The northwest does seem preoccupied with getting visitors to either stay away or spend their money and get out as quickly as possible. My step son and his family live in Washington. The last time I was there, I noticed a stick on label on their phone that said, "Remember to tell 'em it's raining!" One time, as we were traveling through Oregon, our motor home, with California plates, started making an expensive sounding grinding noise, along with a funny burning smell. I stopped at an RV repair place and explained what was happening and asked if they could have someone come out and try to identify the smell while the engine was still hot. I said I wasn't in a hurry for the repair, but they needed to sniff the engine while it was still putting out the weird smell, then they could work on it later. The manager replied that they were busy and I'd just have to wait my turn. I said, "OK, but keep in mind that we're from California and the longer we wait around, the more likely we are to settle here." I was almost trampled in the stampede of mechanics rushing out to sniff my smoking engine. I still enjoy visiting the area, although I haven't had a chance to launch my M15 there yet. Bill Day Steve & Diana Parsons wrote:
Folks,
Actually, you can't get here from there. Roads are all blocked with Oregon Customs Officers, rains all the time, colder than ____ in the winter, don't see the sun for months on end, think the only color left on earth is gray.....
Seriously though, this is a wonderful place, just don't tell too many people. Prices of real estate are going up quickly as my fellow boomers are reaching retirement age in California.