Portland

vs. stay in Berkeley

I'm contemplating a move; not an easy decision.

Portland:

So, I have many possible futures. I am faced with a choice between two places to live: Berkeley or Portland, OR. I imagine there is a seemingly infinite number of other places I could go, as well. In any case, I'm content where I am, and feel no need or compunction to change anything (yet). But it could be fun; it might even be better! There are SO many factors to consider, in what could be a simple flip of the coin!! But, to do this intelligently, I'll make a list, and check it twice, and use my brain instead of trusting my future to God or Chance.

Weather, family, libraries, rent/wifi/utilities, gym, kp, wag!, food, gtu, kalx, social/dating, SPA, sanity

that's about it, in a nutshell.

Novelty, variety, challenge, change, mixing it up, curiosity, and budget/comfort are important.

Love? Should I pray on it? Ask God and my guardian angel and the powers that be for guidance?

Maybe I should trust that I'll be totally fine, anywhere?

What am I trying to leave behind? Insanity;

annoying, stupid, mean, ugly, rude, ignorant, unhealthy, fat, criminal, deluded, incompetent people

What am I looking for, in a new situation?

Sanity, love, friends, kindness, joy, health, laughter, security, safety, and fun!

I want to learn, master, teach MASD (martial arts, self defense)

I want to read a book/day

I want to lose my gut, gain muscle and flexibility

I want sanity and wealth and comfort and new friends and bliss

I can do all this now, anywhere

wants

I want unlimited data

I want sex

I want longevity and book list completion

I want to travel

I want to be published

I want peace

I want to be free from want, enlightened, with equanimity-

without ignorance/delusion/greed/suffering/attachments/craving/aversion

I want to set an example

I want to make the world a better place

I want to live, that is to say, live!

I want to be creative

live until you die is the only way to stay sane

doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is insanity

stay? (leave: it's all good?) taco, rover, junie, kaleb, poutine. Mountain mike's.

I don't want to leave Marlen, Julie and Sam (n Miette), Teresa, or $740.00 rent, in Bkly!

Wag, free food, gtu, kalx, campus library, local public libraries, gym, kp, ike's, family

____

also,

I made this list of Berkeley attributes/virtues, to compare/contrast Potland to-

-libraries (Cal, GTU, bpl, link+)

  albany, oakland, sfpl.  (Bkly has 4 branches, 1 central, and 1 tool library) 

  I could use the Cal library as a non-student if I have a research project...

-friends (roommates, dog owners), and family

-weather

-bkly free clinic (dental), MHA (mental health advocates, nearby)

-religious variety (shambala, cs, unitarian, holy hill, glide) 

Portland has Kaiser, and Wag!, and libraries, and restaurants, and religious variety, and parks (520 I'm told!), and wetter weather (not a problem for me), and museums, and gyms.. (and Reed)

In fact, I'm told it has "everything but family for $400/mo rent" -Sara

    i've never been there (yet)

if i don't go, Sara and Pierre will rent out the "in-law" unit, air bnb

I have to look into seeing if Oregon offers similar health insurance. 

My current wifi/utilities/rent package of $740-/mo is pretty good. 

   Hard to walk away from, actually.  Plus the weather.

SF has 52 museums, GG park, glen park;

bkly has tilden, ymca (with pool), GTU (a pleasant, relaxing place)

(bro)Greg and Liz, nephews ben and declan/mom n dad/cousins/aunt and uncle

msj (mission san jose, where i volunteer)

Sara, Pierre, and Augustus just returned from Portland.  They looked at a few properties, didn't make any offers, waiting for "the perfect house."  So it could be awhile.