By KATHLEEN FULLER

I’m back in Port Orchard after a month in Yachats, Ore. The trip down is about an eight hour drive, but Highway 101 South is gorgeous. We made good time even though we make frequent stops along the way. The ocean was beautiful the rolling of the waves in and out was like a lullaby and I slept so well.

It is amazing to me that Yachats with a population of around three hundred in the off season has so many activities going on all the time. Most of these folks are transplants from all over this country as well as overseas. I often wonder what it would be like to visit all the smallest towns throughout the U.S. and experience their culture and values.

I was on the beach it was a cold windy day and as I looked up I saw the moon at 1 p.m. while the sun was breaking through the clouds. It was spectacular and I gave thanks that I am an American and I can come and go as I please and have opinions that will not lead to my demise. I want to thank all of our veterans for making sacrifices so that this freedom is possible.

Speaking of points of view there are a mixed group of people here and as many differing opinions. I was in the Green Salmon, a local coffee shop, and found myself listening to people at a table behind me spouting politics. There were numerous contrasting analysis, it was riveting. I find that listening can teach me things that yapping cannot.

We had been invited to a friend’s for homemade chicken soup and afterwards we will play a game of dominos chicken foot with a group of our friends. How appropriate now that I think of it to eat chicken before a game of chicken foot. Should I analyze this I think not?

Yes, there were a few glitches; forgotten meds, dropped scale (broke it) and worst of all our coffee pot that we loved bit the dust on our second day there. But all turned out well.

I remember when I packed as a young person it was to make sure I had a different outfit for every occasion — makeup, the right shoes, etc. Now of course I check the meds first, make sure I have my medical cards, charger for cell phone and my own pillow. As far as wardrobe it is sweat shirts, jeans and perhaps a fancy top? Mix and match and hope they mix even if they do not match.

Kathleen Fuller can be reached at katbow@wavecable.com.