 edited May 11 '22
Be sure to go to the Oregon Country Fair. It will blow your mind. https://www.oregoncountryfair.org/tickets/
Be sure to preview the entertainment and figure out what you want to check out. It’s probably unlike anything you’ve ever been to. I highly recommend the Royal Family Decarnivoux vaudeville play - it’s always very entertaining. The events/entertainment schedule should be posted soon.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
It's in July, so we should be good. This is great to know. Thank you!
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u/ayam_goreng_kalasan May 12 '22
There's also World Athletic Championship on July, and it will bring crazy traffic around the campus, so be prepared.
The city will open their new Riverfront park during that event too, and it will be 10 days festival, worth checking out.
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u/pendoll May 11 '22
Thank you for seeking and finding, & recognizing the gem that we have in Eugene. Welcome! I have lived in Willamette valley for almost my entire life with a scattering of 2-3 years here and there in AK, ID, CA, and AZ. The green and mostly temperate climate is what keeps me coming back. Also as you say, the locality of Eugene to the ocean and the McKenzie Pass we can theoretically snow ski and surf in the same day. (And the "big city" a 2hr car or bus trip away.) The surrounding green and lush beauty of water and trees that have been a safe haven and nourished my soul since childhood will keep me here forever now.
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u/queen-of-quartz May 11 '22
Welcome! I love Eugene! I’ve been here two years from FL and let me tell you some downsides that I’ve noticed now that I actually live here, to balance out all the (well-deserved!) positivity in other comments:
people actually aren’t all nice. People here are passive aggressive and fake nice. If you’re used to people being straight up where you’re from, it can take a little adjusting.
if you had a big foodie scene where you’re from the food is just not the best here. It’s not bad, but nothing amazing. Obviously I haven’t been everywhere but that’s my impression.
customer service is terrible: businesses have weird hours like for example I needed to run to Best Buy this morning and they don’t open until 11, that’s unheard of where I’m from. Official government offices and such tend to take three day weekends so don’t try and go on a Monday or Friday half the time…basically everyone runs on stoner time here and it’s best practice to call a place before you waste your gas getting there because I’ve showed up to way to many places that were closed during what I’m used to as normal business hours. And don’t expect anyone to say thank you, because they won’t lol.
do you like camping and hiking? Because everyone else does too! I was the weirdo in FL hiking and the trails were always empty. Now you will encounter many people because most who live here enjoy the hobby. You gotta fight for your campground if it’s at a popular spot during the season. So an activity that may have been more secluded where your from, might not be so secluded here until you go exploring and find your own spots. This is a negative for me because I prefer to be alone but if you don’t mind people it’s not a big deal.
petty crime is high here. People aren’t really shot and murdered all the time here like where I’m from, there’s not really violent crime but there IS a lot of petty theft. My BIL had his catalytic converter stolen out of his Prius, I’ve had people trespassing and taking stuff out of my yard multiple times, and people do smash and grabs out of cars all the time. If you like to bicycle, Eugene has the highest rate of bike theft in the country - invest in a really good lock. Porch pirates are also super common - figure out a secure place for your packages to be delivered.
most importantly, are you not white? OR was a state founded on white supremacy. Confederate soldiers were given land here after the civil war and their great great grandkids are still living and here and still racist. Outside of Eugene and within too there are literal nazis, racists, good ol boys, etc. I bought my house from someone here literally named ROBERT E LEE (first name Robert middle name E Lee lmao). The first thing we did when we moved in was destroy their confederate flag that they left. My husband is brown and has gotten a lot of stares around here, and has received different service compared to me (I’m white). In addition to that, OR is one of the least diverse states, it’s 90% white. If you’re used to diversity, it can be a big shock. This is actually the only thing I miss about FL - everyone looks the same here and it’s boring for one and contributes to casual racism more importantly.
Aaaand those are my gripes! Trust me, my list of things that were annoying and sucked about Florida is at least 3 times that list if not more. I think Lane county is a great place to be especially for people who are a bit alternative. Eugene embraces weirdness and I love that. These are just a few things that I either wish people told me or that I knew about abstractly but it’s a bit different to experience it. Either way, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the US. Welcome!
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u/DrLeePhDMd May 12 '22
I have to disagree that people are rude. I’ve lived in Texas, I’ve lived in North Carolina. People here are genuinely nice and friendly. I’ve been here 12 years and it’s seriously the best. I love it.
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u/megmatthews20 May 12 '22
Was gonna say, if you live in Eugene, do NOT keep your bikes outside. It's a rite of passage to have them stolen here. That being said, it's absolutely my favorite place I've ever lived and I'm jealous that you get to move there!
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u/erika1972 May 12 '22
If you’re going to listen to just one comment on this thread, this is the one. Keep your bike inside. No, really.
(Welcome to Eugene. I agree, it’s awesome here.)
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u/myquealer May 12 '22
Of the 8 Best Buys in Miami, most open at 11 every day, some open at 10 some days and 11 other days. Dunno where in Florida you're from, but it seemed like if any Best Buy opened early it would be a big city store. But you're right, it seems lots of places here seem to have more limited hours than elsewhere. I tend to think big chains would be less impacted by that.
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u/B__Kellogg May 12 '22
Wanted to reply as I've lived here a little over 6 years now and you are pretty much spot on with your points. The 'fake nice' mentality took a bit to realize post moving here, but coming from the mid-west where, I dunno, people are just overly friendly in general, the fakeness here can be pretty discouraging.
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May 14 '22
Thank you for this post. I get the amazing positives of living here but there are perspectives others completely ignore and it's not a eutopia for us all.
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u/clarity6406 May 11 '22
Make sure to check out the Ridgeline trail when you move here. It's my favorite part of our wonderful city!
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
I'm a hiker/camper-type, so thank you for the recommendation. 12 miles out and back? Sign me up!
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u/505ismagic May 12 '22
Note for the off season, there are a lot of gray days that are actually just fine for winter hikes. Most of the rain is pretty light, and not an issue with reasonable gear. For me, outside is the key to sanity.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
I love being outside, and while I wouldn't say I welcome rainy days, I can deal with them. I have decent rain gear for hiking, thanks to a trek through GNP a few years back.
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u/Jinxyclutz May 12 '22
You absolutely have to camp and hike the Silver Falls water fall trails. They have tent camping as well as cabins and pull ins for RV and campers. Its open year round and my favorite time to go is Christmas time. So beautiful! Its just east of Salem and just magical. Welcome to Oregon!
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u/itshorriblebeer May 11 '22
Don't forget the farmer's market a few blocks away on 5th street!
+1 on all of your other takes. I'll take our misty and mild wet 6 months any day. Thanks for reminding us of how lucky we are!
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
We did catch the farmer's market. It seemed lacking, but from another thread it was probably because it's still early in the season. We'll continue to check it out, though! Thanks!
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u/remyseven May 11 '22
Homelessness is a problem everywhere, but a lot of states have found solutions in shipping their homeless to other states through Greyhound or Amtrak. Homelessness isn't caused by liberalism, it's caused by capitalism.
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u/justacunninglinguist May 11 '22
Welcome, from another gay!
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
Thanks! Any recommendations for meeting others in the community?
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u/justacunninglinguist May 12 '22
Do you like hiking? There is a fb group for that. There used to be monthly bear events before COVID. Spectrum is the gay bar in town. Cowfish is a dance club but Ive heard not so good things about that place. There's also Eugene Gay men's social network on fb. There's occasionally drag brunch and shows as well.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
I'm not on FB (politics), but we do enjoy hiking. I'll look to see if any of those groups have a non-FB presence. Thanks!
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u/erika1972 May 12 '22
There’s a Eugene gay mens choir. They’re pretty cool and do a fun Christmas show.
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u/Impossible_Town984 May 11 '22
Yes plus we are an hour or so from the ocean and mountains and Portland is just a couple hours away if you need a big city.
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u/swest211 May 12 '22
I live on the southern coast....Eugene is the "big city" to us.
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u/Impossible_Town984 May 12 '22
lol it’s all relative. I love the southern Oregon coast. It’s so beautiful
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u/gottheblickyuh May 12 '22
Yeah, growing up in North Bend it’s funny to think back on how I thought Eugene was so massive until I spent a summer touring with my friends band after high school. I flew back after those 3-4 months noticing things like “Fuck, I can drive across the city in 15 minutes?!”
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u/johnabbe May 11 '22
IS THIS A RAVE THREAD? ARE WE RAVING ABOUT GOOD THINGS IN MIXED CAPS TODAY FOR SOME REASON?
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u/earthluv May 11 '22
This is so nice to hear! I just took a seasonal job near Eugene and I’ll be moving there in a few weeks. I’ve been curious about the atmosphere!
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u/expressivewords May 11 '22
Very cool to read this as your first impression! I hope you get to move here soon!
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May 11 '22
Thanks we know. Now don't tell anyone else.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
I'll try not to, but I also strive not to be one of those a-hole gatekeepers, some of whom aren't even native. :-P
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u/Eugenefemme May 11 '22
Moved here 4 yrs ago because of all you listed. It's a great choice. Welcome from another Cal Younger.
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u/cam7998 May 12 '22
Where the fuck are the sequoias
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u/jessjpoole May 12 '22
There’s one on Garden Way and a few on Van Duyn St AND Van Ave (same neighborhood)! The Eugene city tree map is a great resource: https://mapping.eugene-or.gov/datasets/city-trees/
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May 12 '22
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u/gottheblickyuh May 12 '22
I was told I have 2 coast redwoods and a sequoia in my backyard. Maybe you would know? Here’s a photo.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
Check out the iNaturalist app; you can take a photo of the tree/leaves, and it will 95% of the time give you a correct identification. Or, you can make your best guess, and if it's wrong you'll be corrected by others on the app in no time!
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u/gottheblickyuh May 12 '22
I have one in my backyard along with two redwoods! It’s unfortunate for my foundation but they’re beautiful.
Edit: It’s early and I counted wrong.
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u/gelatinous_pellicle May 11 '22
Welcome. Your positivity is great. I could live anywhere in the country (and have, mostly) and there isn't a place at this price point I would rather be.
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May 11 '22
I understand your excitement for the area OP! My husband and I moved to Oregon from Idaho for several reasons, and we have never been happier, healthier, and thriving. We found out that we were expecting a baby soon after moving to the area, and what a huge difference having better weather made in our journey into parenthood and her welcome into the world. We’ve gone on so many adventures and have had new experiences that weren’t possible. Coming from someone who grew up with (what seemed like) constant high winds, snow and cold cold temperatures, Eugene’s rain isn’t bad whatsoever. I love the diversity, inclusiveness, and many experiences that Eugene offers. And yes, we had homelessness in Idaho- just on a far smaller scale.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
Thank you so much! I'm glad you found Eugene! I'm hoping our experiences are similar.
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u/stukastukastuka May 11 '22
Welcome. Be nice to pedestrians or go home.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
Always! I'm also a cyclist, so I personally pay more attention than perhaps the average person.
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u/Potato_Donkey_1 May 12 '22
I grew up in Colorado, know what you are escaping in Colorado Springs, and am happy to welcome you to Eugene. I've lived on the margin of Whitaker since 1996 and love it here.
The worst thing I have experienced in Eugene: Some of the recent fire seasons have been pretty awful, and we will likely have more of those. There's much more fuel here than in the Rockies. But the bad years certainly won't be the norm.
The Front Range has few natural disasters to plan for or contend with, so one thing to keep in mind about moving to Eugene is that we are in an earthquake zone. It's good to plan for the prospect of not having tap water, electricity, or grocery stores for a month. No one needs to go crazy and turn wild-eyed prepper, but a safe store of rice, beans, and a method of water purification would be a good idea for anyone who lives here.
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u/Hartmt1999forever May 11 '22
Welcome! A lovely post & thread to read, glad to read the positives.
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u/bigdummythiccness May 12 '22
As a fellow Colorado transplant that made the move in 2016, welcome! Couple of things I'd recommend are Mt. Pisgah and Spencer's Butte for hiking. Get yourself a sun lamp for winter. First year I was here we had 90 straight days of rain with no sunshine. I love the rain, but trust me, you'll be glad to have it. Also, a lot of drivers are overly courteous. That's something you'll have to get used to. Other than that enjoy the area and the adventure of exploring it!
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
Thank you! I've seen those on the maps, and now they're destinations!
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May 12 '22
This thread is OPTIMISTIC and I am wondering if it is because this is a gay couple NOT from California? We have to take TICKETS to use our trail systems now, roll out the start times of hiking here it is so damn crowded. Welcome! You sound like a fun couple!
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u/Hockshank May 12 '22
Welcome friends! We long time Eugene folks love to complain about all the troubles (and we do have them) but it is a pretty great place. Skiing in the Cascades 2 hours East and the rugged but gorgeous Oregon coast 2 hours to the West. Just make sure to pronounce Willamette right and don't sweat the rest of it! :)
wuh · la · muht
Glad to have you onboard and see ya around.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
Thank you! I read something like, It's Willamette, dammit!; hopefully that'll help the pronunciation stick.
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May 12 '22
Thank you for sharing your positive take on Eugene. Currently living in Cincinnati and love it here. But, my husband just accepted a job in Eugene and Reddit has been giving me daily panic attacks 🙃 about moving there. You have given me hope! Good luck with your move.
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u/Randvek May 11 '22
compared to Phoenix, y’all are practically giving away your weed.
It’s about twice the price in Phoenix as Eugene. Not an exaggeration, I’m currently there now.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
Enjoy the heat! 103 there next week, I think? We got tired of the 115+ temps for days on end...
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u/Randvek May 11 '22
It was about that hot last week, but we’re getting a little break right now at “only” upper 80s. Back to it soon.
I’d rather be back in Oregon but the advancement for my career was too good to turn down.
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u/Sad-University-2332 May 11 '22
Colorado is ultra conservative? I thought it was growing blue super quickly. That's surprising to me
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
Colorado Springs is ultra conservative. Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder, and some other cities are blue, but outside of those the state is somewhat to very red, with some exceptions.
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u/Mrsvantiki May 11 '22
Welcome! And oh boy, glad you got out of Co Springs! Yowza.
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May 12 '22
I went backpacking last year and stayed in Co Springs and it was amazing… it is soooo bad?
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May 12 '22
i’ve lived in the cal young area and it is very much on the rich/suburban side, not a lot of culture or interesting people, look into events, stuff downtown/pearl st area and whitteaker :) super cool, the food trucks and mexican food in the bethel-danebo are is also great! more on the industrial side of eugene but a cool visit nonetheless
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u/basshead541 May 12 '22
I came from Colorado Springs to here in 96'. Been here ever since.
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u/StumpyJoe- May 12 '22
Consider riding your bike to replace car trips when you get here. The cycling infrastructure makes it pretty easy.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
Yes! I'm a roadie and pulled up the bike map a few weeks back. It made me so happy!
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u/2peacegrrrl2 May 12 '22
Cal Young is a very boring neighborhood. I highly recommend looking at Friendly, the Whiteaker, or near the university. There’s lots of conservatives in Cal Young too. It’s where people live so their kids can go to Sheldon high school, but it’s very blah.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
Yeah. But boring to one person might mean quiet and safe to another person. :-P
I felt the vibe you described though. Unfortunately we're already under contract on a condo, and due to the specific situation were able to offer asking price and not the 20K to 50K over that some people are paying.
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u/Michael_Penis May 13 '22
This was really nice to read. Thank you for that and welcome to Eugene!
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u/Hoosier_816 May 11 '22
Welcome! My girlfriend and I moved here from Salt Lake City in December are loving it as well! We're also in the Cal Young area too!
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u/Antique-Box-8490 May 11 '22
Welcome!! You have picked a terrific city in which to move! I have been here my whole life! Consider south Eugene for a home as it has the best neighborhoods and schools. Yay!
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 11 '22
We're under contract on a Cal Young condo, but we're not in escrow yet and are continuing to look.
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u/galactabat May 11 '22
As a transplant myself the last point you make is huge. Eugene is a perfect fit if you want a medium-sized city adjacent to lots of nice things.
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u/paisleymoose May 12 '22
Thanks for seeing all of the beauty of it. It’s truly a special special hidden gem. Treat it with love❤️
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u/yagalmal May 12 '22
Welcome!! I just moved over in the Cal Young area this Feb and I’ve had a very positive experience thus far! Whenever I walk with my pup, everyone is friendly and I am very happy to hear your experience was similar! :) Welcome to you and your partner!
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May 12 '22
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
When we walked through the market, I was amazed at the variety of food that was being offered. To me, that's a sign of the town's diversity, and I'm all for it.
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May 12 '22
Well help us protect what you love about it. The greenery, the open spaces, the nearby forest and trails have all been badly reduced and houses, apartments, other construction is destroying the natural places. For the past 40 years that I've been here environmentalists have fought to keep the forestry companies from chopping down every tree. Transients have trashed our river and waterways. So it may look good compared to where you moved from but we have a problem with people saying, "Oh it's still so much better than Shitty Place we just left, they can cut a lot of trees, expand the urban growth boundaries, build a lot more, and it will still be better than SP." Help us keep it as nice as it is.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
I absolutely will. One driver for our moving was that Colorado in general, and Colorado Springs especially, doesn't really like taxes. It means for horrible environmentalism and infrastructure policies. I'd rather pay taxes to a city/county/state that more aligns with my values.
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u/bzp79 May 12 '22
Wow. Glad you had a great time and hope it lives up to your expectations! My wife and I grew up in NM and moved to Eugene 6 years ago. We are currently actually working on moving to the Denver area lol.
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u/TheThirteenthCylon May 12 '22
Enjoy Denver! It has its charms. We didn't even consider it, though -- I'm not a big city kinda guy, and the prices and traffic are both outrageous.
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u/n541x May 13 '22
Some of the other amazing things that are just a short drive away from Eugene for day trips that people often forget are Mt. St. Helens and the Ape Caves (longest lava tubes in North America) (3 hours), the Rogue River natural area (2.5 hours), Oregon Caves National Monument (3 hours), and the California Redwoods State and National Parks (4 hours). There are hot springs all over Oregon (clothing optional). Drive OR HWY 242, which is only open in the summer, to Sisters. It will blow your friggin’ mind.
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u/pacific_grrrl May 13 '22
Great list. Thanks for the reminder of the good stuff we get to enjoy. Welcome to Eugene!
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u/BillyBalowski May 11 '22
Local tip: here we call it the coast. The beach is more of a California/SE term and shore is more of a NY/NJ thing.