The good news is that I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I've managed to do most of the repairs and only have a few rooms left to paint. I should be done sometime this month if nothing interrupts the process.
If all goes as planned, we will sell our house in the not so distant future and get outta here. After nearly 20 years in California, I'm sad to say that we are getting out of dodge. I love the place. At least I love most of it. The beauty is incredible and the people can be great. There is so much to see and do. Unfortunately, the state has gone to hell in a hand basket and I don't see things improving. The cost of living is ridiculous and now that we have a son and hope to have another child, it would be nice to spend less time working and more time doing family things. (The idea that you can get twice the house on twice the amount of land at half the cost is crazy. That equates to less working and more time with family and of course-- fishing.)
My wife and I are lucky enough to have careers that allow us to go elsewhere. We are both self employed and can set roots just about anywhere. It will be sad and very strange to not be living in California anymore.
Where are we going? Will there be any blog posts in the future? I somehow convinced my wife to move to the Portland, Oregon area. The heart of steelhead country! She actually has friends there, so it wasn't as hard as it would of been otherwise. Whatever the case, I'm so excited to have this opportunity. There are dozens of great and famous steelhead rivers within a short drive. Even the North Umpqua is not too far away. It will be incredible. And I plan to continue with this blog- reporting on those rivers.
Some of you may recall myself going to Oregon to fish the Umpqua and then going up to Portland. That was actually a top-secret reconnaissance mission to scope out the area and find potential neighborhoods to live in.
For my friends in California that I've met through this blog, it will be sad not fishing with you. However, I'd gladly show any of you around the Oregon/Washington rivers I become familiar with down the line. Just give me a bit to figure things out, unless of course you want to figure it out with me. Everyone is invited.
Seeya in Oregon! (Due to the current market, selling the house may take more time than I'd like. So, I'll be doing plenty of fishing here in the Sunshine state before we have moved. And of course the reports will start up again at that time.)
