Oregonians used to sport a bumper stick that said: 'Don't
Californicate Oregon'. There's a lot of truth in that statement.
Wes,
There was also a Billboard sign put up by the State of Oregon at the California border, it read: "Enjoy your visit but don't plan to stay!" The Governor took some heat for that but the sign stayed up for some time.
I spent 10 years as a Forester in Oregon during the 70's and moved back to California to make a better income. I wish we could maintain the living conditions that a less dense population affords but it seems that higher density living conditions in preferred areas in the West is inescapable. I've noticed the conditions you described in Bend also within Anchorage, Seattle, Vancouver BC, Portland, Medford, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake, as well as Redding, Sacramento, and most of the Coastal areas of California. It may seem that immigrating Californians are the source of higher densities but you'll find that even most of those Californians came from some other place (like the midwest) not too long ago. The world is getting smaller.
Steve Schalla
