If that ain't love, tell me what is...

[jianantonic]

The other day, I was on the phone with Helen, and I told her that I'd made the decision to move to Portland.  She was excited for me, and also a little bit surprised, because I was always the one in our group (the only one, in the end) who clung to home.  I always insisted there was no better place on earth than Charlottesville, Virginia, and I believed that absolutely.  In lots of ways, I still do, but I know that moving away isn't giving those things up.  I used to resent all my friends who applied to out of state colleges, and all those who stayed away or moved away after college.  I couldn't understand why anyone would be willing to settle down so far from Virginia. 

I explained all this to Helen, and she of course remembered the many guilt trips and "WHY?!?!?!"s I subjected her to when she skipped town.  I went on to say, "And then I came to Portland.  And it was just like something clicked.  Like, wow, this, this is where I'm supposed to be!"  McKenzie overheard me say that and rushed up to me while I was still talking and tackled me in a great bear hug.  He prefers Oregon, of course, and he's most enjoyable when he's here in his element.  I'm glad that will be our full time life soon.

I'm going to miss stopping in on my parents and brother so often, but we'll still spend lots of time in Charlottesville.  I'm not saying goodbye forever; just "see you in a few months."  Charlottesville will always be home, will always be where I'm from, and will always be nearest to my heart, but I know I'm going to love Portland.  I expect I'll enjoy life more out west.  It's just so perfect for me.

Things I'm looking forward to about living in Portland:
Walking/biking/public transiting everywhere I go.
Great live music scene.
My friends here -- and all the folks I'll meet.
Listening to Rick Emerson everyday.
A new Gold's Gym right around the corner from my house.
The awesome bathroom we'll have at Dave's.
The awesome bedroom with no windows which allows me to sleep in.
Powell's Books.
The Indian restaurant.
The Lebanese restaurant.
All the zillions of other great restaurants.
Fred Meyer.
THE MOUNTAINS!
The bridge.
The hiking.
Proximity to Seattle, the coast, Canada, and so much more.
Traveling all over the state with Z for his FedEx work.
Getting to start with a truly clean slate for the first time in my life.
Not having to figure out rides and overnight stays near the airport.
Seeing my husband at his happiest.
Learning to windsurf. (maybe...)
Dave's hot tub.
Having my friends and family out to visit me here.
The rivers.
The waterfalls.

I love it here so much.  I probably left a dozen things off the list -- but that's okay.  I'm sure discovering new things to love about the city will be a big part of the transition, too.  <3 Portland:)

Peace.

Comments

[saschaloves.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the Left Coast!

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

Thanks:) I don't actually move until April...six months seems like a long time.

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

Have fun out there! :-) But remember--sweet, sweet Virginia always keeps an open door.

[pinkhorizons.livejournal.com]

oh man, powell's books!
Portland is a pretty awesome place- out of all the cities I've visited, it's one of my favorites (and I would count charlottesville in there as well...)! There is something that's different about the west, and hard to define...

Have fun!

and i love that song!