I gave it a shot. I lasted five months before I fully grasped that Portland/Vancouver has few permanent jobs in publishing (I filled in for a woman on maternity leave, but that of course ends) and that (more important) I can't really be happy without the specific brand of cycling classes that I had in Texas and DC. So back to DC I came, where jobs in my field are plentiful and I can take RPM anytime I want.

I'm glad I got to see the area, though; getting to look at Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens while I ran outside was neat. And I love overcast skies, so I do miss that. Going was worthwhile because it helped me figure myself out.