It is a common cycle of life–start, boom, bust, and rebirth. Along the way, hopefully we adapt, get better at protecting our environment that supports our communities, reach out to one another, support local offerings, but also, connect with the world.
We do this through our built environments, our architecture, our economic values and priorities, our shared spaces, and these days, education and tech. what we plant, what we nurture, determines what we harvest in life for ourselves and others and in our built and natural environments.
We do this by having a vision, testing it against the past, and predicting it through research, data, and creativity.
Forming a future in the Driftless Region is possible for anyone with a yearning for a bit more space, a bit more community, and a bit more creativity. One can live remotely here, in a rural space, or a small village, or a small or larger city. All are connected through a network of support services, tech and built infrastructure, activity, and embracing the flavor of the region.
All areas have their advantages, and disadvantages, but here in the Driftless, with thoughtful optimism, much is possible for a healthy and vibrant lifestyle, untethered by a“typical” work week that is now morphing into something very new–work from home or coffee shop, a rapid increase in small entrepreneurial startups, large companies, and very small local offerings–a return to the beauty of a “main street”, but reimagined. Go to top schools from far away, learn your entire life, step away from a 40 hour work week, or perhaps a 5 day 40 hour workweek .
Entrepreneurial spirit thrives in the Driftless. So does a true connection, a knowing–if you will– of the actual environment you live in in a very personal way.
There are many ways to develop, and to grow as humans on this planet. We believe that we can do better– have more fun, live more connectedly, explore further, learn more.
That can be a future we form together.
Please take the Wyalusing Commons Survey and let us know what YOU think.
–Julia Henley, President, RVI