Brendan Gates

Every two or three years, Ladyfriend and I like to try and take a trip somewhere not close to home. This time around we went to Europe. We flew into Brussels and spent a couple days there, then took a train to Cologne and spent a couple days there, then train to Munich for a few, then finally a train up to Amsterdam where we spent our final three days and flew out.

My pictures are here on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendangates/collections/72157627835373245/

It was a great trip. Belgium was cool but I probably couldn’t find a compelling reason to ever go back. Cologne and Munich were the cleanest and friendliest cities. They also felt oddly “American” compared to Brussels & Amsterdam, since the Germans like normal (large) sized cars, sausages, beer & boobs – not unlike your average resident of say, Milwaukee or Chicago. And Amsterdam was the hippest city (and most expensive, by far), and also the easiest to get around in. Everybody spoke English, and the public transit was super easy to navigate.

It’s official. We’re moving back to Missouri.

Ladyfriend got a new job (within the same company) that requires relocation, and I’m coming along for the ride. I work remotely anyway, so I can do that from most any city I would choose to live in. We’ve even had our offer accepted on a house we wanted, and at this point we’re going through the whole inspection/loan acquisition process. With luck we’ll be all moved and settled by the end of January.

I’m excited to go back, mostly because of family and friends that I’ve been away from for the last three years. But I’ve been a little surprised at how sad it’s made me to think of leaving Oregon.

Sure, I’ve had my differences with the Beaver state. I drove my Prius into town thinking I would fit right in, and quickly learned that “liberal” in the Midwest is not the same thing as “liberal” on the West Coast, putting me squarely into a political no man’s land. It also rains here. A lot. Home prices seem inflated, which is in stark contrast to the shockingly high homeless population that peppers the city’s street corners. And then there’s the football team. Just as I start to feel smug about Mizzou’s recently succesful years, I need only look outside to see countless flags, stickers, jerseys and hats to remind me of the Ducks – a team poised to take the National Championship, if not break into dynasty status.

But Oregon has offered me quite a bit during my time here.  For starters, I doubt that I’ll ever live in a place with as much natural beauty. Mountain views, the Pacific coast only an hour away, Crater Lake, countless waterfalls, and parks everywhere. Natural offerings that are only improved by the gorgeous summer weather. I also had the privilege of helping create something bigger than myself. We opened a new center for my company, taking it from construction site to a bustling office, with all of us pitching in to build, hire, train, clean, install, market and do whatever else was needed to open those front doors. To see that facility today, and know that it will be here long after I am gone, is something that will always give me great pride. It is quite easily my proudest professional achievement.

And of course, there’s the people. I met so many great people, and nothing will be harder to leave behind. I will miss working with all of them, the ridiculous water-cooler chats we had, and being the office’s all-around go to nerd.

So fare thee well, Oregon. I’ll come back and visit sometime. Go Ducks!

My parents visited Ladyfriend and I in our Oregon outpost this past week. They got to see the sights and have as much fresh seafood as each meal would allow. Good times were had by all, in other words.

I put some of my pictures are up on Flickr here.