I’m about to embark on a 3,000 mile road trip across the country and leave a place I called home for six years, Eugene Oregon. I’ve been wanting to leave for a long time now and trying to soak in the last few weeks has made me realize that what had become so familiar to me was quite amazing. This city has its quirks, its beauty, and most of all will always have a little piece of my heart.

I’m going to miss the city that is also known as Tracktown, USA. Eugene is one of the only places (that I know of at least) that has track groupies. People not only know your name, they know your events, your times, your marks and how you did dating back to high school. Some of them even add you on Facebook and proceed to like every photo posted that even remotely has to do with Track and Field. The local runners, collegiate or pro, are celebrities. Not only are the runners celebrated, historic Hayward field attracts the best fans and the best runners. They call it the Hayward Magic. There is really something special about that place. Eugene is truly part of the Track and Field culture and I am truly blessed to have been able to experience that magic.

I’m going to miss football game days. The entire city of Eugene shuts down and everyone searches their closet for their best green and yellow. Oregon doesn’t have a pro football team and because of that college football is praised. Duck fans are dedicated and even though it always rains at Autzen Stadium we zip up our Nike rain jackets and cheer on our Ducks!

I’m going to miss all the great coffee. I spent most of my time at Vero working on work, job applications, and this blog of course. The comfy feel, delicious coffee, and charming staff had me going back over and over again. Not to mention they had some adorable coffee art! If I was on the go, I craved a different kind of Coffee. Once you go Dutch you never go back. Dutch Bros is a local coffee chain that started in Grants Pass and has spread quickly due to its pure awesomeness. Their staff clearly enjoys the fruits of their label and after grabbing your joe-to-go and having a quick conversation, you leave feeling energized and ready for your day.

I’m not going to lie, I’m going to miss all the homeless people. I could probably write a whole post on my homeless people encounters but I will just share a few of my favorites. Robert is the homeless guy that “works” at my old work. And by work, I mean he befriended our executive director and saved his pop can money, bought a sewing machine, and makes himself bell-bottoms during the day in our office. He also takes care of little “missions” for my boss. For a while we had staff from another office using our restroom without permission and he took it upon himself to put a sign on the door to help us out!

When I told Robert I was moving he said “Have a nice life!”

I responded with “I’ll be back to visit.”

“I won’t be here, I’m getting married to Susie,” he said. This is coming from the guy who has been around the office for a couple of years and who we have never really seen with other people. I am not quite sure who Susie is or if she even exists, but I love the way he dreams. Later that day I caught him looking at wedding rings on the computer. It’s going to take a lot of pop cans for him to save up for the diamonds he was viewing…

(the other picture is of the very “colorful” homeless’ guy who loves to go off on political rants and say that he is speaking the word of jesus)

I’m going to miss the beautiful views of the nearby hikes. You can drive 10 minutes and hike for 30 and surround yourself with breath-taking scenery.

I’m going to miss the delicious nearby wineries with amazing views and organic practices. And the fact that there are so many wineries makes it very possible that you know someone who has one and you can even help with harvest season.

I’m going to miss the fact that Eugene reuses, recycles, repurposes, renews, and all the other re’s you can think of. You are almost outcasted if you don’t participate. The Eugene community is creative and figures out a way to use anything. We have old Hollywood Video stores turned to antique shops and places like BRING Recycling where you can get anything from a window for your latest craft project or a renewed repurposed computer.

Most of all I am going to miss my friends and my family. The people that have inspired me, taught me about life, and who have supported me through so much. I am going to miss the friends who I am so close with that I do absolutely nothing with and have the greatest of times and the friends who accept every little ounce of weirdness I have in me. And the friends who hold me accountable for who I am and who I want to be.

Most of you are probably thinking I created the picture of a perfect home and question why I decided to leave. The truth of the matter is, I need to get out of my comfort zone, I need to try something new, I need an adventure, I need new challenges, new people, and new surroundings. This doesn’t mean I am trying to replace any of the old ones but I need to know that I can turn my world upside down and know that I can still create a wonderful life.

But my heart will always love Oregon, the land of my first love.

Photo Cred:

Inside Stadium pic: Anonymous friend who doesn’t want you to overlook the guy with the mullet

Dutch Bros pic: http://yuching0217.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/dutch-bros-coffee-company/

Dutch Bros cup: My best friend who doesn’t know I pulled it from her facebook, she might sue me

Random Recycle Pics: https://www.facebook.com/BRINGrecycling?rf=111346502263002

Group Pictures: Innocent bystanders

All other photos taken by me.