It’s been 4 months since I moved to Oregon. It takes a lot of time and effort to build new relationships after a move.

When we were newlyweds & moved to LA, I was bewildered but we had each other.

Now I’m single and finally returned to the land I love. Evenso, some days it takes a real push to get myself out there again & again to meet new people. And I’m meeting some wonderful people. It’s not that hard, it flows. It just takes effort. I remind myself it’s always uncomfortable walking into the unknown.

However, before I walk out the door, thoughts swirl, like:

“How do I avoid telling them I moved from Los Angeles, the place many Oregonians despise as if it were hell itself?”

When they ask “where did you move from?” I could say,

“I’m originally from Oregon & lived the first 30 years of my life in the Pacific Northwest, and the last few (40) years in California.”

Oh dear. I’m tired of all this.

I just want them to welcome me back because…

I AM AN OREGONIAN!!!

I didn’t come here an “equity rich Californian” who bought 7 homes & drove up prices! I’m renting!

I AM AN OREGONIAN!!

If you only knew how much I have missed the green lush forests, the seasons & sweet air & water of the Northwest & the slower, more down to earth pace of life, you’d see…

I AM AN OREGONIAN!

I didn’t want to move to Los Angeles. I moved there for someone I loved who got a great job offer there, my former husband. We only intended to stay a couple years & then move back, but his job & income was better than anything he could find in the Northwest. So we adapted. We bought a home, had children, I found a career I loved and we put down roots that grew deeper & deeper until we had grown such a huge tree it was almost impossible to move until the kids left home. When the kids did leave, our marriage came to an end as well. What a time that was! Suddenly I was alone in an empty nest & no husband to share it with. I wish I could have moved back to Oregon then, but I needed my job & my friends in LA, plus the expensive divorce dragged on for over 3 years. My mom in Oregon died right before our divorce was over. (I think she held on as long as she could to make sure I’d be ok.) That was seven years ago. Looking back, I realize I needed those seven years to heal up & pay off debts before I could move back to Oregon.

So Oregon, please welcome me home. I’ve longed to return for 40 years. Los Angeles was my “desert experience” and I grew up a lot there. My world was expanded tremendously by people from all over the world. The Mexicans were the most loving, generous, hard working people I’ve ever met. My life was greatly enriched by all the cultural diversity in LA. I used to think Iranians were all terrorists until we made friends with an Iranian family who invited us over for a wonderful dinner & our children played together. Experiences like these changed me forever and for the better. I’m a more open minded, less judgmental person now thanks to the people of Los Angeles. In my experience, it was the “City of Angels” because of the people I met there, despite an environment that’s hard to tolerate – the traffic, noise, air pollution…

I guess I’m missing LA a bit. I never thought I’d say that. But it was my home for 40 years. I raised a family there & shared many holidays & birthdays with friends & loved ones.

No wonder I feel a bit like a fish out of water

even-though I also feel so at home in the green of Oregon.

I’m not the same person I was 40 years ago.

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The first 30 years of my life were in Oregon & Washington. I built community there.

The next 40 years of my life were in the Los Angeles area. I built community there.

Now I’ve come full circle returning to where I began & where I intend to live & enjoy the rest of my days. And, I am building community again.

I realize I’m not just an Oregonian. I’m also a former Washingtonian and a former Californian. But beyond that limited identification, I am also an American and most importantly, I am a member of the human family on this precious planet Earth.

You are a child of the Universe. No less than the trees & the stars. You have a right to be here.

~ from “Desiderata”