Zeeland, the province where I was born, means Sea-land. From a delta in the North Sea, a couple of islands formed where my ancestors learned to make a living. They survived for centuries on food from the sea while also ploughing the fertile soil for crop and held cattle. My family lived on these islands dating back to the thirteenth century. A big body of water was always close by. These days I often take an hour between work related things, to sit quietly watching the rolling waves. It is a luxury I never took for granted. I worked where others vacationed. I am not used to taking a vacation myself. No need for it.
Except from five years living in Indianapolis I always lived approximately to the sea. My studio in Broadripple, Indiana looked out over the White River. The water was permanently flowing. It was not a big body of water. In Asheville, it will be a little the same set-up.
Moving to the River Arts District, the name already suggests as much. Asheville's vibrant urban scene, gorgeous mountains, and cultural treasures may be what draws so many visitors to the area, but the French Broad River is arguably what allowed all these things to emerge. The river that flows through Asheville helped shape the Appalachian Mountains. An environment in which productivity is high on the list changes the overall energy of a place. Getting back to blue zones, retirement never was part of longevity. Rest Rusts.
