Have you ever had the experience of never wanting to leave a
travel destination? Are you drawn back time after time to the same vacation
getaway? Perhaps it's time to consider making a permanent move to your happy
place.
It happened to us, and it took a leap of terror to achieve
our dream. Many might think we were too old to take on such an adventure, but
it’s never too late to stop sitting around thinking “what if” and just do it.
Obstacles may seem overwhelming, but if you map it all out, make list after
list and check off all your boxes, you might just find yourself living your
dream.
Our story started with a trip to Portland, Oregon, several
years back to visit an old friend. Traveling cross country, on the diagonal
from Florida, we were heading to a wedding in Big Sur and decided to check out
the northwest, taking our friend up on his invite. We were immediately smitten
with the natural beauty of the Rose City, and the
temperate summer weather was a relief from the heat of the southeast.
A year later, when our son expressed an interest in moving
to Portland, we were all for it. With suggestions for lodging and places to
visit during his exploratory weekend, he set out to, ultimately, find his new
home. He felt the same easy, friendly vibe we had experienced during our first
visit. As soon as he returned, he put his house on the market and never looked
back.
Over the next five years, we made many visits to our son's
new home state and explored more of the city and its surroundings. The cool,
crisp air and frequent sightings of Mount Hood and St. Helens never get old.
The mass transit system is phenomenal, with many options available on whichever
side of the Willamette River you land.
If I sound like a fan, you are most definitely correct. Each
time we visited, we didn’t want to leave; we felt
this place was where we belonged. Back home, we had family and friends,
including seven grandchildren. We knew we would miss them terribly, but
Portland kept calling us back. The thought of selling everything we owned and
heading to a new state with only a few boxes and suitcases was daunting.
We left what often felt like the tourist capital of the
world, Orlando, Florida. Having lived there since childhood, before Disney, the
theme park sector of the city had lost its sparkle and turned into an area that
many locals avoid. Some may want to separate their vacation favorites from
their permanent residence for this very reason. That old saying, "be
careful what you wish for," might apply to some destinations more than
others.
We visited Portland during each season, including the
occasional snow event, as well as the anomaly of 100-degree
summer days. We stayed in basement studios as well as upscale downtown hotels.
We walked the city and the surrounding neighborhoods, searched for waterfalls
and drove to Timberline Lodge atop Mount Hood.
An aerial view of Mount Hood with Timblerline Lodge at the bottom. (Photo Credit: Jesse Cobb Photography / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Our curiosity has not wavered, and we expect to be exploring
for years to come. Having previously lived in a flat, sunny state, the daily
walks in the northwest are full of surprises, and we sometimes feel like we’re
on a different planet. But we never feel like aliens in this new region, as
we’ve been warmly welcomed at every turn. The final test will be getting
through a dismal, rainy winter. However, we feel it will be worth the chilly
temperatures when spring arrives and explodes in the Rose City’s namesake
flower display.
If we need an escape from the cold, we have the Mexican
Riviera to the south and Hawaii to the west, providing many options and new
destinations to explore.
So, if you are toying with the idea of becoming a resident,
rather than a tourist, in your favorite part of the world, do your homework,
try to remain realistic about the outcome and go for it. Life is short; just do
it.
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