Station/Boat Location~
Group Portland SAR Controller
I also worked there as a civilian in the REC/Investigations office.
Date there~
June 1996 - May 2000
Weather~
The weather is quite nice, at least to a native NWesterner that is. It does rain a lot, but hey, that's why it's so green and beautiful. Coming from the Puget Sound area, I was quite surprised by the summers. They are mostly in the 80s, but can get much higher than that. The winters can get quite cold. Occasionally there are ice storms. If you live on the Vancouver side of the river, it's usually not as extreme.
Military facilities~
Fort Lewis Army Base and McChord Air Force Base are about and 1 1/2 to 2 hours away depending on your location. McChord has an excellent Commissary and Exchange (ah, the Air Force) It can be worth the drive, especially if you get a couple of people together to go at the same time. Otherwise, find yourself a WINCO. You can save so much money there. The small exchange in Portland is pretty good for gifts at Christmas.
Medical~
Tricare Prime. A word to the wise though, you will have a hard time finding a doctor who is accepting Tricare. Don't give up, they are there to be found. It just takes a while sometimes.
Housing~
It really is preferable to live on the Vancouver side. It is much easier to find affordable housing that does not resemble a ghetto. There are a lot of duplexes out there, you just might have to look hard for them. If you are planning to buy then the WA is side is preferable due to lower taxes. If you want to live the apartment life, then you should look in the northern areas of Vancouver or the Gresham area of Portland. Nice affordable housing can be found, but it's not always easy.
Shopping~
There are many many malls. The Vancouver mall is smaller, but less hectic. Lloyd Center is pretty central. Clackamas Mall is another choice and then you have Washington Square which is the swankiest. Keep in mind that Oregon has an income tax and WA has a sales tax, but not an income tax.
Fun Activities~
This is a place made for the outdoor lover. You could not hike all the trails or see all the waterfalls in one lifetime. Plenty of good skiing. 4 resorts on Mt. Hood alone. The Beach is only about 2 hours away and there are many parks and campgrounds. You have to pay to park when you go the the Oregon state parks however.
Child Care/Schools~
Oregon schools do indeed have serious problems. Unless you can afford to live in a really expensive area, it is best to go north to WA for schools.
Adult Schools~
here are many many adult schools. Clark College in Vancouver is an excellent Community College. Portland State and U of O are also excellent options. One of the nice things is that most will grant reciprocity. That means you can pay in state in OR if you live on the WA side and vice versa. They might tell you no initially, but do your homework and bug them about it.
Additional Info~
If you go there, don't complain about the rain! At least not until a native starts complaining.
Homeport OR
Group Portland SAR Controller
I also worked there as a civilian in the REC/Investigations office.
Date there~
June 1996 - May 2000
Weather~
The weather is quite nice, at least to a native NWesterner that is. It does rain a lot, but hey, that's why it's so green and beautiful. Coming from the Puget Sound area, I was quite surprised by the summers. They are mostly in the 80s, but can get much higher than that. The winters can get quite cold. Occasionally there are ice storms. If you live on the Vancouver side of the river, it's usually not as extreme.
Military facilities~
Fort Lewis Army Base and McChord Air Force Base are about and 1 1/2 to 2 hours away depending on your location. McChord has an excellent Commissary and Exchange (ah, the Air Force) It can be worth the drive, especially if you get a couple of people together to go at the same time. Otherwise, find yourself a WINCO. You can save so much money there. The small exchange in Portland is pretty good for gifts at Christmas.
Medical~
Tricare Prime. A word to the wise though, you will have a hard time finding a doctor who is accepting Tricare. Don't give up, they are there to be found. It just takes a while sometimes.
Housing~
It really is preferable to live on the Vancouver side. It is much easier to find affordable housing that does not resemble a ghetto. There are a lot of duplexes out there, you just might have to look hard for them. If you are planning to buy then the WA is side is preferable due to lower taxes. If you want to live the apartment life, then you should look in the northern areas of Vancouver or the Gresham area of Portland. Nice affordable housing can be found, but it's not always easy.
Shopping~
There are many many malls. The Vancouver mall is smaller, but less hectic. Lloyd Center is pretty central. Clackamas Mall is another choice and then you have Washington Square which is the swankiest. Keep in mind that Oregon has an income tax and WA has a sales tax, but not an income tax.
Fun Activities~
This is a place made for the outdoor lover. You could not hike all the trails or see all the waterfalls in one lifetime. Plenty of good skiing. 4 resorts on Mt. Hood alone. The Beach is only about 2 hours away and there are many parks and campgrounds. You have to pay to park when you go the the Oregon state parks however.
Child Care/Schools~
Oregon schools do indeed have serious problems. Unless you can afford to live in a really expensive area, it is best to go north to WA for schools.
Adult Schools~
here are many many adult schools. Clark College in Vancouver is an excellent Community College. Portland State and U of O are also excellent options. One of the nice things is that most will grant reciprocity. That means you can pay in state in OR if you live on the WA side and vice versa. They might tell you no initially, but do your homework and bug them about it.
Additional Info~
If you go there, don't complain about the rain! At least not until a native starts complaining.
Homeport OR
