Small Town Lifestyle

THIS SMALL TOWN LIFESTYLE

It's a badge of honor that comes with responsibilities.

BY ANN HARRISON PHOTO BY JENNI FRANKLIN

There’s something addictive about life in these small towns of the Wood River Valley. And while I love the buzz and hustle of big cities, this place has been calling me home since the early Nineties. Or, should I say, I’ve been calling it home. This past year has brought us all back to a simpler life and there has never been a time when living in the Wood River Valley has felt more like the best decision I’ve ever made. But living in a community like this comes with commitments and responsibilities.

The Wood River Valley is home to all walks of life and being a true “local” is a badge of honor. So what does it take to become a local in a valley filled with transplants? It takes kindness, mindfulness, grit and some good ol’ fashioned hard work.

Riding out quarantine while living in a small town brought to light many of the reasons we all choose to live here. It also brought a lot of folks that don’t quite understand what it means to be a part of a tight-knit community.

During quarantine most of us were still able to enjoy all the reasons we moved here. We all kept on hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing or whatever our passion was while most of the world was trapped inside. The access we all enjoy every day became a hot commodity for folks from all across the country. Friendliness and stewardship are a way of life here and we come together to take care of our community. Locals (new and old) take the responsibility of protecting the places we love and we welcome you to move or visit here, we just

Friendliness ask you to do the same. and stewardship Mindfulness in the mountains is a community effort to teach, and sometimes remind, people are a way of how to safely and respectfully enjoy this ginorlife here and we come together to mous playground. Make sure you are doing your part to keep our playground clean and never forget that this place is as dangerous as it is breathtaking. take care of our Whether you’re here for your first visit, returning community. for the 100th time or a new local, please make sure you’re up on what it means to be mindful in the mountains. Honestly, you have to really want to live here to make it work. And that’s the thing—nearly everyone who lives here has had to make sacrifices and hustle, really hustle, to make a life here. But the rewards are worth it.

MINDFULNESS IN THE MOUNTAINS

BY RAY GADD PHOTO BY JOHN WEBSTER

Reflecting back on this past year brings into focus a new way that we look at the world. For many of us, it has given us a minute to pause and identify what matters most. It’s encouraged us to try new things, to take care of ourselves, to virtually connect with friends and family, as well as igniting our intrinsic pull to get outside and explore. Hopefully, these changes have also taught us to be a little more mindful of our surroundings.

Mindfulness comes in many forms. At the core, it brings forth consciousness of the environment around us. Some things we will know and others need to be learned in order to positively navigate these new experiences. Whether it be an understanding of our personal interactions or discovering ways to properly navigate the outdoors, there is power through knowledge. While we may have common-sense ideas of how things should be done, they may not always be the same. Take a minute to learn about simple unknowns. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask a stranger, ask a friend or find a guide to share the local knowledge. You’ll find we are a pretty welcoming place.

Visit Sun Valley has put together a series of educational resources including, but not limited to, trail etiquette, cleaning up after yourself and your pets, the value of guides, and how to be better stewards in an effort to help us all practice mindfulness here in our mountain community. For more information, head to visitsunvalley.com/ mindfulness.