What are you hoping to find there? Can you get a job? Do you even need a job? Have you investigated the tax burden and things of that nature?

Hopefully a little discussion will prime the pump for ya, here...!

Bend is located in what is known as the "high desert" country of Oregon. I've visited there several times and like the small(ish) town atmosphere, the fresh air and the ambiance. I don't need to find employment (luckily enough), but am on a 'fixed income', so do need to be mindful of finances. I would hope to find like-minded liberal Democrats, although I have heard that it typically is Conservative, but I just can't think that it is as Conservative as TEXAS???? And I doubt that the inhabitants are not as ignorant as the citizens of the "great state of Texas" regarding social issues. We shall see.

weeks...chat up a realtor or three if you are thinking of buying a place. Don't get roped in, tell 'em you are still in the lookie-loo stage.

Do you have friends or family nearby?

Hopefully some people from Oregon can tell you what the demographics are like. Are you sold on BEND or would you consider other towns in Oregon?

Isn't it a bit rainy up that way?

It was one of the hardest hit places in the nation during the recession

Voting for Romney doesn't speak well for it.

that's also in the "mix" of places I'm thinking of moving to. Don't know if I can afford SF and not sure if I would like to live anywhere else in the Bay Area. Where are you in Cali?

right wing places in the state. Like a lot of places on the west coast, rural Oregon and the less populated counties are pretty much gun totin' Limbaugh listeners. The progressive areas are the populated counties, Multnomah and Washington mostly, areas around Eugene... but Bend? I wouldn't live there.

Portland is VERY liberal and Democratic. The rest of the state not so much.

I live in Portland, but have spent many, many weeks in Bend and have dear LIBERAL friends and family who live there. Deschutes County is a real mix of cons and libs, but the libs live in town, which is beautiful. You could probably find a demographic map of which areas voted for Romney vs Obama.

If you love beautiful, pristine and interesting geology, ski, hike, boat, climb or cave exploration, etc, etc, it's your town, but it's been hit pretty hard by the recession which is why property is very easy to buy now. MANY foreclosures on people who bought at the peak when Bend was growing rapidly. It's close to Smith Rock, one of the most spectacular places in the State, it's 3 hours from Portland, and within a comfortable drive/return to so many beautiful places.

Winters are cold, lots of snow and ice for months, but if you have good snow tires you can get pretty much anywhere w/o chains. There's a fairly large group of Hollywood people there, or at least there were a few years ago. Probably not a great job market, but my good friend who lost his job there in '09, was just rehired and moved back and bought a foreclosed house for a ridiculously low price.

Can only imagine Houston is a nightmare for you.

I do love the topography in Bend. Yes, living in a Houston suburb has not been pleasant. The weather SUCKS with the humidity level and the mosquitoes. I'm not looking to purchase a home any longer - will rent either an apartment or house. I moved to Houston to be closer to my sister last year and now they are moving due to his job change. They're going on to Illinois, but I've always had Bend in the back of my mind. The atmosphere here in Texas is over-the-top with their "pride" in being Texan. All things Texas all the time. I've never seen such an epidemic of "arrested development" in my lifetime. I'm sure there are Liberals here, they have made some advancements with the last election, but it will take a few more election cycles to make a difference. I grew up in the Midwest (Kansas), so I definitely do have memories of winter months, haven't lived in snow for years but I certainly hope I can adapt to it okay. I would most definitely put good snow tires on my Prius! I look forward to being able to check out at the local grocery store without the usual "God Bless" afterwards - don't get me wrong, I appreciate the sentiment, but it always makes me cringe. I also look forward to not being around the mega-Churches and the Godly Football Crowd. I like sports, but when it's elevated to a religious status, it tends to leave me cold. I digress.
I look forward to peace and quiet - good coffee shops, my books and meeting and making new friendships in this part of my life.
I appreciate your comments and information. Keep in touch Condoleeza.

It sounds like the old town section of Bend would be a fantastic place for you. You keep in touch too.

Love it here. The Cascade Mountain views are more than worth any downsides. Actually, while this is a pretty conservative area, politically, which can make for some head-banging moments, it doesn't impact my day-to-day enjoyment of life in these parts. Before the election, our local newspaper (Bend Bulletin) endorsed Romney, prompting me to instantly cancel my subscription. Haven't re-upped it yet. Also stopped attending a nearby evangelical church a few years ago when they strongly backed an anti-gay amendment to our state constitution. Haven't gone back since--my decision, even though I was a born/raised/lifelong fundie. No longer understand so-called christians these days, but don't work myself up about that. I associate with likeminded folks who enjoy living here as much as I do. I belong to a book club, love going to coffee shops, active in a writing group, and indeed enjoy the peace and quiet here. Have also been involved with the local Democrats, as well as other progressive organizations. We're steeped in culture here, boast a premier annual writing conference, many, many musical performances along with community theater. Also have a top-notch community college and an Oregon State University campus. And of course there's all the nearby recreation opportunities in this area.

I've gone on too long. Guess the bottom line is, even though we're a ways from the coast, which I love to visit, again, I love living here and have a feeling you would, too. I say, welcome to Bend, not to mention Central Oregon!

Okay, I'm done!

Blessings.

That does sound like the kind of cultural/nature combo I'm looking for. I'm very much a liberal in my heart and soul as I detest a prejudicial mindset (even within myself)! I'm constantly battling (daily) my own stereotypes and prejudices that I have towards the "Tea Party Conservatives" in this state as well as the rest of the country. I'm not proud of that. I am not a follower of any organized religion (having been born and raised within the Bible Belt) and have more of a general belief in Nature and the Universe itself. I have more faith in the natural order of things than in what Mankind has shown throughout His/Her history on this planet. Book clubs and the writing group sound like fun - have never belonged to a writing group but have been involved with book clubs. What genre of books seems to be the norm within your group?

As part of my stereotyping, prejudicial nature, I recently took a trip to the Nation's Capital and could genuinely feel the energy and intelligence levels in the atmosphere - was so refreshing. Don't know if I could re-capture that same 'feel' in Bend - surely the intelligence level, but it definitely won't be that energetic electricity that cities seem to possess. I hope I'm incorrect about that, we'll see. At least I know that I would be a 3 hour drive from Portland and approximately 8 hr. drive to SF! There's comfort in just knowing that! Being outside of Houston really smacks of desolation from the energetic, eclectic crowd that I seem to desire.

Thanks for your info and for the welcome and "Blessings".

BW925 (classof67)

You would find that in Eugene or in parts of Portland.

But you won't find the high desert in either of those places.

Have you considered one of the more liberal towns in Montana? Bozeman or Missoula? That might combine the two aspects that you desire.

Central Oregon is mostly conservative, with a large teabag contingent, but there are liberals here, too.

Winters are dark and frozen. The rest of the year is great. It's a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts.

If you are hoping for a job here, that could be a problem. The economy is still depressed.