Portlanders know that 75% of the year the weather is going to be less than stellar. If we grew up here, gray, drizzly and cold is normal.

A sunny and balmy fall/winter day is the prized aberration, like finding a four leaf clover or catching a fly ball at major league ballgame.

Days like today cause even hardened Cascadians to take notice. Today's exceptional weather made me reflect on the number of affordable transportation choices we have in Portland.

If we choose to ride transit, Transit Tracker allows us to maximize the time we spend home warm and dry, timing our departure as our bus approaches.

Our Drive Less Connect site allows us to find a carpool partner from anywhere in Oregon to split the cost of driving (and stay even dryer).

And for those who would never use a gym membership, one can see their commute as a way to stay active against the excess of the coming holiday celebrations.  You can spend the cost of a month's worth of driving to work on bicycle rain gear that keeps you dry in all but the most monumental of weather. (Or you can pocket the money and go cheap: I used the plastic bags from my Oregonian subscription as rain covers to keep my gloves dry).

And let us not forget walking. Who among us cannot admit to walking in the rain and being overcome by the childhood memories of walking in the rain and jumping in puddles?

So let us celebrate our place, its lousy weather and the transportation choices we have to deal with it.

Photo courtesy of abaransk