Oregon: Klamath Falls on the Rebound

I was initially interested in Klamath Falls due to a tiny house that was for sale. It had been on the market for almost a year. I contacted the seller's agent who reeked of perfume. She claimed she was wearing so little perfume I would not even smell it. I could smell her twenty feet away.  I told her to stay away from me. I didn't think anything would come of this house or I would have told her I could not use her as my agent. I ventured forward, but it was a royal pain to have to avoid her all the time when I needed to ask questions. She screwed up several times just before I made the offer and I fired her. I found another agent who told me she can't be around perfumes or scented candles without dire consequences. I immediately latched onto her and I expressed my profound gratitude. We submitted an offer and the seller would not come down. I walked away and left for my eastern Oregon adventures telling my new and fragrance-free real estate agent I'd be back in a week or two.

After a couple weeks I came back to Klamath Falls. My agent didn't answer my emails for a few days and I worried if she gave up on me. Then she responded...she had been diagnosed with a very aggressive CANCER!!! WTF???!!! I tried, I waited, then I gave up. Although she said she'd let me know the timeline, she never got back to me and I really didn't want to bother her during this stressful time. I figured this was a sign...I wasn't meant to be in Klamath Falls.

In the meantime, I stuck around just in case she reappeared and experienced Klamath Falls. I think is what one needs to do anytime one is considering a permanent residency. What is really going on? Is this where I want to be? Besides...I have another three months. Why not stay in one place for a time and save gas money? 

The problem with this reconnaisance plan is something a friend of mine told me. She is a retired real estate agent. She said, "Time kills all deals." She's right.

I stayed at the Great Meadow Sno-Park about thirty minutes to the east of Klamath Falls. It's has an awesome hiking/mountain biking trail through the woods. More importantly, a huge parking lot that is paved! 

I'm so tired of parking on dusty dirt so this was a gift. It was usually very quiet. Every now and then another van or RV would pull in for the night, other trucks would stop for a rest - mostly men going to the bathroom right out in the open pointing into the grass or hiking a bit into the bushes to do what I don't even want to imagine (eeeewww!) But it was a good place to spend some time while I lurked in the town and big enough for privacy. One advantage of this location is it has internet and cell service! One huge issue, besides the man pee and defecation, is the garbage all over. And I mean all over! People are disgusting not caring about the environment!

So back to Klamath Falls. Here are the good things about Klamath Falls:

First, the people here are really nice. Yeah, there are a lot of bad drivers and defecating men, but most people are friendly, helpful, and conversational. 

Second, the town of Klamath Falls is cute, maybe a little deserted with vacant buildings downtown, but a good size. It has basic amenities: a library, multiple parks, a Walmart, a FRED MEYER, a WINCO!!! (I haven't seen a Winco or a Fred Meyer for a long time! I must be in the northwest...), a Natural Grocers so plenty of gluten-free and organic food, a laundromat with top loaders, and an outdoor swimming pool!

I discovered the outdoor swimming pool! It's geo-thermal heated with the hot springs that run under the town! I've been told a lot of the houses are also geo-thermal heated. Wow! Now you'd think this water would be hot, but it's not. I've been told during the winter the water's temperature is 85 degrees and although the weather is freezing, the water is steaming! It's a small pool, only 6 lap lanes and another third of the pool is designated for swimming lessons and another third for open swim. Their schedule is weirdly confusing with overlapping everything. This is totally unlike the Arizona pool that is incredibly organized. Once one pays the monthly ($40 for an outsider), or six month fee, or one day for $5.00, you can come and stay for hours (unlike the Arizona pool). There are classes one can take by just showing up! There is equipment hanging or in large storage containers to use for free (!) and lounge chairs and picnic tables all around. It has a lot of advantages, however, it can get crowded really fast. Lap swim is shared lanes (eeewww!), open swim is noisy and chaotic with children screaming and jumping in the water usually on top of you. The number one issue are the BUGS! Bugs flying out of the water and floating in the water covering the surface. It's so gross. The breast stroke is a must just to be able to push the bugs out of the way while you swim.

Last, but not least, beautiful landscape with pine trees, rivers and lakes. One of the best parks is Moore Park. It's huge, right on the lake, with paved trails all around and hiking trails up into the hills. It's gorgeous. I spent many days in the parking lot using the garbage receptacles, the bathrooms, and enjoying the scenery. I even accidently encountered the Klamath Kinetic Club doing their annual races on the water using people-designed and people-powered machines that can roll, float, and climb. That was really fun to watch!

Now for the disadvantages of Klamath Falls:

The first time I saw the lakes I was so excited about so much water after months in Arizona. However, closer look, or rather a closer smell, and my impression has definitely changed. They announced at this water race, don't fall in the water...it's filthy. It smells horrible! There are so many birds bathing and shitting in it. Mostly ducks of every kind, but I've seen herons, cranes, pelicans, storks, Canada geese, regular geese, and smaller floating birds. Not just a few here and there, but HUNDREDS in every pod!

It smells like a sewer or a really dirty, shit-covered farm. The water is brown with duck shit sludge. It is so gross! The docks are covered with layers and layers of bird shit and the water is a muddy brownish-green. I would never try to swim in this lake.

Then there are the BUGS as mentioned above. They have these weird little bugs that look like mosquitoes, but don't bite. If one drives down by the lake, there are walls of them over the road. My windshield, hood, and front license plate was constantly covered with them and getting dried bug guts washed off Big Blue is really challenging. Eeewww! I've been told at certain times of the year (like now) the midges are out, too. Tiny little irritating bugs. The first time I encountered them in the swimming pool water, I was horrified and asked, "What are all these bugs?"

Last and maybe most important, it's cold! While I was here in June I would wake in the night to 37 degrees! In June!? I read an online article on the six cities in Oregon that are not good for retiring. Klamath Falls was on the list due to the cold temperatures. Everyone has told me last winter was very mild which was unusual, maybe due to climate change, but the winter before had four feet of snow! I moved from the northwest because I can't tolerate cold due to my thyroid problems. Do I really want to live in the cold?

Good-bye Klamath Falls!