What do you like and dislike about living in Florence OR? (retiree, property)

[mlhm5]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

You make a couple of good points, but also a lot of total BS.

Wind: Check
75 degree summer days? That's a negative?
Rain: 160 days. That leaves 205 dry days. So more nice days then rainy.
Decent coffee shops: What is your idea of a decent coffee shop? Starbucks?
Fred Meyer and Safeway for groceries: Those are not bad options. There are a few more too.
No Home Depot or Lowe's: Copeland Lumber, Pro Lumber Inc, and True Value Hardware work just fine for most people.
Peace Medical: You didn't do very good research. Peace Medical has at least a dozen MDs working there, at least part time. There are also at least three major dental clinics and three major eye clinics, complete with dentists and eye doctors in Florence. So there is no reason for anyone to drive from Florence to Eugene for any of those services.

I'll give you points for noting, wind, RVs, and mediocre restaurants with high prices, but as far as the rest goes, you blew it. I doubt that you have spent that much time in Florence.

A. It rarely reaches 75 degrees in Florence during the Summer and if it does it is only for a few days. If you go to the beach, Washburn or the South Jetty the temps on the beach are in the 60s with 20+ mph wind. Lots of people come during the Fall when the temps and wind are at their best and assume it is like that all Summer and Spring. Bad assumption. I stick with what I said.
B. The Starbucks is in Safeway and the Petes is in Fred Meyer. The local shop is really dirty, IMO, and also the coffee, although roasted on site, IMO, tastes like Folgers.
C. Peace Medical, really?
D. I lived there 3 years 2015-2017, so I know what I am talking about. Of course if you are planning to live there do not make your trip during the Fall, go in the Summer. The temperature drops at least 7-8 degrees from the casino to Rt1. If it is 84 in Eugene it will be 67 or lower on Rt. 1 and lower still on the beaches. It is not a town where you will wear shorts in the Summer unless you are from Alaska or Boston.

[Metlakatla]

^Peet's is no more.

Pretty sure the local coffee shop you're talking about has changed hands since you lived here. I have no complaints about them, but the main reason I visit there, or did pre-COVID, was the setting. Having tea on the deck overlooking the river is a pretty nice experience. There's a drive-through coffee stand I go to on the rare occasions I want coffee for coffee's sake, and I have a neighbor who likes to make lattes for everyone once a week or so.

There is some good food here, but there's also a lot of fussy, pretentious places that know they have the tourists trapped like rats and therefore don't seem to care about quality. Labor is a problem here because the working class has been priced out by the same retirees and vacation rental owners who complain ad nauseam about the lack of services, so these places are often short-handed.

Some people appreciate the cooler weather. Not sure I'm one of them anymore.

The only time the wind stopped blowing in Florence this year was when the wildfire smoke blew in. It hung around for days. Temperatures were in the upper 80s/90s and humidity levels were high.

I'm healthy so the local healthcare scene is just fine for me.

The bad outweighs the good anymore, and I'm moving. There are certainly worse places, but there's nothing here for those of us who aren't retirees with pretty narrow interests.

[mlulu23]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

On the other side of the coin, there's a strong failed timber town vibe among many of the locals that's pretty well chronicled in this book

Thank you for the excerpt. Very well written, but so very sad. It left me also wondering what happened to the father, Gary. That piece of the puzzle was left out. There is some of that failed timber town out here in small town eastern Oregon also.

[tinytowne]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

OK, so I've lived in Florence for years, mostly part-time, and always liked it all right. After being stuck here for a year thanks to the pandemic, I'm ready to leave.

All anyone does here is complain, especially the transplants, usually because whatever amenities they were used to having in California aren't available here. Maybe they should have researched that before moving to a remote community of less than 10,000 people. No, you're not going to have dry cleaners, emergency vets, and other services found in cities in a small town on the Oregon coast.

On the other side of the coin, there's a strong failed timber town vibe among many of the locals that's pretty well chronicled in this book even though its focus is on a different Oregon county. There's a certain amount of friction between the hometown hotshots and the retirees, and both groups do little but complain and gossip. Also, about half the town is afraid of the COVID vax because their heads are stuck down a Q rabbit hole, so I imagine they'll be kicking the virus around among themselves long after the civilized world has resumed normal operations.

The city government is corrupt as well.

I've lived here as a retiree now for 2.5 years. Metlakatla description is accurate.

My experience is Florence is white America, very little diversity, mainly over 60. The majority of of the retiree population are from CA, a mixture of southern and northern. Definitely a strong failed timber town vibe among the locals. And yes, the city government is corrupt. More reasonable and smart people have been trying to break the cycle but not yet successful.

You can likely find what you like to do in Florence if you are retired. There are group activities for a variety of interests. Great hiking and outdoor activities. A strong artist community. Some more in-depth interests might only be available in Eugene. There are a lot of church groups. I would not think there would be much to offer young, single people or people that want all that a city offers.

Medical is not bad. Most primaries are PA's or NP's. Specialists come to Florence often enough, or you can drive to Eugene, or Zoom appointments are available. Veterinarian services are scarce; Be prepared to drive an hour to Veneta.

If you expect to have the variety of services offered in a big city, you will be disappointed. However, if that is not a big priority and you utilize online ordering or willing to drive to Eugene when needed, you will be fine. Florence does have a charming Old Town area along the river with many good restaurants and shops. It does get filled with tourists at times; when you live here all year long you just pick the quieter times to enjoy it.

I spent 5 months exploring the neighborhoods before buying. I suggest anyone looking to buy do the same. There are in-town neighborhoods, golf neighborhoods, lake neighborhoods and beach neighborhoods. Lot of gated properties, both down-to-earth ones and upscale ones. I was looking for a more remote feel with lots of trees and privacy, yet close enough to town for services. I ended up in Heceta Beach where you can hear the ocean and fog horns. I can walk out my door and walk my dog through my neighborhood about a mile and might not see one person or vehicle. Yet over the two years I have met many of my neighbors on my walks. It is perfect for me.

I love the weather. If you like it hot, you will not like it. If you want everyday to be calm and warm, you will not like it. We have beautiful days all year long, winter, spring, summer and fall. There is not a season when I am not able to do a hike, walk on the beach, or walk the dog through my neighborhood. You just have to look out the window and take advantage of it when the opportunity is there. It is windy many afternoons.

My priority is to live in a beautiful environment that is filled with lush and green natural habitat and wildlife. From there, I have to adapt to what is available. There are enough nice and interesting people, services, and activities for me. I like a quiet and peaceful life. Florence offers that.

[CARas2020]

I don't live in Florence but every time i have visited i have enjoyed it.

Went in the off season so it was very peaceful and quiet. Stayed in a little motel locally owned not a chain. The room was clean and had a small fridge.

Maybe after the family is fully vaccinated may wander down there.


usually when we go to the coast it is to Cannon beach but the last few times I was disappointed, excessive crowds and people not following protocol. But that was quite a few months ago so it may be better now. PS Bruce's Candy Kitchen has the best salt water taffy

[Metlakatla]

If pandemic protocol is important to you, you're likely to run screaming from little Florence. This is the town where one of the so-called civic leaders harassed a nine-year old child for wearing a mask in Old Town. The old greaseball even coughed on the kid.

[JackieLovesSun]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

If pandemic protocol is important to you, you're likely to run screaming from little Florence. This is the town where one of the so-called civic leaders harassed a nine-year old child for wearing a mask in Old Town. The old greaseball even coughed on the kid.

WTH? that's terrible!

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by JackieLovesSun

WTH? that's terrible!

Reddit went crazy with the story: https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comm...al_management/

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Reddit went crazy with the story: https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comm...al_management/

Oh geez. That's almost as bad as the one that popped up when the local chapter of the Proud Boys were acting as self-proclaimed armed guards to keep OSHA out when one of Florence's greasy spoons decided to open up to indoor dining when COVID cases were particularly high.

[pnwguy2]

There is a strong conservative mentality when you go the southern part of western Oregon. I am not rooting for or against, but realize not all of Western Oregon is liberal.