Anchored

[Wilbur Kookmeyer]

What keeps you here? Not the OSP, but the PNW.

Does anyone actually choose to live and be a surfer here? Or is it all circumstance?

I have circumstance.

I have this...



She keeps me rooted in more ways than just where I live, however in a short 5 years, my end of this lease is up..and so is my love/hate affair with the cold water and miserable prevailing conditions.

With so many waves, breaking on so many beaches, in so many locales, what keeps you here?

Choice?
Circumstance?

What?

[Doc]

I like it here...

I grew up where it's warm...

And might go back when I get alot older ...

But for now...

And despite no surf for 18 days now...

I like surfing here...

Seems more risky.

Doc

[redalert]

grew up here
had same HS teachers as my parents
left here to someplace warm 10 years on the loose
granny was born on the homestead in the coast range
came back because older relatives werent going to be around forever
oh and because of a pretty good left point
couldnt leave here now even if I wanted to
Im okay with that

[gills]

I like the politics of Oregon and the wilderness is pretty kickass--

I love surfing here and I dig the surf culture. I've met a crapload of very cool folks from surfing and I like the vibe.

I travel enough for 'perfect waves' but I learned here and really have no desire to live somewhere else-- I mean, where else can you have what we have in the US? I surfed in seven different countries and haven't had the urge to hit Cali or Hawaii. All I think about in those places is-- crowds. Crowds and attitude.

If I had designs of being a pro, I'd be a little bummed living here. I read doc's blog about everyday and think of singular of a thing it really is-- I picture him traveling, alone in remote spaces. There aren't no Docs in Cali....

Only other two places I'd like to live, as far as surfing is concerned, is Tofino and Nova Scotia. I like warm water, but the bugs get to me after a while and I like jeans, beanies and hoodies. I grew up in Minnesota so Oregon is tropical in comparison.

[surfnride]

good topic...I choose to live here,
Because I got way to much sun as a kid. I Like mountains and trees also.
Because one season gets boring, I like storms.
I hate crowds, both surfing and outdoors.
Surfing in southern ca, just wasn't the outlet I was looking for with all the people, the traffic, the tickets for beers on the beach ect.
I have lived in southern cal, central cal, central oregon and now southern washington.
There is no perfect place anymore, its all a trade off,
If surfing was my only hobby/ sport I would not be here.

My hats off to those that learn and become good surfers here in the northwest.
I think key to sanity up here is winter travel.

[Gazsurf]

Tides washed me in and tides are going to wash me out.

[Doc]

Which tides do you refer to?

Doc

[Gazsurf]

Human conflicts within the spectrum of 20thC Cold War political gamesmanship? Those tides.....

[Doc]

I always recognized you as a cold warrior..

Doc

[The Betty]

...........................................................................

you know the drill boys

[Gazsurf]

We were just getting warmed up, what's your problem lady?

[The Betty]

Doc just came on to you. Im severely homophobic, I thought I made that clear.

[Gazsurf]

Maybe you oughta loosen the strings a touch........................

[The Betty]

How bad do you want to keep your girlfriend?


The question at hand, why am I here still? Fear of leaving. Comfort zone. To make other people happy and ignore my own peace of mind. I do love it here, its a beautiful place. But Im over it.

[freckleface]

Definitely choice. Oregon has a hold on me.
However, the state of the State itself is disheartening--especially so when being directly affected by working for state government.

We may end up moving to Washington.