So here's the deal: I start my new job on Monday in Seattle. After two-or-so months of training, I'll be based out of Longview, WA, 40 miles north of Portland, OR. My wife will have to work out of her company's remote office in Portland so we're pretty much boned there either way with Oregon state income taxes.
I already know what some of you country-folk and hardcore conservatives' opinions are, so I'm looking for people more interested in city-life: would it be worth it to pay an additional $6500 per year to live in Portland in a more "hip" area as opposed to saving that $6500 per year and living in Vancouver where the more "urban" scene is super localized and the apartments and what not aren't as good of quality?
Living in Vancouver, WA would save that $6500/year and knock a couple minutes off my commute but the scene over there isn't as interesting as Portland. My wife and I have lived in the suburbs since we graduated college and we're tired of living in boring-ass areas with no cool bars or restaurants to go to and being surrounded by angry, old people. Downtown Vancouver is pretty interesting but the apartments there have shit reviews: they look really nice but have paper thin walls, etc. Whereas Northern Portland has really nice apartments with outstanding reviews and substantially more stuff to do.
Like I said, I don't need opinions from those of you that love living fifty miles away from other people. That's great if it works for you, but that isn't what we're looking for. And I know everyone on here hates taxes and hippies and shit so you don't need to reiterate that any further. Just wondering if someone in my shoes would sacrifice the additional dough to be in a more interesting area.
I already know what some of you country-folk and hardcore conservatives' opinions are, so I'm looking for people more interested in city-life: would it be worth it to pay an additional $6500 per year to live in Portland in a more "hip" area as opposed to saving that $6500 per year and living in Vancouver where the more "urban" scene is super localized and the apartments and what not aren't as good of quality?
Living in Vancouver, WA would save that $6500/year and knock a couple minutes off my commute but the scene over there isn't as interesting as Portland. My wife and I have lived in the suburbs since we graduated college and we're tired of living in boring-ass areas with no cool bars or restaurants to go to and being surrounded by angry, old people. Downtown Vancouver is pretty interesting but the apartments there have shit reviews: they look really nice but have paper thin walls, etc. Whereas Northern Portland has really nice apartments with outstanding reviews and substantially more stuff to do.
Like I said, I don't need opinions from those of you that love living fifty miles away from other people. That's great if it works for you, but that isn't what we're looking for. And I know everyone on here hates taxes and hippies and shit so you don't need to reiterate that any further. Just wondering if someone in my shoes would sacrifice the additional dough to be in a more interesting area.