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I moved to Portland in late 2006 because my adult daughter lives here.  Since coming, I have met many, many other people who moved/retired here because adult children are here.  I have no idea whether that phenomenon is as common in other cities.  

I do know that as retirees, often early retirees, we have leaped into Portland life, volunteering, participating in arts, schools, civic activities, trying to contribute whatever we can to this place we have quickly come to love.

posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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I am a feminist of a certain age who was active from the beginning, but to me feminism means that I assume males and females are equally potentially qualified, so I just look at the individuals. And I think Barack Obama is more what the country needs right now.

We have to think of what gender means. In some ways her campaign seems more masculine (attacking, borderline dirty tricks, insinuations) and his more feminine (conciliatory, understanding, mediating). From my point of view, Hillary is the good old boy, insider, battle scarred, politician. Barack is younger, and because of his mixed, international background almost uniquely able to rise above the fray.

This has become a small, immensely interconnected, dangerous world and (despite our lagging behind many nations who have had female leaders), I think Obama would be more favorably viewed abroad because of his background and desire for rapprochement (sp?).
Since America seems to be in a real mess, which seems overwhelming, he is the one to me that is most likely to motivate us to believe that we can do something about it. We are going to have to make tough choices and change our ways of thinking, and I hope his oratorial skills (a la JFK), ability to step back and see the larger picture, ability to understand his enemies, and unruffled demeanor will help us believe change is possible.

For all these reasons, I have chosen Barack despite his being a male and the internal and external pressure to back the woman.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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