Here in Chicago at the BlogHer conference, I find a near-uniform reaction from people when they learn I am from Oregon. They almost swoon. “Oh, Oregon!” these nice ladies exclaim. “It’s so green and beautiful.” 
Learning I am from Portland in particular amps up the positive response. “Oohhh, Portland. I love Portland. I want to move there.” I smile and acknowledge that it’s a great place to live. (Interestingly, I haven’t heard one person at this conference of 1,500 people use the word ‘sustainability’. That will surely change today when I lunch with other green bloggers.) The deeper conversation, one that I just may get to have with some fan of Oregon before I fly back home, would go something like this.
If you do move out to Oregon to enjoy our quality of life, may I ask you (I might say) to do a few things that have helped create the place you’re so attracted to?
- support its progressive land-use laws that are steadily under attack (the Metolius River just got protected after an intense legislative battle)
- take the time to recycle (one small trash-can of garbage per month like my household creates is not uncommon)
- use our award-winning public transit system and bike-lane system, and drive your car only as a final resort
- consider volunteering with some of our many excellent non-profit organizations
- support Oregon’s economy by buying local, including buying groceries and produce at our lively, well-stocked farmers’ markets
My experience is that a high quality of life and a beautiful environment like Oregon has is actually the result of disciplined choices and habits by both individual citizens and policy-makers. There’s lots of joy and satisfaction in those disciplines, and I see them as integral to the diamond-cut life.
photo courtesy of Odalaigh
Related Posts:
- Happiness = Quality of Life, Not Urban Growth
- Living Out The Triple Bottom Line
- Heat Wave: Slow Down
Hello Alison – It was so nice to meet you at BlogHer! You’ve got a good point about making disciplined choices to create a high quality life. We all should be doing that in our own cities! I’ll be back to read more of your good ideas.
Micaela