When we moved to Tillamook County, we wanted to build a connection and a place in our new community. We weren’t trying to make a big impression — just looking for steady, practical ways to get involved.
Over time, a few things have stuck: our CoastWatch mile, our adopted road, and our recent membership in the Chamber of Commerce. Each one fits easily into our schedule and adds something small but meaningful to our sense of belonging here.
CoastWatch Mile 274
We adopted Mile 274 of the Oregon Coast through Oregon Shores CoastWatch. It’s the first place we ever saw the Pacific Ocean, so it made sense to choose it. That moment — standing there for the first time — felt like a good starting point for the kind of connection we wanted to build in Tillamook County.
Four times a year, we walk that mile, pick up debris, and record what we find. Sometimes it’s a quick job with a few bottle caps and bits of rope. Other times, after heavy storms, it takes hours to clear everything the tide leaves behind.
The program asks volunteers to track changes in erosion, plant life, and debris. Doing that over time has made us notice the subtler details — how winter tides shift the sand, how driftwood piles change shape, and how the same stretch can look completely different from one season to the next.
It’s simple work, but it gives us a reason to visit regularly and pay attention. We don’t treat it like a project — it’s just something we do, quietly, four times a year.
Wilson River Loop Road
We also adopted a section of Wilson River Loop Road through Tillamook County’s Adopt-A-Road program. It’s a road we drive regularly, so it felt natural to take responsibility for it.
Like CoastWatch, it’s a quarterly commitment. Every few months, we collect litter, check for any issues, and report them to the county. The work doesn’t take long, but it’s visible right away. A couple of hours and a few trash bags later, the difference is clear.
It’s an ordinary stretch of road — not a tourist route, not a scenic overlook — but that’s what we like about it. It’s the kind of place everyone uses without thinking much about it. Keeping it clean feels like the most direct way to contribute: something immediate, useful, and quietly satisfying.
Sometimes the cleanup means walking ditches full of wet leaves or fishing out things the wind’s carried in from passing trucks. Other times it’s just a few cans and paper cups. Whatever’s there, we handle it. It’s simple work with an obvious result.
Tillamook Chamber of Commerce
We joined the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce recently, after our business, Northwest Notary On The Go, was more established. The Chamber keeps us informed about local projects, small-business updates, and community events across Tillamook County.
For us, it’s not about marketing or networking in the traditional sense. It’s about staying connected — knowing what’s happening in the same community where we live and work. We’ve learned about local programs, volunteer opportunities, and new initiatives through the Chamber that we might not have heard about otherwise.
It’s also a good reminder that Tillamook County’s economy runs on local effort — small operations, independent trades, and people who show up consistently to keep things moving. Being part of that network just makes sense.
Keeping a Routine
All three things — the coast, the road, and the Chamber — run on their own schedules. Between the quarterly cleanups and the regular Chamber updates, something always seems to land on the calendar. None of it’s complicated, and none of it feels like a chore.
Together, they form a small, dependable routine. The CoastWatch work connects us to the natural landscape. The road cleanup connects us to the infrastructure we use every day. The Chamber ties us into the human side — the people, businesses, and ideas that keep Tillamook County running.
That balance keeps us involved without overextending. It’s a rhythm that fits with how we live.
Why We Keep Doing It
When we first started these commitments, it was just about finding ways to belong somewhere new. Now it’s become part of our normal life. Each task — the reports, the trash bags, the Chamber meetings — marks another season here.
These things don’t demand much time, but they’ve helped turn a new place into home. The coast ties back to where our story here began. The road is a reminder of the everyday routes that make up most of life. And the Chamber keeps us aware of the larger picture, where small efforts add up to a stronger local community.
They’re small, steady commitments — not flashy or complicated, just real. This is what we do for our community.