"How we used to work side by side! And how I've worked since then trying to create according to our plan that we'd bring, against all odds, our full power to every subject." —Adrienne Rich, The Dream of a Common Language Life Support Have you ever seen those "sampler” packages of Oregon specialties at gift shops and "Made in Oregon” stores? They'll have some filberts, some blackberry wine, a piece of myrtlewood, a can of salmon, or who knows what other local delectable delights. There's no pretense of being all-inclusive; no volcanic ash, Mayor Ivancie, coastal fog, roses, umbrellas, slugs, or countless other essentials that define our territory. No, there's just enough goodies to tip your tongue off (and perhaps your eyes and nose) that this is a special place, and maybe induce you to come back for more. In the same way, the journey of words and pictures you are about to embark upon makes no attempt to be comprehensive. It is, instead, an an- thology-or "sampler,” if you will—designed to give you a glimpse into how we might apply the notion of a bioregion and the idea of community self-reliance in viewing some of the systems that comprise our everyday life support. The common theme running through this section is our awareness of our land and our resources, and how we can best plan for their future use so as to preserve and enhance our economic and ecologic base. Anyone who has traveled far or lived elsewhere knows that Nature has made our region beautiful and our people fortunate. It is the challenge of our time to make our decisions wisely, to appreciate sustainability as well as expediency, and to ensure a beautiful region and a healthy future for ourselves and our children's children. A PORTLAND VISION . .. Specifically, some of the issues in planning will be: Transportation and the densities needed to support it; Housing, its cost and availability; Alternative Energy, its impact on traditional zoning and building codes; Neighborhood Commercial areas, their revitalization; the Comprehensive Plan, its enforcement and flexibility. None of these issues will excite crowds of people to descend on City Hall. Solutions to each of these concerns will require determination and persistence and compromise because they all directly affect the course of daily life. —Joan H. Smith, 1981 President, Portland City Planning Commission 45 Ancil Nance
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