Vancouver, Washington SperlingViews

I am born and raised in Vancouver; have resided here for 38 years. Any who think this has a "small town feel" must be from NY or LA. Here are some facts for you to chew on from a natives observations:

There are tons of methamphetamine users here and they will steal you blind to support their habit. Everything needs to be locked at all times or it is gone.

There is very little native greenery anymore and the trees and orchards are long gone-they have been replaced with a concrete jungle of WAY overpriced homes and asphalt. If you like sitting for hours at every signal and intersection during an average commute to work (and you will have to commute to Portland to make any income) you will love it here. The average space between home lots house side to house is about 10 feet.

The schools, once the jewel of the nation 20 years ago, are now ranking ever lower in the standings with their overburdened classroom sizes.

The Mexicans have overrun the place.....best learn spanish if you're gonna move here.

Gas is always third in the nation when prices rise....right behind California and Hawaii.

The parks are no longer safe, the riverways are polluted now with excessive development, the mountains (once a tranquil and private retreat) are inundated with people and their refuse.

SUV's and full size trucks that never haul a board reign supreme here.

Most auto accidents are fatal around here because people drive like madmen.

The sky use to be a gorgeous blue.....with the expanse of population and their driving habits it looks like any other southern california city now; brown and hazy.

You will pay 250,000 for a house that cost 40,000 material and labor to build....thats if you can outbid the other 20 people bidding along with you to buy the home for tens of thousands over appraised value.

People here are no longer friendly or outgoing. Nihilism seems to be in vogue and a constant state of thinking strictly for themselves. God forbid you ever have an accident and need help....most people will drive right by you while rubber necking to thrill off of the spectacle of your misery.

Infidelity, cheating, personal corruption, greed and no integrity are the family values here.

You will make some money, not have to see too many homeless people, and have every commercial offering at your very doorstep....it will only cost you and your kids your character and humanity.

Look forward to having you join us in our little hell we call "The 'Cou

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re: The REAL truth about Vancouver - 6/10/2006 - 6/18/2009
I am one of those people from So Cal who see the Couv as having a small town feel. More like good ol boy network. Coming from So Cal, I can say you don't really know what it's like to live in an area that has Infidelity, Cheating, Corruption, greed and poor family values. My advice would be to get outside of the couv, go visit for some time in any of the major cities in the US (not Portland, it's a major port, not a major city) and you will see how wonderful you have it compared to those places. In regards to the meth use, most of the users are local. As for jobs, if you can swing a hammer, you'll do great, 3 years ago. We need more "BIG BOX" companies to locate here. Sorry to say, but if we don't let go of the past and move forward as a culture, we'll get left behind and that's pretty much where we are, left behind. Let's be smart, grow, pay it forward so that our children can grow up and reside in a city that is beautiful and diversified. Lets open the door for new possibilities. Sounds to me that you are a passionate person. Now is time for you to take the stage. 38 is a perfect age to lead, so lead. "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible."

re: - 8/31/2009
I am looking forward to moving to Vancouver regardless. I have lived in SoCal around millions and now live in New Mexico around less than 10,000...let me just say that our crime rate is 5 times higher in meth/drug-related crime than Vancouver could ever boast. Imagine 3 out of 5 people, including children, hooked on meth or prescription narcotics in a town of less than 10K...then look around you in Vancouver. I live in a good area and 6 out of 9 of my neighbors are meth users. We don't hear about marijuana or X or anything else because of the prevalence of meth. And most of our vehicle accidents are fatal too, meth/alcohol/non-licensed-related. My husband is a paramedic, so I guess I can't complain about the accidents...more work for him. Having visited Vancouver AND Portland, they look wonderful. If you really hate it so bad, why don't you get out? That's what I am trying to do from New Mexico.

re: The REAL truth about Vancouver - 6/10/2006 - 1/29/2008
If it's such a hell hole....why do you still live there after 38 years?

Beautiful City Close to Portland - 9/19/2007

Vancouver Washington is the place to live in the USA. There is no sales tax across the river in Oregon. The schools are great here. The property tax is low and there is no state income tax. [read more...]

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Cheaper than Portland - 11/30/2006

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A relief from Portland, OR - 10/14/2006

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I've lived in Vancouver for the past 25 years and around the world over the past 55 years. After reading the depressingly unrealistic comments of the previous posts about Vancouver, I feel I've got[read more...]

The REAL truth about Vancouver - 6/10/2006

I am born and raised in Vancouver; have resided here for 38 years. Any who think this has a "small town feel" must be from NY or LA. Here are some facts for you to chew on from a natives[read more...]

good, but.... - 4/18/2006

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vancouver is a great alt. to PDX - 3/26/2006

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Vancouver - 10/6/2005

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Overall nice place to live - 8/12/2005

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