Haines, AK is like home to us.

Here's why:
$5 ocean front lodging - Portage Cove Campground

Met another Vermonter immediately - First afternoon we were there we met Kelley, works at the local bike shop: Sockeye Cycle. He's working at Bike Center in Middlebury VT next summer...true story.

The wildlife - we saw feeding brown bears, black bears, bald eagles, mountain goats

Access to Canada - we rented a car and took a day trip to the Yukon.... you hear me, the Yukon... like Yukon Cornelius from the animated classic "Land of Misfit Toys"... well that's what it should've been called named

Fireweed - with their amazing specialty pizzas and calzones and carbonated beverages (see "Their beer") This place also held an open mic, with local musicians doin' their thang.

Their beer - Haines Brewery boasts a nice IPA and Red, plus their own delectable Spruce Tip Ale. Annie-O's favorite. Served at all the local establishments around town and the brewery had $10 growler refills, 1 1/2 mile walk outside of town.

Friends - Met a nice lady, Rosie, who is traveling to all 50 states in a year. She's on thirty something, but after Hawaii, her drive back to the Midwest will get her to fifty. The she plans on getting a graduate certificate in urban planning and helping Detroit become self sustaining..how 'bout that!?

More Friends - Met a couple, Annie from Maine, Paul from DC, during a 10-mile. Annie from Maine, was carrying a Red Sox hat with her and a simple "BoSox fan, eh?" turned into a rendezvous later that evening at none other than Fireweed. Turns out these two have spent a lot of time conserving and protecting the trail we were hiking when we met them. They sat down, we shared a couple pitchers and agreed to see them again. Later in the week, we brought a growler of IPA and a growler of spruce tip to their house, near the town's salvation army and chatted and sipped for an afternoon. Just great stuff - they're headed back to Maine for their yearly Autumn trip..six weeks to see the leaves change, then back to AK! Paul, accommodating to a fault was the one who told us to go up to the Yukon. He wanted to do it himself.."Annie, we should really take a drive up there with these two tomorrow. We haven't been there in a while." Annie, knowing they had plenty to do before heading back East listened and let it go for a while, but eventually said, "Paul, now, now I have to say something... we just have too much to do and don't have the time." Put a smile on my face, both Annies always level headed and calculated

Trails - We had our best hike in Haines: 7-mile saddle, to 3920, to Mt Ripinsky north peak, then south and down, a ten mile jaunt that took us to uh...3920 ft above sea level, but had us gain more than 5000 ft total...and our worst in Haines: Mt Riley. River trails, mountain trails, great variety.

Their rivers - Chilkoot and the Chilkat, very different, unique habitats and fun to explore

Sea kayaking - in the fjords, e'nuff (z'nuff) said

Their coffee haunts - Ripinsky Roasters at Mountain Market was the beez neez.

Their public library - open until 9 PM, donation based internet access, a large supply of movies

Their pie - Northern Light's blueberry pie was ridiculous

When you find yourself really enjoying a place it's interesting to stop and ask why. Why am I liking this place better than others? When the result of your question is a list the length of the one above, you know you've found a fit. You also begin to see, through repetition what's really important for you in a community and place to live. For us, it's never been a secret... mountains, waters, wildlife, food, libations and people are the key. But experiencing the importance of an active public library in Haines opened my eyes a bit.  It's something I've always taken for granted. I can't tell you the last time I was in the Bixby Library (public library in Vergennes, VT). I don't know what they're doing for the community or to what level it's being taken advantage of. After seeing the large role the library plays here and in other small Southeast Alaskan towns, it makes me want to ensure that the community we end up in, has these types of resources available. If not, then we should work to make them available and ensure people know what's out there.