Another Life

We can explore lighthouses now

Remember how, at the beginning of the year, I told you we would start a new life in Barcelona, Spain? Well, it didn't quite work out that way. After some hard thinking we agreed to Barcelona and to accept my new job. Not too long after that, the company closed the site in Barcelona, so moving there didn't seem such a good choice any more.
Intel gave us several alternative options, including Hillsboro near Portland, Munich, and the Bay Area. We had hoped to stay in Europe longer, and Munich is a great city, but in the end we decided on Hillsboro in Oregon. Lee Ann thinks she has a better chance of finding work here, and I think it is a better career move for me.

Weather on the coast yesterday was not great

The cats and I arrived here a week ago. Lee Ann is getting ready to leave Albuquerque. She is getting our house there ready to be rented out. Our furniture and things from there have been picked up and are on the way here. So are the things we had in Dublin, although they might still be on a ship crossing the Atlantic. James is in Austin for another year of college and Anika is in Barcelona, planning to teach English starting this Fall.
Yesterday afternoon I drove out to Tillamook Bay to see the Pacific. It was 90 (32 Celsius) and sunny here in Hillsboro but when I got to the coast it was overcast and in the low 60s (16 Celsius) in the evening. Obviously, we'll be there visiting a lot in the future. There are a lot of hiking trails and things to see. It takes about 1.5 hours from here, but it is easily doable in an afternoon, have dinner in a seaside restaurant, and be back home for bed time.

On some beaches it is allowed to drive and get your car stuck in  the sand

Everybody here drives a Subaru and they are all into local foods and drinks. That sounds good to me. We'll miss Europe and will be back to visit frequently, but for now we have found a new place to explore. Pictures, as usual, are on picasa.