Today is my last full day in Oceanside, at least at the place I live now.  There are a lot of feelings/ideas/thoughts associated anytime I move.  Today is a very positive day; this is a good move and I'm looking forward to where I'm headed next, namely another amazing bike ride.  I hope never to take for granted the fact that I can just do this astounding thing of riding through America with friends. 

One thought I wanted to record - as much for myself as anyone - is a realization that Oceanside has helped me come to: that life is not about the pursuit of paradise.  In a very physical sense, Oceanside and Portland where I came from) couldn't be more different.  This place - especially today - is a tiny slice of paradise: perfect weather, palm trees, rolling waves.  And yet, in some ways I was happier in Portland.  The weather made me miserable, yes, let's not discount that.  But what really matters to me, it turns out, is friendships, community, and a meaning, a worthwhile thing or set of things to work towards.  Portland provided me with a structure, through climbing, hiking and mountaineering, to achieve things: I became a college professor, taught SAT prep, learned to climb mountains, etc.  So yes, the weather was awful, but the *humanity* was better.  We'll have to see if I can find both at once.