Ridgefield, Wa. A Wonderful semi-rural area
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5/8/2007
Moved here fifteen years ago from the Montclair area of the Bay Area. Wanted the best of San Francisco Bay Area without the traffic, over population. Less than 20 minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon, Ridgefield is convenient to what is San Francisco light. Portland has the diversity of SF without all the baggage of traffic, grime, over population. Ridgefield is also 20 minutes from PDX and on the Amtrak mainline. Health facilities are superb: SW Medical is always rated in top 100 hospitals, New Legacy Emanual Hospital and Kaiser facilities give great coverage. Ridgefield public schools are among the best in Washington. The Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge provides gorgeous natural beauty. Small town benefits close to big city delights. There is a first rate amphitheatre for concerts at the fairgrounds. We are bracing for growth that most locals don't want. Too many subdivisions going in as developers seem to have greased the way. Many are afraid that growth will eliminate semi-rural charm. We live on five acres with a view to the West that includes no houses for ten plus miles, the Columbia River et. al. Politically more conservative than the Bay Area, but what isn't! The quality of life in Ridgefield is such that should I hit the lottery, I would not move. In spite of what you hear, the weather is fine and not as rainy as one would be led to believe. Your statistics on snow are messed up. In fifteen years we have had perhaps five days of real snow, never more than six inches. You, Sperling, must know this living in Portland.Living in a state with no income tax is great, especially if one is a little older. Compared to the Bay Area housing prices are quite reasonable. The only downers in housing are the developments with McMansions that are butt to butt and over priced at that.
Sheba | Ridgefield, WA