I was raised in S Calif in the '50s.... so I can assure you that what you said it very true.Not that cold during the early bow season. Most mornings this year I didn't even wear a coat.
It is wonderful country though. And probably wouldn't be as wonderful if it wasn't cold. The population would explode.
We are currently witnessing the exodus of Calis into Kalispell, Boise, Cour de Alene, etc... cold places, but demographics are changing the political landscape as well as quality of life.
Joseph was even more wonderful in the '80s. Once they became an "artist" community, the whole place changed, not for the better. I go to Wallowa Lake, but I don't frequent Joseph itself. Even a pastry or a burg is too dang expensive outside of the lil mkt or the cafe. Breakfast at the cafe is still good. But anyplace else is just prohibitive for locals that aren't migrants with big incomes/assets. And just like the old Bend, most of us were/are lower income and enjoyed life until the migration changed things up. Way up.