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Bill Alstrom (MA/Maine/MA)'s avatar

I get it. The video was beautiful. But the fireworks were a "sad spoiler" for me. Good grief. Isn't there enough RIGHT THERE to enjoy? But hey, when I was a kid, blowing things up was a passion. Then I grew up. Fortunately.

I look forward to more images or videos of the PNW. I get it. I would have loved it there. A book brought me there a few years ago. I was profoundly moved by: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/598983/stronghold-by-tucker-malarkey/

I think my similar passion is the Coast of Maine. That's where my ashes could be tossed. Or part of them. There is always the BVI. My remains might like to rest there as well. Pines and Palms as we say. Or Pines, Palms and PNW?

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Penfist's avatar

BVI?

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Karen RN's avatar

I believe Bill is referring to the British Virgin Islands. Beautiful place. I have sailed around the islands several times. That said, I love the Pacific Northwest. I have lived in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon for the last 20 years. There is nowhere else I would want to live.

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Bill Alstrom (MA/Maine/MA)'s avatar

Yes. As Karen said. Tortola or Virgin Gorda. We enjoyed the "non American" Virgin Islands back in the day when we could afford it. It was my idea of heaven on Earth. Then, it was lightly developed and locally owned. I am sure it has changed.

And for those who sail (we don’t) it is perhaps the best on Earth.

We were there when the US invaded Iraq. I couldn't explain to the cab driver who was yelling at me...why we were doing it. All I could say was "We didn't vote for him."

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Marty's avatar

I love the NW. I am moving there in 5 years. Tick tock.......

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Penfist's avatar

Which part, if you are comfortable discussing that?

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EZTejas123's avatar

Pretty darn cool. Thanks.

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Carol JLH's avatar

I agree that the PNW is spectacular. We lived there 3 times between 1983 and 2010, courtesy of the US Navy. The hiking is great. The scenery is gorgeous and humbling. It was where I first truly understood Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's term "forest primeval" even though Longfellow was writing about Maine. I'm a New Englander so my first love is the Atlantic North East (ANE?) but the PNW is a close second.

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Penfist's avatar

Maine is pretty great, mostly because so much of it is empty of us.

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Terry's avatar

Agreed! The PNW is a spectacular secret!

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Penfist's avatar

I was an East Coaster most of my life, but I can't see myself going back. There is so much beauty here that has been left intact and unmolested by our species.

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Eric O'Donnell's avatar

Thanks for sharing this, Pen. I hope you found some peace.

I’m not far away here in North Vancouver. I have some gorgeous spots to walk with my dog. North Van has done well in integrating a community into the area while preserving tons of natural beauty.

Having said that, we may move back to Ontario. Not so beautiful, but home. I’ve only been here for 15 years.

I agree totally about the fireworks. They scared me when I was young and now I find them perpetually out of place. Which leads me to conclude that there is no place, in my world anyways, for them.

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