So I bid a fond farewell to the state that bore me and raised me. I simply cannot afford her anymore. I love California, but unfortunately, so do a lot of other people that keep driving up the cost of living. It's gotten so expensive to live here that it's getting hard to stop and smell the flowers that I keep driving by in a mad gridlocked dash that I and everyone else seem to keep doing. <br><br>I say hello to Portland, Oregon. My wife and I are up here house-hunting this week. We'll be closer to more family (who have also all moved up here from Cali), and we will have more help and family around for the boy. We can get back to working for a living instead of the other way around. It's a big change, but I would have been doing the "coulda, woulda, shoulda" game until we tried it out. I'm excited. Here's to hoping we find the right house and neighborhood. <br><br>

Good luck in the house hunting! It's too bad you couldn't stay in the place you love. If I had my druthers, I'd be living in another state too--but you gots to go where the livings are.<br><br>

Cheers and good luck squareman! I'm sure you will find a nice new home.<br><br>How is the babe doing anyway? Probably much different from your picture there eh? They get big too fast!<br><br> [color:yellow]We rarely confide in those who are better than we are. </font color=yellow> [color:orange]Albert Camus </font color=orange>

Yes, the boy is getting big. Almost sitting up by himself already. I should post new pictures, but we've been so busy with the moving thing that we've barely had time to breath.<br><br>

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the Pacific NW. I live about 83 miles from PDX so you will have a similar climate, if not a little warmer. The Oregon Coast is one of our favorite places along with the scenic drives out the Gorge towards Hood River. We loved San Francisco but it was very expensive to be there any longer than we were. Keep us posted!<br><br>

Don't get me wrong, I love Portland too. I've been coming up here for years, always noting how much I love it every time I am here. It's just a very odd feeling to be finally making the move, y'know? <br>

I'm actually at the mom-in-law's place in Vaugn, WA at the moment—she hasn't seen her grandson since New Year's so we came up here for a few days first. We have an appointment early Tuesday morning with our realtor in PDX so we'll be down there by Monday night.<br><br>

That's a good thing, then.<br><br>And yes, do find the time to post pics <br><br>

You sound excited! Anytime you can't stop and smell the flowers , then you know it's time for change. It will be great for your family to be close to friends and realitives, and it is beautiful there. Good luck on your new adventure. Even house hunting will be fun. And we need some more pics of the baby...<br><br>

it's always exciting to move. good luck. what's the most important thing you gonna miss?<br><br>