On the last night of my vacation...

Not trying to rain, just trying to be realistic. I know a lot of people tend to romanticize areas that they have fallen in love with - I saw it all the time when I lived in Denver: people telling me how much they wanted to move out here to the PNW. Then they did, and in less than two years moved back because they couldn't find jobs or a number of other reasons.

All that being said, Eugene is a cool area, and you know what's best for your family. If you're used to the high prices of other large metro cities, you'll find Eugene much cheaper and likely a lower cost of living overall. It's really pretty down there, too, and the Umpqua River Valley in southern Oregon has its own unique beauty, too.

Areas in and around the university can get rowdy, especially on game days (and Duck fans can be extremely rude).

Based on your response, it seems as though you may have taken my response more negatively than was intended - I by no means am saying "don't move here." I just feel, based on my experience of growing up here and then leaving and coming back, that many times a place is presented one-sided, mostly to the bias of whomever is speaking. I never said I hated my hometown - truth be told, I cannot afford to live in the area I grew up in out here, and if I had the income, I'd live there because I do like that area.

But knowing how I lived in other cities (in and outside the US), as an adult, I realize the differences in every community, the good and the 'needs improvement' aspects of it.

As you said, you've taken the time, done the research, and you know what you're doing.

/r/breakingmom Thread