08-10-2015, 05:04 PM
(08-10-2015, 01:43 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: thanks Birds
Ptero... I can't wait to get back home and roll the CB out and ride over to "My Road" and enjoy the peace and solitude and quiet and beauty and serenty of my local roads.
I really do not understand " city people" ( those who love living " where all the action is downtown") all the hustle and bustle and noise and congestion and rudeness and homeless. No offense to those who do, but No Thanks. I love living in the country.
No offense taken by me. As you know, I grew up in the country, moved away and have yet to look back. Despite it's shortcomings, I have quite a bit of pride for this area I call home.
I've lived in towns of varying sizes: 1,400, 10,000, 80,000 and 150,00 and I've lived in metro areas of 1 million, 2.5 million and 4 million. I grew up in Illinois, lived all over Texas and now call Oregon home. Despite it's traffic shortcomings Portland is the first place where I've up and moved to just because I wanted to be there. I might see myself moving to a "smaller" town again at some point, but probably not a remote small town and I'd have hard time imagining leaving Oregon. As I mentioned during our visit it's sad that only after leaving the midwest did I come to truly appreciate midwestern people and realize that the midwest will always be a part of me.
As far as living in Portland goes: I can travel about about 90 minutes or so in any direction and find myself in a variety of environments — the coast, the mountains, the valley or the gorge (with plenty of world class rivers in every direction for fishing, or forests for hiking or camping when I'm not riding). I can put up with the traffic for that kind of tradeoff. And while it does rain here, the climate is fairly mild allowing me to ride pretty much year-round should I choose.
I've long said that a measure of how happy one is with where they live comes at the end of a great trip. If you're still looking forward to getting home, then you know that you're well suited to where you live. I've visited some wonderful places since living in Portland, and I've yet to visit a place where I didn't look forward to returning home. It's the only place I've ever lived where I've honestly felt that way.
Obviously you feel the same way about your neck of the woods and you can't ask for anything more than that.
I will say an extra thanks for putting up with the traffic (it truly is a pain) to spend some time here in Portland. It was a real pleasure hanging out with both you and your wife. It was extra special to get to visit a mountain with you. Happy riding back on your home roads my friend. Your CB will be glad to have you back!
Oh, and keep an eye out for the barges.
