Flat Rock NC

Yes, it's true. We are establishing an outpost in North Carolina. Dave has always liked the mountains and after two scouting missions, we have a contract to buy a cottage in Highland Lake.

We met the HIghland Lake owner, Kerry Lindsay. He made $$ manufacturing rice cakes and selling his company to Quaker Oats some years ago. His girlfriend is a nephrologist in MSP, and is building a house across the street from ours. They have in mind a wide range of housing options for all ages and incomes, including modular green cabins in a retreat center. Part of the dream is a "Market Center" where people can walk to get food and services, particularly health-related. This is a difference kind of place - an experiment in community living.

http://www.highlandlake.com/ the community website

Some features:

The Neighborhood (traditional)
Garden Hamlet (goats, chickens and organic garden, yoga studio)
Southlake (on the lake where we will be)
Fitness center
Community building events, workshops, festivals and performances, cinema circles
Retreat Center for spiritual practice
9 hole golf course (kinda pathetic

Flat Rock Playhouse (nearby)

In mind:
New Urban Town and Market center
co-housing and collaborative living
Green houses (senior group homes)
There's already a farm, and they had a SCA which may come back
Governance and consensus building practices
small house building
community gardening
job creation (health care and more)

We are going there this week to arrange for home furnishings. Closing will be in late March and we'll be ready to inhabit shortly thereafter.

Kim, Dave and Mitchell are planning to move from Durham to Asheville this year - that's about 25 miles North of Flat Rock.