First Impressions of Portland, Oregon, aka Welcome to Whackyville

I am in Portland, OR, now, which is a new beginning for me (at close to the big 70) because I have always lived and worked in or near Philadelphia, PA, which is 3000 miles from where I am now. But here I am, close to one of my sons in Whackyville. C'mon. Don't take offense, Portland residents. I like it here. Besides, Whackyville is good for the economy. Some examples are in order.

I just missed the 11th annual World Naked Bike Ride last month with almost 10,000 participants where cyclists gathered in a park an hour before the ride, shedding garments. There are 75 cities around the globe participating in 20 countries, but Portland has the most participants. Someone interviewed in the crowd said the naked people were protesting oil dependency. Thus, bikes are big here. Real big.

And then there's the pot. Cannabis is legal to buy here. I saw 3 pot stores on my way from the airport to my son's house. 

These are the rules: 

• Gifting of recreational marijuana to adults 21 and older is allowed, so long as the amount gifted falls within the personal possession limits and no financial consideration with the transfer. 
• Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) refers to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or drugged, including impairment from the use of marijuana. 
• Adults 21 and older can use recreational marijuana at home or on private property. You can’t use recreational marijuana in public places. Public places are places to which the general public has access. This includes, but is not limited to: common areas in apartments and hotels; highways and streets; schools; parks and playgrounds; premises used for public passenger transportation (such as bus stops); and amusement parks.    
• You can’t buy marijuana in another state and bring it into Oregon, nor can you take it from Oregon across state lines. That includes to and from Washington and California where recreational marijuana is also legal. Taking marijuana across state lines is a federal offense.

Old Dirty Bastard

Ever hear of Voodoo Doughnuts? They have their own website--voodoodoughnut.com. One person told me that on the weekends, a lengthy line exists around the block in downtown Portland for anybody wanting a Voodoo Doughnut. The only other place they're sold is Denver (where recreational pot is allowed, too. Just sayin'. Munchies, anyone? Anyone?) They have the regular kinds like glazed and powdered, and then the other kinds, like Old Dirty Bastard, Grape Ape, Gay Bar, Tex-Ass, Cock-N-Balls, Memphis Mafia. Hey. Don't even try to guess. Go to the site!

Then there is the Summer Fair presented by the Oregon Cannabis Association (I should stop giggling and fit in like I'm from here), and the Mermaid Parade to celebrate water, and to quote the advertisement, "and the living culture of professional mermaid entertainers [mermaid entertainers--really?] now thriving in Oregon and throughout the Northwest who help to bring the magic and mythology of water myths to people everywhere," and 

the majority of natives don't use any umbrellas when it's pouring. If they don't have a hood, they just get wet. Really sopping wet. One Portlander said in Reddit, "The argument against umbrellas in Portland is that the heaviest rain here often comes in sideways with a lot of gusty wind. At those times an umbrella 1) won't offer very much protection 2) might get blown inside-out 3) could be a hazard to other pedestrians as it gets blown around." OK, then. Frizzies for me.

I'm going to get immersed in Portland culture, besides going to the naked thing next year, having some weed, and eating a Voodoo doughnut after munchies set in. I'm re-inventing myself. Peace out.