Bend, Oregon

I recently visited Bend, Oregon, for the first time in more than thirty years. Bend has grown.

Yet, stunningly, old homes in Bend’s historic core remain tiny and beautifully restored. New homes are small with authentic old character, too.

Bend’s local shops embrace a Pacific Northwest outdoorsy culture. Delicious gluten-free vegan food was plentiful.

Patagonia swiftly repaired our zipper for free.

Large trash and recycling bins were all around town, making it so easy for anyone to dispose of large amounts of garbage sustainably.

Maybe this is why the parks and roadsides in Bend, Oregon, appear so clean and beautiful.

How do we inspire every community in the States to follow such wisdom?

Bend is also where I fell in love with campgrounds—thanks to the beautiful Tumalo State Park Campground. I loved its open rolling topography, tranquil setting, and its cleanliness.

Yet, Bend is where one can also see there is a critical community need for addiction, mental health, and violence treatment—a traumatic reality just about everywhere in the USA.

How do we solve this?