Living and working in the Asheville green real estate market is not just day to day life for me... it is kind of an obsession.  This fact is not hidden from my family and friends.  And the result is much the same as it is for many of us these days when our family and friends know something about us...they forward every single piece of information remotely pertaining to your favored subject straight to your email.  I could write a small book containing all the accolades our fair city is honored with, and in turn is sent to my in-box.  The heart of the matter is that people just love it here and they like to sing, paint, or write about it.

Yesterday I came upon a very great distinction for Asheville.  It seems that there was a piece recently on ABC's 20/20 exploring something we all want: happiness.  Part of the coverage went over journalist Eric Weiner's new novel, "The Geography of Bliss".  In his book Eric travels the world doing research about happiness.  I will let you read the book to find out where people are the happiest in the entire world.  But, you guessed it, Asheville, North Carolina was named the happiest city in America.  Why is this do you think?  Anyone who knows Asheville or happens to read my blog, know at least a few of the reasons; the natural beauty, music, art, culture, and mindfulness are always on the list.  Thinking about it brings to mind a book my mother gave me several years ago, "The Alchemist" by Paulo Ceolho.   At one point in this wonderful story the protagonist hears a story about the meaning of life or some other huge elusive truth.  I can recall that it had something to do with one being given a spoon containing some oil and then being asked to talk a long walk through an elaborate and richly ornamented castle.  The challenge however was to not spill any of the oil and still take in all the wonders of the castle.  This anecdote reminds me of Asheville because Asheville seems to be a city that never lost any of the charm, warmth, and magic of a small town during it's sometimes rapid growth.  

I love it here.