2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

Having moved to Bend 25+ years ago when the unemployment was about 30% and only a few stores remained open in Downtown, our economic base is much broader and can weather so much more than it did during the early 80's. Bend has a history of boom and bust; out-of-state developers and quick-turn real estate types have come and gone before. While times are very difficult, I also see greater opportunity for community in the larger sense of the word during these times when money isn't the overriding goal. People seem more human and genuine during these tougher times here than when people are 'rolling in the quick-turns'.

To live and enjoy Bend as I have had the opportunity to do over these decades, my work has been only 1/4 to 1/3 based in Bend. I have been a tele- and internet commuter and now have a web-based business here that has primarily been in my home. This has allowed me to weather the ups and downs economically. The spirit of the people who share a common love of the beauty of Central Oregon, its activities and family life really make the community for me. And, it is through these strengths that hopefully we'll grow again (maybe more slowly for a decade till too many forget history), but I see Bend ever more gaining that 'broader, less volatile' base.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
view in context