Strykervet makes some very good points. I haven't used any VA facilities because we have private insurance. Access to bases, and VA facilities would be a HUGE benefit to retiring military people. In the Portland area, my buddies always complained about very long waits to get service. Once your name comes uo for service, they have had no complaints about the quality of service though. More rapid access for something like knee, or back surgery (often considered "optional") would be something worthy of consideration. However, I have no info about the wait for service near Seattle/Tacoma. There are certainly more bases up here for vets to get on base buying priveleges. Lewis/MCcord, Bremerton, Whidbey Island NAS, and the Sub base are all places that could be used. Portland only has some minor bases, or guard bases around it.
Oregon has income tax, but no sales tax. Overall, Washington's tax bite is a bit more.
Strykervet was right on about visiting both eastern and western parts of both states. There is a tremendous cultural difference between the two sides of both states (Oregon and Washington) It almosty seems that the liberals in both states dominate in the west, and conservatives dominate in the east. The big difference between the two states is that with all the military bases around Puget Sound, the liberals in Washington have to work much harder to get their way than those around Portland.
Both states have a huge investment, and pride in coffee, and micro-brews. I doubt anyone would be disappointed in either state on those accounts..the reputations for quality are well deserved.
If SBR or select fire are not important, then Oregon's more liberallaws there are irrelevant. Washington is seeing some movement there though, although SBR will likely happen long before select fire.
Around Portland there is much more gang activity than I have seen here on the western part of Puget sound. However I don't have much i fo about the eastern side as I haven't lived there. Many areas around Portland are seeing HUGE influxes of hispanics, and hispanic gangs.
Although I like both states very much, I would also recommend looking into Boise, ID, or the upper panhandlemof Idaho. The Salmon wilderness area is an area of staggering beauty and is quite remote. Very near eastern Washington, and Montana...sort of the best of all areas.
Oregon has income tax, but no sales tax. Overall, Washington's tax bite is a bit more.
Strykervet was right on about visiting both eastern and western parts of both states. There is a tremendous cultural difference between the two sides of both states (Oregon and Washington) It almosty seems that the liberals in both states dominate in the west, and conservatives dominate in the east. The big difference between the two states is that with all the military bases around Puget Sound, the liberals in Washington have to work much harder to get their way than those around Portland.
Both states have a huge investment, and pride in coffee, and micro-brews. I doubt anyone would be disappointed in either state on those accounts..the reputations for quality are well deserved.
If SBR or select fire are not important, then Oregon's more liberallaws there are irrelevant. Washington is seeing some movement there though, although SBR will likely happen long before select fire.
Around Portland there is much more gang activity than I have seen here on the western part of Puget sound. However I don't have much i fo about the eastern side as I haven't lived there. Many areas around Portland are seeing HUGE influxes of hispanics, and hispanic gangs.
Although I like both states very much, I would also recommend looking into Boise, ID, or the upper panhandlemof Idaho. The Salmon wilderness area is an area of staggering beauty and is quite remote. Very near eastern Washington, and Montana...sort of the best of all areas.
