As I walk to the local coffee shop, Mojo, this morning from the Peabody & Smith Realty office here Franconia, NH, I found myself taking a deep breath of the fresh spring air. As I'm walking, I began to hear off in the distance the Gale River running a little more aggressively as the snow is melting off of the mountains (Cannon, Lafayette and beyond!) and feeding the local river, so peaceful sounding and a sign that summer is just around the corner. I also began thinking about how much I love living and working in a small town in the North Country of New Hampshire, here in the White Mountains. What is neat about the towns and villages here is you can walk or ride your bike to the local coffee shop, post office or grocery store. I remember living in big cities in different parts of the US where driving through crowded busy streets with horns honking and aggressive drivers at every side jockeying for position is the daily routine. I remember arriving at work stressed out from my drive and a little cranky because of it. This morning on my way to work a more peaceful drive as I drove on Agassiz Road passing one of my favorite land listings we have, where the mountain views are spectacular, the land is spacious and private, the sunrises breathtaking and I even managed to spot a moose along the way. Many mornings I find myself pulling over to snap a quick picture of the view. As for my walks to the local coffee shop, it's nice to have people stopping to let me cross the road and even wave hello.When I arrive at Mojo, I am greeted with a warm welcoming hello am also recognized as a regular. To feel like you are a part of a community instead of just a number or a face in the crowd, these are just a few of the reasons why I love living in the North Country of New Hampshire and being a local!