Best of luck, Bob.
Portland - a very beautiful part of the USA, though south of Portland along the Willamette (sp?) River is stunning too.
I remember visiting the Rose Garden in the city's big park on the bluffs near the Columbia River when on vacation with my parents many moons ago. That year someone had a super-deep purple rose, so deep that from a distance it was black. Only up close and when the sun came out could you tell that it was deeper than the deepest purple velvet you had ever seen. Spectacular.
Not far from there, I have fond memories of buying some apples from the back of a farmer's pickup truck. Fresh like no supermarket ever had, the size of a softball (baseball), sweet and juicy, and heavy enough to count as a lethal weapon if thrown too hard. Two of those were a meal by themselves.
I envy you, sir.