The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the Morrison Rig
Down came the rain and washed the spider
…..oooohhh that one’s big!
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider… make that two, three…. no four…. FIVE!!
Aaaaaaallllllaaaaannnnnnn…. We have spiders!!!!
… climbed up the Rig again…

 
Yes indeed… we have spiders; not so itsy bitsy ….big… huge ones… with massive intricate webs… and stink bugs and fuzzy furry caterpillars… we have the evening chorus of cicadas and tree-frogs… and regular nightly visitors of raccoons, black bears and… yes pup… what’s that?  Squirrels…. Oh yes… let’s not forget those pesky cheeky squirrels that throw their nut shells onto the roof of the Rig!  One would think we were parked deep in an American forest….  but nope… nope… we are perched high atop a mountain, overlooking the French Broad.  No, no I am not being disrespectful about our neighboring camper…. I am talking about the river silly, apparently the third oldest river in the world, (although how they determined that I am not entirely sure). The view from top is actually quite spectacular and offers a stunning sunset most every evening. We are surrounded by forest though, which would explain all the ‘locals’ hanging with us while we are visiting the RV Park, just outside Ashville NC.  
 


 
Western North Carolina is just beautiful, the weather has been fabulous and the people open and friendly.  Really nice folk.  We have had thoughts of settling here in retirement so have taken this opportunity while ‘on the road’ to really explore and experience the area.   We arrived about three weeks ago.  Our planned stay runs close to two months long so we should get to see the beginnings of the fall colors before we head south to Florida for the winter.  The town of Asheville itself sits in a bowl in the Smokey Mountains on the southern edge of the Appalachians,  just below a portion of the famed Blue Ridge Highway.  It is an old town with plenty of charm and character (and many counter culture street characters).  The various neighborhoods spiral out from the city center, twisting and turning up the mountainside, homes, old and new, perched on steep hillsides or buried deep in the forested crevices.  This town it would seem, has grown organically creating a slightly chaotic road system. The streets are narrow and steep and the posted speed limits appear to be just a suggestion. It is easy to get lost on the little side alleys or simply find yourself at a dead-end with barely room to complete a three-point turn all the while positioned at a 45 – 60 degree angle.  
 
Turns out, while we love the area, the Smokey mountains, the stunning scenery, the fact that it is not really north, but not south either, that it has proximity to big cities and amazing coastline… and upteen craft breweries…. it is probably not going to be the place for us.  Why; the main reasons being the cost of housing (+-40% higher than Denver for an equivalent home to the one we just sold), coupled with the much older infrastructure than we are (I am) used to… and then there is my personal disenchantment with the prevalent counter culture scene that tends to dominate the town.   We were hoping to establish a retired lifestyle here that positioned us close to town but did not have us house poor with little or no discretionary funds to play… and you know us, we do like to play.  As we explore the neighborhoods, we are finding that without a significant compromise in size, quality, aesthetics and location, we simply cannot afford to buy a suitable home here.     We have looked into some of the surrounding areas too, Black Mountain, Weaverville, Hendersonville, Brevard … but find similar challenges.  The door to this option is not entirely closed yet, North Carolina in general is still very interesting to us but it is looking more and more like an unlikely option. … and so the search continues.  
 

 
For the moment at least, we are switching our focus back to one of tourists, taking in the sights and sounds of this lovely part of the country. The Biltmore Estate is stunning and the North Carolina Arboretum a delight. We are making our way through the list of breweries and planning our picnic outing to one or two of the many waterfalls in the surrounding area.  Here is a fun fact: The Hunger Games movie was filmed in the DuPont State Forest less than an hour from here.  Lots to do, lots to see… and we are most fortunate, we have the time, means and opportunity… best we take advantage of such a wondrous gift. 
 

 
Ooohhhhhh …. Aaaaahhhhh Alan…. Aaaallaannnn…. ALAN!!! Bug …. Nunu… big nunu…. BUG, bug in house… quick… grab the spray …. Oh don’t tell me it is harmless… don’t you dare….   Get it out …. Get it out now….. no NOW now… not just now……. please… please  PLEASE… pretty Please!!! ……………………….Thank you!   Thank you Love….. Love you!
 

 
Love and hugs to you all too… hoping you are enjoying a bug and spider free day.
Ann