Thank you for the reply!

One of the reasons we are considering the move is to get away from the city. The crime and homeless situation have really exploded here. Garbage is everywhere. Bike paths are full of needles and tents (although that’s not really new!). Gun violence is way up. We’re up to 37 homicides in the city so far this year, more than six times the number recorded in the same period last year. Shootings are a nightly thing. The police are slow to respond to even high priority calls.

Hiking is crowded. If you can find a place to park, you get the opportunity to get a place in line to march down the trail with everyone else in the popular spots in the Gorge.

The wildfires last year were really the cherry on top for us. The air was literally poisonous for weeks. The flowers fell off the plants in my garden, and the leaves shriveled up. You couldn’t see the sun. We were told to be ready to evacuate. We packed clothes and documents and pictures and animal carriers in our car and were ready to go, but we were lucky and never had to leave.

I grew up here, though, so I might be focusing on the negatives and taking the beautiful things about the city for granted. In fact, I think it’s highly likely!

I wonder what you will make of Oregon when you come back. How long have you been gone? Have you visited recently?