TROUTDALE, OREGON

Well, Ana flew in today. It's so much fun to see her. I'm happy she is joining me until Denver! Anyhoo, we spent the afternoon (till about 3pm or so) in Seattle then headed down to Portland area. We are outside Portland tonight and will meet up with Rebecca (a friend of Ana's who apparently I met at her wedding last summer?) in Portland tomorrow.

FOR THE DAY

TRIP PLAN

May change, but, here's the plan is thus far:

Day 1: Seattle, WA (via Portland) to Boise, ID (8)
Day 2: Boise, ID (via Sun Valley, ID) to Park City, UT (6-8)
Day 3: Park City, UT to Boulder, CO (7)
Day 4: Boulder, CO
Day 5: Boulder, CO to Santa Fe, NM (6)
Day 6: Santa Fe, NM
Day 7: Taos, NM/Santa Fe, NM
Day 8: Santa Fe, NM to Norman, OK (8)
Day 9: Norman, OK to Hot Springs, AR (6)
Day 10: Hot Springs, AR to Oxford, MS (4)
Day 11: Oxford, MS to Asheville, NC (9)
Day 12: Asheville, NC
Day 13: Asheville, NC to Charlottesville, VA (6)
Day 14: Charlottesville, VA
Day 15: Charlottesville, VA to Malvern, PA (5)

And great news! Ana signed on for Seattle to Denver! Ping me if any part of this sounds interesting to YOU and I'll pick you up at the nearest airport! :-)

AH, THE BUBBLE

I can't find the source article for this graphic. I saw it on a random real estate person's blog yesterday. I was able to find this. Let me know if you can find the article with the below graphic.

Some of the advice articles seem to recommend: Get prepared and rent in the meantime. ;-)

SURVEY SAYS...

Well, I totaled up the "best place" lists I have. To be frank, it's not what I expected. A friend suggested that the results maybe skewed because I used some retirement lists. I'm surprised that towns like North Adams, MA or Madrid, NM is not appearing here because I know I've seen them in a couple lists.

Also, if a town was referenced in an article that I printed or saved for ANY reason - a point was given for that. For example, I recently pulled an article on the unique stores popping up in downtown Oxford, MS. So, Oxford got an extra point for that.

I am certain there are errors in my methods. However, it's an interesting listing none-the-less. I don't have the energy at the moment to redo it.

MORE TO TALK ABOUT

Some other things I hope to discuss on this blog space: gentrification and shifting population.

And this general premise:
Historically, culture developed in big city places like Manhattan, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles where there was a large population and fusion of different kinds of people. To add fuel, artists, creatives and younger educated people tended to relocate to these urban locations (think: Left Bank Paris, Greenwich Village or even Hollywood).

In the 1990's, smaller cites started getting attention. Seattle, Austin and Boulder picked up population and were touted as 'digital age leaders'. It has been said this is because they had the lifestyle amenities like access to outdoor recreation that tended attract the 'knowledge worker'. (a 2000 Richard Florida sorta thing). Additionally, aging hippies turned yuppie tend to be found in these 'latte town' locations. (a year 2000 David Brooks term).

Seems however, last several years, cites like Omaha, Boise, Baltimore and Dayton have been tagged as affordable and up-and-coming with the idea set. Or a created art community in a rural, low population town, like Marfa, Texas or Paducah, Kentucky.

But, with broadband internet access, will we need to be bound to a physical place at all for an exchange of ideas in the future?

BLOG BEGINS

Blog begins with a trip. At this time, the trip will take place from June 1 to June 22. It will start in Seattle, Washington and end in Malvern, Pennsylvania. You may ask such questions as "Why Malvern?", "Why the 22nd?" Well, a garden tour is planned at Kate and Brook's house on that date with Miss Livy and Mr. Kevin in attendance. This is an unusual confluence that I don't want to miss! (Translation: family gathering at my sister's involving mom and dad.)

Or, you may go right to the root, and ask "Why The Trip at all?". Well, the purpose is threefold: trends, ideas and relocation. I'll get into that more as we go along...

But first, a diversion. For as long time, I've had an interest cross-country America travel combined with an interest in emerging _______ . (You fill in the blank: places, patterns, ideas, trends, design, art, social comments, people, boutiques, architecture, real estate, history, historic architecture, landscape, diy, crafts). Can this be collected under one term? Let me know if you know...

The place interest comes from a mixed-up, mash-up of influences. Take all the classic American road trip books and movies, then add Alistair Cooke "America" series (a particular favorite), plus Art Towns by John Villani, then Creative Class studies by Richard Florida, add something like"Bobos in Paradise" and "On Paradise Drive" by David Brooks. Then, a now ancient Utne Reader list titled "Most Enlightened Towns". Also, place lists always grab my attention (or are sent to me), like this one or this one (I can't help but think, 'Why wait to retire? Why now move there now!' :-).

At the root, I can't help but notice the same places keep hitting these lists and are talked about in these books. What's going on? I guess I want to see a few more (than I have) to assess the situation in person.

A recent read of "Peace Pilgram" did not help matters either ;-)

So, clearly this trip will not even BEGIN to touch on what I would like to see and do! It's been near impossible to keep it trim.

I plan to keep you posted here on what I'm seeing and learning along the way.