We Never Really Left

Some places become part of your life so completely that leaving them is mostly a matter of geography. "We Never Really Left" is about one of those places. For years, Pat, Natty, and I have returned to a small house on the Oregon coast whenever we could. The beach is only steps away. The weather changes by the hour. The waves never stop. We walk until the shoreline disappears into the distance, watching for whales, pelicans, seals, plovers, and the occasional seagull with more opinions than necessary. The song grew from those trips—the familiar drive, the same music playing through the speakers, the dog waiting for her frisbee, and the feeling that every visit is both a getaway and a homecoming. The photographs in this video were taken over many visits and many years. Together they tell the story better than I can. Music by Jeff Carlson, ChatGPT, and Suno. Photos and video by Jeff Carlson. Thanks for coming along for the walk.