I just came back from a few days on Sanibel, on the west coast of Florida. I hadn't been to Florida for years, and I hadn't been to Sanibel and Captiva in 30 years, so I was prepared for it to be like Brooklyn, or Denver, or many other places growing in popularity and population. I was surprised to find that tight zoning (no building over three stories) and preserved open space on both islands has really made a difference. The feel of the place is almost like "the land that time forgot". There aren't that many cars, they don't go very quickly or very far, there are bike paths and cyclists everywhere, and the living is easy. Even at the height of the season, and with Vice President Pence in town, it seemed laid back.
It made me wonder whether Connecticut, with its motto as the Land of Steady Habits, could be a candidate for the same kind of preservation. Will people from the quickly growing cities come here, and find a different type of vibe--and enjoy it? Will our architecture and forested areas seem desirable to visitors and new residents who are used to more density and less nature? Only time will tell, but it would be nice to think that we could be at the front of a retro trend, instead of lagging behind the progress of other places! Now, if only we could import that warmth and sunshine, we'd really be beating off the buyers!
