Bend is on my short list because of:

Nice weather
Nice people
Relaxed driving conditions
Property Values
Proximity to car/truck shows
No graffitti

But, it is a few years away for retirement (2013). That makes me a little nervous about buying too early and then having second thoughts. But, on the other hand, property costs are low now, and if we wait things might not be as affordable.

 

Bend is a nice area. I wenty to OSU at Corvallis and loved Oregon. I also used to live in Rancho Cordova and Sunnyvale (Bay Area) so I'm familiar with what you are used to. Did you get a chance to look at the Medford/Ashland, or Klamath Falls area while you were up there?

 

Julie, we did look at Medford and Klamith Falls but did not like them as much as Bend. Our second favorite spot was a place called Glide. It's just out side of Roseburg.

Too many nice places left to see, not enough years left to do it in. Jag

 

The prices in Bend have dropped 20-30% lately due to the economy. Alot of people have second or third homes there and that's the first to go when things get tough. Things get a little cheaper when you get 20-30 miles away Powell Butte, Madras, Terebonne, Culver etc. Good luck

 

Maybe you guys could trade grand kids.....

 

hey Jag, I live here in central Oregon, lived in Bend for 7 years, then moved to Redmond ( 14 miles North)...Theres alot of classic car enthuisests here, great open country with dramitic Cascades...I love it for the climate as well as the attitude...Its a very outgoing and healthy community, with one of the top Hospitals in the country...Porperty values have declined which makes it even more attractive...there are some beautiful farms, 5/10 acer parcells left over from the boom in min 2000's wish you luck!
devan

 

Gary Stauffer, the Hemi adapter guy (QEC)), is in Bend!

~Jason

 

Ditto for Kansas City... minus the cold part.

~Jason

 

We are planning on visiting Bend again maybe next month. This time we will be looking at more of the sites (along with the houses). Maybe there will be a car show that weekend.

If Oregon doesn't work out, we will start planning the 2010 vacation thru TX OK, KN, NM. Jag

 

I live in one of the most beautiful places in America with plenty of outdoor activities and ideal weather. However, medical care is poor and shopping is limited.

I would make a list of your top priorities and be sure to evaluate those features at the places you visit. Every place has positives and negatives and no one place is utopia. You will find that medical care will trump garage space as you age.

And moving is never any fun.