I know that Bend is just full of families who are new to the area. My family has been here for just over 1 1/2 years now, but it still seems like there is so much to do and see. We have come here for over 10 years to visit family, ski, and just pay in the snow. We had no idea how nice the summers were until last year and this year has been even better with the rain showers. The schools are awesome and our kids have great circles of friends. We specifically moved here for that reason and we have not been disappointed!

Where are you from and what prompted your move to Bend - out of all the other great places to live?

Hi Sucy,

I've lived her for more than six years now. I moved here after living a few years in Colorado, but originally from Northern California. Bend has the look and feel of a town like Boulder but with better access to the coastline and more affordable housing. Bend does feel a bit isolated at times but that's also part of what makes it special. I came with the same enthusiasm that you have and I still have that feeling about Bend. Early on when I wanted to share my elation with longtime Bendites I'd get this tempered response, I think living here for a while you see some of the other realities and that puts things into perspective. Bend isn't the easiest town for jobs so if you live here long enough you see friends who have to make the tough decision to move for better job opportunities. If you are tenacious, as I am, and you have a bit of good fortune in your life then you can dig in and stay. Bend is wonderful, one drawback is that the spring weather is sometimes non-existent, but the clean air, beautiful vistas, endless events and natural outings make it spectacular. The mountains have a healing quality each time you look at them. Bend is truly a remarkable community, my hope is that the city and contractors continue to make good aesthetic choices that also keep the environment clean and natural.

Yay Bend!