Portland is not a war zone.

What it is, is a city full of artists, dreamers, parents, activists, healers, and neighbors who care deeply about fairness, peace, and justice.

So when the feds fly helicopters low enough to shake the windows and rattle our chests — that’s not an accident. That’s intimidation. A scare tactic.
And if the goal was to make us feel small or unsafe, well… it’s kinda working. Because it is scary. It’s loud.
It’s meant to disorient and make things feel dangerous.

But here’s the thing — fear can’t take root where there is love, connection, and purpose.
And Portland? This city’s got all three.

Finding Home Here 🏡

I’m new to this city, but somehow — it already feels like home. Every time I visited before moving here, I felt a familiarity and a super strong sense of belonging. No joke, it was like the city was saying “You can land here. You’re safe here.”

“Downtown Portland skyline at sunset – peaceful city scene” — And now, I get to call it mine. This truly gorgeous city full of creativity, community, and care. This place that shows up — messy af, brave, and beautifully human.

The Real Story

From what I have picked up here so far is this: the spirit of this city — the marches, the murals, the community gardens, the street medics, the wild and kooky small businesses, the music, the street fairs, the parks, the rivers, the amazing food, and all the endless community gatherings — that’s the heartbeat. Portland is not out here to destroy, it’s out here to demand better. Equal rights. Accountability. Dignity. Respect for all people under the laws of this land.

Meanwhile, watching government resources — our resources — being poured into noise and posturing instead of healing what’s broken? That’s the real tragedy. Because there’s so much that needs mending. And none of it can be fixed with loud helicopters flying around late into the night.

The Buena Vida Truth 🌱

Ok, so with all the shit we see day in and day out — I know we’re all tired. I know we’re sad. I know we’re angry, some rightfully enraged. And yet — we keep going.

That’s the Buena Vida way.

And yes, I’m plugging my business — but really, I’m plugging the beliefs that led me to build and do this work.

It’s about holding both the heartbreak and the hope.
It’s about remembering that we are the ones who rebuild.
We are the ones who nurture and grow the good.
We are the ones who keep showing up, even when it feels impossible.

So friends — we have to keep going.
We have to keep building.
We have to keep showing up, bruised, sad, angry, and all.

We can take breaks. We can take breathers. We can pivot.
We can even sit it all out for a minute to recoup.
But we have to keep going.

And check it — if you need a pep talk to keep believing, come find me.
We’ll breathe.
We’ll cry if we need to.
And then we’ll get back to building our Buena Vida — one brave, hopeful step at a time. 💪🏽✨