I used to dread the mornings... my long commute to the city, surrounded by distracted and aggressive drivers, ended upon arriving at my office, a bleak cubicle high in an Atlanta skyrise.  My boss was demanding and my work was stressful.  Jerry and I talked for years about moving, and finally reached our breaking point when we realized our two sons were growing up on Nintendo and high-definition TV – nothing like the pleasant childhoods we fondly remembered ourselves, and nothing at all like we had intended for them.  
 
 We began our search for a new home with nervous skepticism.  Jerry’s job allowed enough flexibility for us to draw a large perimeter around his company’s Atlanta based headquarters, and we found out the drop in the cost of living would allow me to quit my job and finally pursue my true passion of pottery.   While we had things figured out on paper, the transition still seemed daunting because of the amount of options we had to sort through, and daily reports of market fluctuations didn’t help ease our apprehensions either.
 
 After careful research we determined the best location for us was Western North Carolina.  We found Creekmont during a visit to the area.  We knew immediately after seeing the property that there was something special about this place.  A simple balance that is hard to describe.  Amenities were basic and limited, while access to natural resources were abundant at every turn.  We selected a homesite  overlooking the common area and within just a short walk of beautiful Caney Fork Creek.  Our kids now spend their days catching tadpoles and I can barely get them home in time for dinner.  
 
 Jerry enjoys fishing with the boys at dusk, and hiking in the state forest behind our property on his days off.  I have been selling my pottery at local arts & crafts fairs, and even started taking some classes at Western Carolina University, which is only a short 15 minute drive away.  And best of all, I love my mornings now.  I sit on the front porch and peacefully watch the steam from my coffee disappear into the mountain air while I ponder the day’s activities.  Even though our new lives at Creekmont are just a few months old, our city surroundings seem like they were a lifetime ago.