I came to Portland, Oregon on vacation from Chicago 23 years ago, almost as an afterthought. I was headed to Expo ’86 in Vancouver BC, and had 4 extra days so I flew here instead of Seattle. I still remember looking at the little red dot on the map and thinking “Hmm, I’ll check it out.” I was enchanted when I got off the plane in May and could smell the trees. Everything was so green.

The following year I spent 2 weeks in Oregon, and the year after I simply moved here. I’ve never regretted it. I’ve been lucky enough to vacation in every state in the US and know that I live in heaven on earth.