Corvallis/Salem Oregon ... anyone?

[Myrina]

I just took one of those groovy little 'what place is right for you to live' online quizzes, and my closest match was Corvallis/Salem Oregon.

Anyone been there/live there/know people there? What's the employment situation like (I'm in IT but would like to escape)? Do single women in their mid 40's - with dogs - fit in?

Thanks for any input!

[Arugula Latte]

1. I think you might prefer Eugene, which isn't far from either town.

Eugene is a little groovier than Corvallis. Nice college town (Univ. of Oregon) at the bottom of the Willamette Valley. Corvallis also a college town (Oregon State), but it is a bit smaller and a bit more conservative.

A single woman with a dog would definitely fit in in Eugene!

Salem is a snoozefest, in my opinion.

You need to be able to take many, many weeks of rain and/or gray skies if you live in Eugene. However, you're close to the coast, close to the Cascades and beautiful, beautiful (and sunnier) Central Oregon (Bend, High Desert e.g.), close to amazing old growth forests, and about 100 miles from Portland.

Eugene:

[Myrina]

8. Good to know, thanks ...

... not sure I can handle 'many weeks of rain' as I tend to be an outdoors kinda gal.
On the other hand, "snoozefest" doesn't sound so bad, since I do prefer my dogs, books and hikes to human company, 90% of the time.

[cliffordu]

2. I currently live in Salem and it just plain sucks.

Long story but I'll be stuck here till june and then will rocket my tired old butt back to Portland.

I'm 61 and the city is world class - you can walk pretty much anywhere and there ARE jobs to be had. Rent is expensive.

Eugene is GREAT for for you, as would be my beloved Portland.

And I agree with the above poster that Salem is a snoozefest.

[LeftofObama]

3. That quiz sounds interesting.

Do you have a link? Thanks in advance.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

4. Try this...

http://www.findyourspot.com/

[LeftofObama]

5. That was fun, thanks!

It suggested Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and one or two places in California for me.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

6. You're welcome! n/t

[Myrina]

7. Yep, that was it!

[Sekhmets Daughter]

9. Oh good...

[handmade34]

10. my son lives in Portland

he loves it (he's 23)... I worked in Corvallis (I'm a lot older) last year and loved it... small town, college, food and bike coops, fun trails,... but I was only there for a few weeks working

[Grantuspeace]

11. Single women with dogs fit in everywhere!

But good for you being brave enough to consider starting over in a new locale!

[Myrina]

12. LOL, apparently not in Central Indiana ...

... or, perhaps I should've said "Single, middle aged, chubby, extremely liberal women with dogs"