Where to Retire March/April 2007
© Dale Leatherman 2007
When America’s settlers began moving west, the first mountain range they encountered appeared on the horizon as a line of ragged peaks with a decided bluish cast. Not surprisingly, this soon became known as the Blue Ridge Mountains--a bit more lyrical than the native Powhatan tribe’s “Quirank.”
When the pioneers reached the mountains, many found the gentle slopes and valleys so fair that they decided to stay rather than continuing their quest. The highland climate was more temperate than that in the coastal lands they had left behind. The hills were covered with thick stands of timber for building. Fresh water flowed cold and pure from mountain springs, and there was ample fish and game to be had. The limestone-enriched grasses provided good grazing for livestock, and the soil in the valleys was rich and fertile.
Four centuries later, the Blue Ridge is still a stunning sight, and just as appealing. The region acquired a somewhat mystical quality in the 1970s, when the late singer John Denver described it in his famous song, “Country Roads,”: “Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze.”
The lyrics have proven to be prophetic. The area’s steady population growth is increasingly fueled by retirees from East Coast metropolises who want a relaxed country lifestyle without sacrificing easy access to health care, transportation, arts and entertainment, recreation, dining and the company of people with similar interests. America’s first frontier is back in vogue.
Contact me to read the rest of the article or discuss second rights or a rewrite. daleatherman@cs.com