After living in the suburbs of Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas, the idea of a smaller town was very appealing. Also, having spent the last 20 years in the flat lands of Dallas, it was time for a change of scenery. We were familiar with the area as a result of having been stationed in Atlanta in the early 70s when we used to vacation in the mountains here. As a couple entering retirement, good medical facilities was a requirement (Asheville has one of the top hospitals in the country) as was accessible entertainment (Asheville has 23 performing arts companies, several music venues, round the clock festivals from May to October, plenty of good stores, and more good restaurants than a reasonable person could try in a year). But a bigger piece of property in the mountains was the goal. At the time we bought this property in 1999, land by the acre was a relative bargain compared to other places in the mountains. Western North Carolina has such natural beauty and all four seasons have moderate temperatures and a splendor unique to each one. There is plenty to do within hours of the location not only in western North Carolina, but in Tennessee, Virginia, and South Carolina. You can drive to Hilton Head in five hours, to Washington DC in eight and you can drive to New York City in a day.