Hi everyone! I am living in another state right now, due to life in the military. Oregon is my home of record, and of course, I am registered to vote there. Unfortunately, being away from home means that I don't get a good idea of what is going on politically.

There are several ballot measures that I'm really not sure about. In particular, the constitutional amendments, the prescription drug coverage, and the campaign finance law changes.

Can anybody give me an idea of how progressive voters are voting on any of these? Some discussion would be very helpful, since I really want to make the right choices. My voter's packet doesn't really give all of the nuances that those of you in-state may be reading in the papers and seeing on TV.

Thanks!

Portland is not the place to be if your wife prefers the desert. However, east of the Cascades is a good place to live, too. Bend has grown exponentially in recent years, and the climate there is quite dry. They call it "high desert," because you're at a fairly decent altitude, but it's not wet and rainy like western Oregon.

You can live in one of the outlying areas (Redmond, Prineville, LaPine) and still be within an easy drive of a fairly large city. I'm sure that real estate in Bend is nearly as expensive as Portland by now, but you should still be able to find affordable housing outside of town.

Granted, I haven't lived in Oregon since 1990, due to the military, but I am still a legal resident of Deschutes county, and I try to keep track things back home.

Politically, that area seems evenly split rather than leaning progressive. I'm not too happy about that, but it is my home, and all I can do is vote for the candidates who share my political beliefs.

I also agree with the others who say that Californians are not really welcome in Oregon. There have been enough bad apples to make all of you smell bad. No offense intended. If I were you, I wouldn't advertise your affiliation with California.

Good luck!

I know it's more than what you wanted to spend, but you can look at the specifications for ideas.

http://www.co-motion.com/mazama.html

I have their Nor'Wester Co-Pilot touring bicycle, and I absolutely love it. They custom built my bicycle, because nobody makes bikes large enough for women who are 6'1" tall (I'm proportioned like a woman, not a man, so I couldn't just use a men's bike). It took me over a year to save up the funds for it, but it was absolutely worth it in the end.

Good luck in your quest, and no matter what, keep riding!

But that was when I was a kid (almost 30 years ago) and they weren't widely used where I grew up.

Now, I feel just as naked without a helmet as I do without my vehicle seat belt. I won't ride without one. I know that it gives some people a sense of invulnerability, but for most of us, it's just comforting to know what our noggins will be a little more protected if something goes wrong.

My children are NEVER allowed to ride without their helmets. Ever.

I also use clipless pedals, but I don't clip in when I'm riding on the roadside. I use Shimano's dual-sided pedals--clipless on one side and flat on the other. For the type of riding I do (organized tours, paved bike trails), they are perfect. I enjoy the extra power on the hills, and I like being able to ride without clipping in if I'm with an inexperienced rider or dodging traffic.

Not only have I seen people riding against traffic (I remember my physics lessons, too), I've seen people riding at night, in dark clothes, down the middle of the street! The only times I've come close to running over a cyclist is when they are doing something so stupid.