When you think about a great place to live, what comes to mind? I think this is a moving target; at different times in our lives we desire different things. When we are raising kids schools are very important. When we are empty nesters, maybe not so much. I think about this more and in different ways since I moved in to a farming community. The desire to maintain agricultural land for agriculture has a very powerful draw. At the same time, I recognize that my tasting room is a legal exception to agricultural land use. The question, as with many things, is where do the lines get drawn. More and more I am drawn to the idea of vibrant cities and towns where people live, work, and play surrounded by farms with few if any commercial exceptions. I am also becoming more, “Mode of transportation agnostic.,” with regard to urban design. This is the idea that we plan cities and towns that are livable and which do not give preference to one form of transportation over another.  Currently we design for cars. That probably explains the half dozen strip malls that have sprung up in the dozen miles between our home and Route 5 since we moved here. I like both cities and the country. The combination of thriving towns with shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions close to the farms that connect us to our food (and wine) feels near perfect to me. How about for you? What attracts you to a place? Let me know your thoughts.  More later…