Grateful to Be Retired
GRAY MATTERS: D-Day

Two Standout Differences in Oregon

Having been in my new town in Oregon for less than three weeks, I'm hardly qualified to make any judgments about the place. Aside from forays to local stores for necessities like food and kitty litter, I've hardly strayed beyond a mile or so from my apartment.

On one occasional when I did drive farther, I got massively lost on the return trip from Home Depot. (Damn, I miss those numbered streets in Manhattan.) Having little tolerance for shopping in general, I am impatient with the getting-to-know-my-way-around period. It may get easier now that I've discovered my cell phone has a free GPS service that tells me aloud where to turn next.

Last year during May and June, it rained for 63 days in a row in Portland, Maine, where I was then living. This year, Oregonians – who know a thing or two about rain – are complaining about excessive spring rain and indeed, it has rained every day since I arrived. I've used it as an excuse to spend a lot of time indoors getting this new home in livable shape, but I like the clean, fresh smell rain always leaves behind so I keep the windows open when possible.

Two terrific things about Oregon stand out for me. One is that it is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving except if using a hands-free device and then, only if you are older than 18. (I lost track of how many times I was nearly killed on a highway in Maine with someone swerving around while holding a cell phone.)

Because “hands-free” is the operative adjective in the Oregon law, this obviously makes an even scarier driving activity – texting while driving – illegal too, although it is not explicitly stated in the law. But proposed legislation would impose a fine of up to $720 for anyone caught texting or holding a cell phone to an ear while driving. (If it were up to me, I'd require meaningful jail time.)

Another driving story caught my eye yesterday: Oregon came in second-best among all states last week in GMAC's 6th annual safe driving test. A representative sampling of 5,202 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were given a 20-question test. One of the findings is that old drivers tested significantly better than younger age groups.

You can see where your state ranks here. And you can test yourself with the same quiz. (Not to boast or anything, but I got 19 out of 20 correct.)

However, Oregon's second place in the test results is not the other terrific thing I want to mention. This is: there is no sales tax – zero, nada, none. Whatever the price sticker says is what you pay. Period. Not a penny more.

Everyone in Oregon benefits, but it is particularly important for elders on fixed incomes that are almost always significantly lower than their take-home pay during their working years. If, like me, you are accustomed to paying five percent above the listed price on most purchases in Maine and 8.25 percent in New York City, it's like being handed an annual refund of several hundred dollars.


At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Alexandra Grabbe: Olive Kitteridge and Elders

Comments

Oregonians have regularly voted down any attempt to add a sales tax also. And one more benefit to elders here is you don't pump your own gas again voted on many times and always kept this way. Sometimes I regret it because it takes longer at many stations but when it's raining like this, it's pretty nice to not get wet getting gas.

This has been a very wet, cool spring. I hope it changes with summer although you never know. We planted a garden before we left to spend most of May in Arizona and nothing came up which we laid to being gone but then everybody said the same thing happened to their gardens. Just way wetter and colder than usual. Good thing you are PNW born as a lot wouldn't make it through a spring like this one if they came from somewhere like California. I also like it though-- other than the garden part :)

I would be thrilled if NC rescinded their sales tax (6.75%), but it's not going to happen - we're almost broke now.

I'm going to take the test - but I don't promise to tell you what I get! lol

Sales tax in the UK (VAT) and in Australia (GST) is *included* in the sticker price - so although there is then the argument of 'hidden' taxes, at least you arent caught short at the till when you find what you have actually spent isnt what you totalled on your way around the store..

During my two years stateside and my visits along the way, I have NEVER been at ease with the practice of adding sales tax at the tills... It nearly always bites me on the bum!

Ronni, you seem to be more rested and comfy, great! Thanks for making the effort to share your moving adventure. We live on the OR/WA border and pay about 8.3% in our town(the city adds onto the state rate). Its very tempting to take a little trip if one is purchasing something of a significant dollar value.

Another thing I like about Oregon and Portland is their main roads seem to be so much better marked than the ones we have here in WA. I visit family in Portland often, still get lost, but always find signage to set to me on my way again. Not so much in the neighborhoods in either place. Next time I'll look for a cellphone with a similar gps service.

Here in Eastern WA we are getting record rainfalls and our spring flower seeds rotted in the ground, we are trying again. We're under a flood watch but nothing like they get in the midwest. It reminds me of my former Seattle home and the air does smell really good these days.

The rain here in Ashland this spring makes me feel as if I am in Eugene. It has been very cool and wet as Rain points out.

Four years ago, I moved to a tiny town just over the border in California and the increased cost of car registration and taxes made me appreciate Oregon even more. I moved back to Ashland.

Enjoy the exploratory trips out in the rain. You will get the yen to go to Powell's Books soon, I bet. That is always fun. I love the main store downtown and also the Hawthorne branch.

And the number one state is my home, Kansas.

Though perhaps not due to me, as I missed *2* on the test!

I love living in California, but I've got to admit - every time I drive north and cross the border into Oregon, I notice how much better the drivers are.

The state safe drivers rankings were really interesting. I noted that no state east of the Mississippi was listed until TN, #19. And, no surprise, my winter residence, TX, was way down at #35 -- a 30 pt. drop from my home state, IA. But the test only reflects knowledge, not skills. I wonder where the states would be with this measured? (PS: I missed just 1, too)

Since there is "no free lunch", Oregon must fund itself somehow. How does it rank on income tax and property tax levels? Ya gotta pay someplace!

Right, Tarzana, state taxes have a way of evening out. We moved from Utah to Michigan. Value-for-value, real estate taxes in MI are three times those in UT. However, MI exempts huge chunks of retiree income, and for us that means zero state income taxes and a rebate of some of our real estate tax. Sales tax rates are similar, but UT taxes portions of food and drug purchases, MI does not, and MI does not tax any "services." Throw all this together; shake, don't stir, and net taxes come out about the same.

Kansas came out number one? I'm surprised, they may test well but I can tell you people out where I live do not drive that well. I don't know how many time I have read in the newspaper that someone has been killed or injured after trying to pass someone else who had slowed down to make a left turn.

I live in the tiny California town mentioned...Seniors here get property tax reduction that the Oregon seniors do not...I think I heard that it differs county to county in Oregon? And I do shop up there for the pricier items...Oregon's gasoline is less because of Calif taxes..sometimes as much as 30-50 cent a gal.

Regarding knowledgeable drivers -- when I lived in Oregon one needed to study for the comprehensive drivers test in order to get a driver's license. When I moved to Kentucky, a test was not required to receive a drivers license! Big difference -- Oregon is ranked #2 and Kentucky #42. Looks like the states at the bottom might need to give comprehensive tests. -- barbara

.....And as good as drivers are here in Oregon it gets really dicey around the Seattle area. More like terrifying.

Company arrives on the 12th. Right now our yard looks like a combination wetlands/rainforest. It would be nice for the rain to stop now so we can attempt to play catch-up with the yard...and also have an end to the dogs tracking mud in (the cats just hate it).

NH listed #43. However, this is for knowledge not driving ability right? The last time I was on Cape Cod I almost got killed several times, each one would have been the other driver pulling out in front of me onto a main road.

Here in NH I often drive for miles without even seeing another driver.

Also, NH has no sales tax or income tax. HOWEVER having lived here almost three years, I have discovered other ways NH reaps in taxes. To register your car every year is 300 plus dollars. They tax the interest in any interest bearing accounts you may have. Property taxes are very high. Even for a condo, where theoretically you don't own the land, the taxes will be 4000 or more.

Anyway, glad you are getting settled in. Thanks for the GPS tip. Maybe my cell phone has that too. Been thinking of exploring some new territory re: a place to live. That would come in handy. As a single person, with no passenger seat guide, I often find it hard to navigate in new, busy territory. Of course, up here where I live I cant use my cell phone as there is no reception! Only when out on the road can I use it. That's the boonies for you.

Even "hands free" worries me, because of the concentration factor. And in the UK the fines are so paltry that you still see people flouting the law. Enjoy finding out about your new area, and thanks for sharing the move and photos in previous posts.

I remember that the people who live in Vancouver (just across the river) have the best of both worlds. Shopping in Oregon and owning a home in Washington where the property taxes are much lower.

It's illegal to drive while using a cellphone in California, but from personal experience, it hasn't stopped very many from doing it anyway. If, during a drive to the store, I wanted to count the number of drivers I see with a cellphone at their ear I would need a calculator. Fingers and toes wouldn't be enough.

Here's another great thing I learned from someone who lives in Oregon. If you go shopping in Washington and tell them you live in Oregon (maybe a drivers license or other ID?)they will waive the Washington sales tax for you!

Ronni, I'm new to this site...just wondering what motivated you to leave the big apple and move to Oregon?

Re: Vancouver: You get what you pay for. I know people think they are smart to live there and shop in Oregon, but Vancouver's not much of a place, really.

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