We left for Eugene, Oregon Wednesday morning, driving through rain, fog, smoke, smog, and two-hours of standstill Portland traffic to get there. It just might have been worth it.

There is more vitality in downtown Eugene than in most Western cities of its size, supporting a variety of both quaint and urbane shops. Neighborhoods of classic houses are colorful yet well-maintained, interspersed with several parks--eight of them dog parks. The cost of living isn’t supposed to be too bad here either. Seems pretty ideal.

Yet, when considering Santa Fe’s cultural diversity and artistic plenty, all city’s we’ve seen to-date pale in comparison—even if they are more affordable. We may end up in Santa Fe after all.