The image I've had ever since I met you, Ronni, is that you dug yourself out of the soil of NYC and carried yourself to Maine in a pot, intending to re-plant yourself, but that your roots are still in the pot. (Not all of them. Sadly-but inevitably-some broke off in the digging.)
So I think everything will happen fairly effortlessly now that you've made the decision.
There's a sense of rightness about your choice of location,too. And as you say, circling back to one's origins is common in the later years. I did the same thing. I got 'green lights' all the way and I think you will also.

Oh boy, that's exciting news--your plan to move to Portland, 5 hours north of where I live in Ashland.

There are many great neighborhoods in Portland. I always liked the Hawthorne district, which is a very lively neighborhood with great bookstores, movie theaters, delis and cafes. Also NW 24th street area is great, not as down home as Hawthorne, more upscale, but with similar amenities. I haven't spent time in the Pearl district, but I know it is an artistic center of the city.

Great news, Ronni. We did the same, 7 years ago. Lived near Philly for 38 years, then returned to family in this small Ohio town....there has been a culture shock, but far more affordable with lots of supportive family & extended family nearby. The move will be an adventure especially since it's the best one for you. If I could, I'd help you move. Dee

Ronni - I am thrilled for you. Excited for you. I relocated 6 months ago to my much loved country property. Built a smaller home and the good news is - I have a contract on my city home. I had to take a small loss - but it is worth it. I need to move on and the last piece of the puzzle is falling in place.
All I know is that my heart is at peace.
Best of wishes to you in all that is going to take place. I am looking forward to reading about your journey.
My journey is similar but different in many ways. Bottom line is whatever years we have left on earth - we need to be where our heart leads us.

Good luck with the new chapter in your life! I look forward to following along from my own place here. :-)

The pictures were beautiful! No wonder you feel called to return. Family relationships become more and more important as we age and realize our own brevity. When we are young we think we have forever to strengthen and maintain those relationships, but age and loss of loved ones make it clear that delaying isn't always an option.

Portland is such a creative city. That alone is a way of prolonging life's feast. I just read that in a new book I'm reading called The Wisdom Paradox. And right now, I'm all for appreciating every moment of that feast.

Good luck on finding a place with all of the qualifications you are looking for! Bon Appetite!

Oh, Ronni, I am so happy for you that you have made the decision to go back to Portland ,and I am doubly delighted that you seem to be able to do it fairly easily,at no great sacrifice.

The fact that your current place is so saleable and you have family and friends at the other end of your move to help you is just wonderful and you deserve all that.

I suppose most of your loyal readers feel exactly as Marion does. Since you have written often about your move from Manhattan, we all have the feeling of you being like a fish out of water. Or at least like a fish in the wrong aquarium..

We can afford to be very happy for you because, through the wonder of the Internet, you will still be be here with us..

I visited the suburbs of Portland for many years because we had a branch office in Tigard. Just a stones throw from Lake Oswego, as you know. But, if I were looking for a city place I would look around the University. Between Salmon and Clay and Broadway and 12th. There's a nice Safeway store there and usually I don't say much about their stores. It's pretty much 'downtown' so you will see the street people and Portland has many, but the benefits of being downtown certainly outweigh the trouble of an occasional panhandler. That's my nickles worth!

From my reading of your life in Maine, I felt that you always felt a pull toward returning to Oregon. I am glad that you have made your decision. Wishing you all the best in your move to Portland. Gladys

Ronni, I'm in Salem, but on an unrelated issue--have you thought about renting first?

I have no particular dread of the Oregon real estate market, but I've moved about 20 times in my life, and I never truly feel I know any place for sure until I've lived there 3 years.

And yes, I rent, as I have the in last two states. I sold a Florida home--in six hours--at the height of the boom.

No one gets that lucky twice.

So, why not rent til you see how you like the neighborhood, because Portland has lots of nice ones to choose from.

I remember when you were pondering "Which Portland?" Beth and I were looking into Portland, OR then. It was fantasy-driven for us. Couldn't really afford it, but while we looked we spread out our search along the MAX lines all the way out to Hillsboro.

There is, in Portland just east of the Willamette, a neighborhood that just knocked me out, a neighborhood of parks and sidewalks and little rose gardens with streets set on the diagonal to the rest of the urban rectilinear grid. It's bounded by 12th Ave SE, 20th Ave SE, SE Division Street and SE Hawthorne Blvd. The houses in these little diamond shaped blocks look well maintained, and it has a bus line. For all I know it's a neighborhood of muggers and thieves and a person wouldn't dare be on the streets at night. But the people might be good neighbors. Don't know, but it sure was pretty when we drove through it. And it's flat. It would be exciting to live up the hill across the river near Washington Park, but the slopes--well, one's mileage will vary.

Good luck with the move, Ronni. I'll enjoy reading here about your progress!

The feeling of "my homeland" is so familiar to me. I left No. Calif. in my 20's and life's events took me eventually to Iowa where all my daughters were raised. Finally, after 45 yrs. I joyfully returned to the Sacramento Valley, my homeland where I got to be near my brother and my Mom until she died. But, since all my husband's 3 kids and my four and their families live in the midwest and beyond (Portland, ME, too!), I sucked it up and moved back to Iowa 2.5 yrs ago. (After enduring one winter, we now flee to So. Texas in Dec.) The pull of family is stronger than the tug of homeland, but I still long for my "sunny California". So, lucky you, Ronni, to have the choice and the means to go home.

After fifty years away, my husband and I returned "home" after a snap decision. We bought a home over the phone from a friend. We awaken happily in our childhood town every day. Five years later have never doubted the wisdom of this move. Best wishes and good luck.

I was wondering what had happened to this idea of yours. You couldn't pick a better city to nose into, I don't think. Portland is progressive in its urban development and there are several small neighborhoods developing with all the amenities within walking distance. The mass transit is the best in the country, too. I was always happiest in the Northwest area of Portland - close in to downtown - but that was a long time ago and things may be different now.

Good luck on this adventure, Ronni.

Congratulations on your decision. The comments show you have more than the average number of advisors! Here's my thought: Don't dally too long in selling or buying. If you lived in your Maine place for five years, and you buy another home in 2010, you will be eligible for a $6,500 federal income tax credit. After that, who knows? Go for it, and pick up a nice check in the spring of 2011 to help glamorize your new home.

Ronni, I've been a fan of your blog ever since I found it last year. As a Maine native who lived in Manhattan for 14 yrs and is temporarily "squatting" at my sister's in southern Maine, I empathize with the "where to live" quandry. I thought Maine might be the place for me, but not so sure at this point. I think the earlier comment from Paula is a wise one - rent before you buy and give yourself a year to explore the "new" Portland. I lived in Seattle for 14 yrs and am very familiar with Portland too. You still need a car. Portland OR's public transport is better than Portland ME's, but still not great. Have you ever considered a neighborhood just north of Manhattan, like Bronxville? Now, you're talkin' access to the REAL city, with a wonderful "small town" feel. Multi-generational and lively. Stimulation abounds. I'm looking for a job working with the old/older/elder population back in NYC, that will allow me to live in a great nearby community, and not in a 260 sq.ft. shoebox like the 4th flr walk-up I just sold in the East Village. NYC is still the best place to age, in my opinion. EVERYONE IS WELCOME. Thank you for the opportunity to share my opinion. Go with your heart and all the best to you.

"Home" is such an ambiguous word. I was born in Chicago, left there at the age of three (It would be a real stretch for me to call the windy city "home".)
Raised in and around NYC and left there when I was 18. A year in college near San Francisco. Then six years in the Marines ("Home" was where I dumped my sea-bag) 5 years in Paris, 7 in Milan, 12 in the UK and, and.. finally (I thought) 13 in Santa Barbara. Now celebrating my tenth anniversary in Austin.
"Are we there yet?"
Probably not, I guess I'll wander til I can't move under my own steam.
Good luck to you Ronni. I hope you find what you're looking for in Portland.

I recall your mentioning this in a previous post, and I'm glad you haven't dropped the idea. I think it would be a good move, and hope all goes smoothly.

As a starting point for information, I would suggest looking at the About.com site on Portland:
http://portlandor.about.com/

There's a section on neighborhoods that looks informative.

Never lived either place, but visited both and my vote goes to Oregon hands down in spite of the rain. Far better than the cold and snow and ice in Maine, and far better as well since you like gardening. All that rain makes for georgeous roses. I did think the suggestion about a place north of Manhattan might be worth a think-through though. One possible negative about transportation in NY is the necessity of climbing upstairs or downstairs to reach the subways in NYC--most of the elevators smell like urinals or vomit so they're basically useless as an alternative. It may be easy to climb stairs now, but eventually may not be. I think my personal choice would still be Oregon. When things fall into place so easily like this has so far, I tend to think it was meant to be. Best of luck!

Sounds like you've made a fine decision. Best of luck on your move! All your readers will enjoy following your progress.

Good for you! Great decision, and I know it will be a happy move. Congrats!

Ronni, I am so happy for you! How nice that you can follow your heart. That cold and snow in Maine might become more and more troublesome, and the gardens in Oregon are lovely. Best of luck!

All right! Welcome to the Pacific Northwest! The Pearl is a nice area and there are condos there. It's very hip, though, and might be expensive. On the other hand, if you're in a position to sell high in this market, you can probably buy pretty well. Just be close to Powell's!

Though a little late to party, I'm another supporter of your moved. Of course, there's bias on my side: we're delighted with our move to Portland, O., 5 months ago to be closer to our daughter and her young family.

"Openness" is the word that comes to mind right away about people in PDX. Will email you with thoughts on neighborhoods and agree with the pluses on living in downtown area.

Very good wishes on selling your apartment. yours, naomi

Yep. Good move. Portland has lots of amenities, and you will have family and friends there. It's an easy place, pretty much.

As someone who's only really moved once in her life and hated every minute of the move, although I do enjoy living in the new place, I am flabbergasted, and full of admiration! Go for it, girl!

Wow, I'll have to come back and read all the interesting comments your post generated.
I live in Silverton, about 40 miles away from Portland -- but I did live in Portland for a year in the 1980s. I had a condo in the Hawthorne District, which is an area I loved and still love. There are many single family homes in the area and the neighborhood is wonderfully eclectic. The homes are older, real Portland-y type places.

I have a friend who has lived in Ladds Circle for decades. Again, it's an old neighborhood, really close-in, and seems great although I know nothing about it really.

I just love Portland SO much. Really hope that some time after you're settled we can meet for coffee!

Well, as we say around here...and we mean it...< href="http://www.keepportlandweird.org/">KEEP PORTLAND WEIRD! Really. Follow the link to the website!

I just noticed that Frank Paynter also mentioned SE Hawthorne. The area where I lived was off 34th, so a bit further up from the 20th street boundary Frank mentioned. But, yes, that's an area you might want to spend some time looking over.

I've created 10 homesteads since 1975, criss-crossing the country with my belongings. The best advice I can give you is to be ruthless in purging your possessions before you have to unpack those things you've never/will never use but which you've paid to ship anyway.

When people ask "which place did you like the most" I always say that each was perfect for its time in life. Best of Luck as you move into the perfect place for this time of your life.
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