When I lived in Portland, I could tell myself I’m just a few hours flight from Pennsylvania, or a few days drive.

Imagine crossing a distance in a time when you really didn’t think you might ever go back the route you came, uncertain of ever seeing those left behind, and no instant communication!

I often felt Portland isolating, or isolated, compared to Philadelphia or Lancaster, where this always another, bigger city with lots of people just down the road.

Portland really IS the light on in the great Forest of NW Oregon- driving back into town from Mt Hood or the Coast brought the sense of a return to civilization for me (along with rides on MAX thru the Zoo tunnel to simulate riding the subway!