I've waited here for you

I had to go to the treehouse today to take some pictures for the insurance company.  Nothing very interesting.  Fire safety stuff.

It was a really nice drive to the house.  The sky was gray, but at the time I went, it was dry.  The freeway just winds through trees and then along the Willamette River.   a voice whispers to me: This is exactly what I wanted.

I didn't have the kids with me, so I tried to go down to see my waterfall.  I couldn't find it.  Or much of a path.  I can see why Mike came back covered in mud.  The "path" I tried first, that seemed most promising, started going down vertically at such a steep drop that I was pretty sure I had no choice but to go down on my butt.  So I turned around to go back up, which was actually pretty difficult since I had already dropped pretty far down the vertical slope and had to grab at the plant life to pull myself back up.  I tried 2 other "paths" but got nowhere.  And that is how I spent several minutes hiking until I was out of breath, exploring my own backyard.  I loved it!  This is exactly what I wanted.  Mike had warned me to wear boots, which I did, but next time I think I need gloves too.

Even though I was pressed for time, I spent a few minutes driving around my new neighborhood, since that was only the 3rd time I had been there.  I love that we are moving from squeaky clean Beaverton to historic Oregon City.  And, it appears that my house is in (or just a few blocks from) the historic district itself, even though my house was just built in 1979.  I am not sure if I have mentioned it here before, but Oregon City was the state's first capital city, so it definitely is a pioneer town.  I had sort of guessed we were in the historic district but didn't confirm it until today.  I absolutely love it.  Driving the streets from the freeway off ramp to my house, I hear it again: This is exactly what I wanted.

I'm also just a few blocks from the river (which I knew already) and the mysterious Willamette Falls, or, what I call "the hole in the river!!".  This is exactly what I wanted.

Today, for the first time, I saw a dock, kayak rentals and lessons, and a boat dealer - always a good indication of boating nearby.  This is exactly what I wanted.  Now, because of said "hole in the river", I suspected that there are locks, which I confirmed today.  Unfortunately, the locks were closed for repairs a few months ago, so I think there is no boating at this time anywhere near the falls, though I really don't know what I'm talking about.  And...the water here in Oregon is frigid even in August, so I'm not exactly in a hurry to go kayaking in February or anything.  Anyway, I hope they open the locks again soon because I want to see my new hometown back to the way it should be.

I understand now that of course I can not be mad at the universe for waiting so long to show me the house, and making me move 14 times in 20 years.