Things I like about Oregon:

• Watching the dogs run around in the Pacific ocean surf (and learning a valuable lesson about drinking salt water).
• The sunflowers that seem to fill every highway median on the east side of the state.
• Fresh clam chowder, salmon, and swordfish tacos.
• Seeing multiple vehicles with surfboards strapped to their roofs on highway 20 (but also seeing beaches near Newport with waves, but surfer-free)
• Elevation changes and associated vistas.
• Roads that wind around mountains.
• A man trying to bring a dog into a library and arguing that the guys at the Co-op down the street let him do it.
• Oregon State’s campus (and getting hyped for college football games in the fall).
• The Williamette River, clean and wide (and thinking about kayaking on it).
• A downtown in Corvallis that is organized and walkable/bikeable and full of life. In fact this is probably the coolest city I’ve ever been to.
• And more, but my fifteen minute time limit on this library computer is winding down.

Things I don’t like about Oregon:

• We still haven’t found (and might not be able to find) a place to live with three dogs and rent is astronomical. I really don’t want to give up on the Corvallis dream, but it’s looking a little grim right now. We can only stay in a Super 8 Motel for so long, you know.

Frantically packing… I don’t think much is going to fit in the car along with two people and three dogs. Oh well, next time this computer is online will probably be in Oregon. Farewell!

Getting to that point where we’re starting to say last this and last that. Last Monday in Michigan. Last time putting the recycling bins out on the curb. Last time I buy milk at Meijer. Last time grilling out in the backyard.

Tomorrow is my last day at the pool. It’s been a good run even though this year was a bit of a downer. If I’d quit two years ago (like I said I was going to then) I’d be leaving with a sense of nostalgia, but now I’m just ready to be done with it.

Given our limited cargo space for the trip out, I’ve been packing and repacking boxes (though Mary just thinks I’m making messes), trying to squeeze in as much stuff as possible. Within a day or two here I think we’ll have things organized to our liking.

It’s weird to think that it’s almost time to leave. A week from right now we’ll be somewhere west of the Rockies.

So the deal is this. Everything is still on track for the house sale and going absolutely as smoothly as anyone could hope for. Inspection, check. Appraisal, check. We’re even selling some of our things (that we otherwise would probably have given away) to the buyers. No complaints here for not having to move a lawn mower.

These next few weeks are all about chaos and the reduction of chaos. Our house is beginning to look bare as Mary spent a couple of hours yesterday removing furniture. I’m going to go pick up my ebay-purchased vehicle this week from Chicago and most likely trade in the Monte. And soon, hopefully by the end of this week, we’ll be just about at moving-day-ready status.

Sold! There, I’m going to say it. No jinxing for me.

Sunday afternoon we got a full price offer (plus $100 for good measure) contingent on an inspection in the next week or so here. We move to Oregon next month! There is so much to do, but everything is an adventure from here on out.