Station/Boat Location~
Group Portland
Date there~
July 2002 - current
Weather~
Summer starts in July and runs through the end of August. Temps run from mid 80's to low 90's. Low humidity. No rain. Fall starts in September and runs through the end of November. Temps run from mid 60's to mid 70's. Occassional rain.Winter starts in late November and runs through March/April. Temps run from low 40's to mid 50's. LOTS OF RAIN/Drizzle.Rarely do we get heavy rains...it's just constantly wet outside....no time to dry in between wet/rain spurts. Spring starts in late April and runs through the end of June. Temps run in the 50's and 60's. Again, there is plenty of light drizzle to go around. It rains here right up til the 4th of July.
Military facilities~
Small exchange on base. No commissary. You have to go to Seattle.
Medical~
We are TriCare Prime here and use civilian EVERYTHING!
Housing~
None! Housing has been phased out here. EVERYONE in every pay grade is on the economy. Rent is HIGH if you want a single family dwelling. Those E-5 and below (with children) are wise to rent an apartment/condo where water, sewer, trash, recycling charges are included in the rent. Electricity bills every month. Water/Sewer bills every other month. Trash/Recycling bills every three months. Find your own and it is EXPENSIVE! BUT, live in VANCOUVER because Portland schools are in dire straits and the entire state has the worst unemployment and financial crisis in the country!
Shopping~
PLENTY! There are two HUGE malls in Portland and one mall in Vancouver. Plenty of Target, Kmart, Walmart, etc. stores. CostCo is the warehouse/club store here. Plenty of specialty stores downtown Portland. Antique stores are hard to come by here but thrift stores are not. There are plenty of great one's.
Child Care/Schools~
I do not use child-care, sorry. Schools: Portland City Schools are in CRISIS! They are out of money, closing schools, laying off employees, cutting sports, art, music, clubs, etc. They are in DIRE STRAITS! and it isn't looking any brighter. MOVE across the water to Vancouver. Both Evergreen and Vancouver School Districts are well off! IF you have a special needs child you'll want to be in Evergreen School District because their Special Needs support services far exceed Vancouver SD!
Adult Schools~
Plenty! Portland Community College Lewis and Clark College University of Oregon - Portland City University Vancouver.....
Fun Activities~
PLENTY! This area has more outdoor things to see and do than any place I've ever been. Oregon Zoo, Children's Museum, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, City Fountains, City Parks, Children's Theaters, Saturday Market, etc. There are plenty of cultural stuff here - art - science - and the rec departments are fabulous.
Additional Info~
This is a HIGH COST AREA to live in and there is NO COLA offered - though it ranks well above the "average" place to live. Be aware of utility and waste removal expenses here. It caught us by surprise. NOTHING is free so expect to pay power, water, sewer, trash, yard debris, recycling fees! This place TRULY is beautiful. The people are kind of iffy though and VERY liberal. Anything goes here. IF you are a churched person - you WILL find churches but if you are coming from the East Coast you WILL notice a lot of differences in attitudes toward God, religion, and church. Also be aware of the unemployment rate here. It's sad but true that there are MANY MANY MANY poor and homeless people who are in the area. Portland has the BEST public transportation with plenty of ways to get around without having to drive. There is a FARE free zone downtown Portland where it doesn't cost a cent to travel. You can get from A to B to C without ever owning a car!
If you'd like additional information on the city, please look at my website about this interesting place to be stationed. http://rubylyn.tripod.com/
Homeport OR
Group Portland
Date there~
July 2002 - current
Weather~
Summer starts in July and runs through the end of August. Temps run from mid 80's to low 90's. Low humidity. No rain. Fall starts in September and runs through the end of November. Temps run from mid 60's to mid 70's. Occassional rain.Winter starts in late November and runs through March/April. Temps run from low 40's to mid 50's. LOTS OF RAIN/Drizzle.Rarely do we get heavy rains...it's just constantly wet outside....no time to dry in between wet/rain spurts. Spring starts in late April and runs through the end of June. Temps run in the 50's and 60's. Again, there is plenty of light drizzle to go around. It rains here right up til the 4th of July.
Military facilities~
Small exchange on base. No commissary. You have to go to Seattle.
Medical~
We are TriCare Prime here and use civilian EVERYTHING!
Housing~
None! Housing has been phased out here. EVERYONE in every pay grade is on the economy. Rent is HIGH if you want a single family dwelling. Those E-5 and below (with children) are wise to rent an apartment/condo where water, sewer, trash, recycling charges are included in the rent. Electricity bills every month. Water/Sewer bills every other month. Trash/Recycling bills every three months. Find your own and it is EXPENSIVE! BUT, live in VANCOUVER because Portland schools are in dire straits and the entire state has the worst unemployment and financial crisis in the country!
Shopping~
PLENTY! There are two HUGE malls in Portland and one mall in Vancouver. Plenty of Target, Kmart, Walmart, etc. stores. CostCo is the warehouse/club store here. Plenty of specialty stores downtown Portland. Antique stores are hard to come by here but thrift stores are not. There are plenty of great one's.
Child Care/Schools~
I do not use child-care, sorry. Schools: Portland City Schools are in CRISIS! They are out of money, closing schools, laying off employees, cutting sports, art, music, clubs, etc. They are in DIRE STRAITS! and it isn't looking any brighter. MOVE across the water to Vancouver. Both Evergreen and Vancouver School Districts are well off! IF you have a special needs child you'll want to be in Evergreen School District because their Special Needs support services far exceed Vancouver SD!
Adult Schools~
Plenty! Portland Community College Lewis and Clark College University of Oregon - Portland City University Vancouver.....
Fun Activities~
PLENTY! This area has more outdoor things to see and do than any place I've ever been. Oregon Zoo, Children's Museum, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, City Fountains, City Parks, Children's Theaters, Saturday Market, etc. There are plenty of cultural stuff here - art - science - and the rec departments are fabulous.
Additional Info~
This is a HIGH COST AREA to live in and there is NO COLA offered - though it ranks well above the "average" place to live. Be aware of utility and waste removal expenses here. It caught us by surprise. NOTHING is free so expect to pay power, water, sewer, trash, yard debris, recycling fees! This place TRULY is beautiful. The people are kind of iffy though and VERY liberal. Anything goes here. IF you are a churched person - you WILL find churches but if you are coming from the East Coast you WILL notice a lot of differences in attitudes toward God, religion, and church. Also be aware of the unemployment rate here. It's sad but true that there are MANY MANY MANY poor and homeless people who are in the area. Portland has the BEST public transportation with plenty of ways to get around without having to drive. There is a FARE free zone downtown Portland where it doesn't cost a cent to travel. You can get from A to B to C without ever owning a car!
If you'd like additional information on the city, please look at my website about this interesting place to be stationed. http://rubylyn.tripod.com/
Homeport OR
