Why choose Portland?

It's always the first question when I tell people I'm moving so, here are just a few reasons.

Environmental Awareness: The picture (from npr.org) is a view of Portland traffic from a bike commuter. According to Bicycling Magazine, Portland has the highest number of bike commuters in the country. Portland also has an efficient, cheap public transportation system made up of light rail, an extensive bus network and the downtown street car system. We are about to become a one vehicle family. Yay! Combine this with the city's recycling and soon to begin composting programs, the many excellent vegetarian and vegan restaurant choices and we are happy people.

-Domestic Partner Benefits: From basicrights.com "More than 1,500 Oregonians in seven cities turned out on a dark and rainy night to share their outrage and frustration with the delay in Oregon’s domestic partnership law - and to express solidarity with the hundreds of families who are urgently depending on the law."

The new domestic partner law should have gone into effect in January but has been held up in court (for the moment). Still, it makes me proud to be moving to a city where more people show up in support of the law than in opposition. Apparently, the group that has managed to get the passage of the law tied up in the courts is based out of Arizona. Of course.

-Dust: Or the lack of anyway. Finally I will be able to wear my contacts witout feeling like there are microscopic shards of glass in my eyes.

-Ben's kick-ass family. There are no words to describe how excited we are to be living near them.

Now this is not to say that there are not things we will miss about Arizona. Most of my family is here along with a great group of friends (some who will thankfully be following us to Portland).

We know everyone will be coming to visit us soon in our new home...right?