The beginning of February marked my four-year Asheville anniversary. It simultaneously feels like it should be much shorter and much longer. When brainstorming topics on which to commemorate the occasion via writing (one month late—February was hectic), I briefly wondered if the blog deserved a rebrand.
Asheville Explorer was apt when I first moved here, and was keen to explore my new environs, but four years isn’t exactly nothing. I can’t claim native status or anything, but I have an established group of friends, places I go to regularly (and places that know my order without my having to say it, which I think is important), and a bit of a local routine. I’ve also met quite a few people, particularly over the past year, who are much newer to Asheville than I am.
In the end, however, I decided to keep it. There are still hikes I’d like to embark on (Deep Gap Trail in Mt in Mount. Mitchell State Park, Courthouse Falls, Rough Ridge), small towns outside Asheville I need to explore (Waynesville, Johnson City), and there are plenty of restaurants in town I’ve never tried out (sadly, I think I’ve conquered all the breweries…years ago).
Additionally, exploring somewhere has nothing to do with how long you’ve been there. Not to be cheesy, but I think I’ve got something of an explorer gene. My cousin Casey and I were talking about this on a recent trip to the Adirondacks: how we will always have the propensity to not settle into too much of a weekend routine, always searching out new haunts, hikes, or just routes to mix things up, versus the type of person who lives the same place for years but only goes the same places, thus, becoming an expert at what they know, but not the locale as a whole. I’m not saying the goal is to be an Asheville expert. I’m just saying that the length of time you live somewhere has nothing to do with whether or not you fully explore that locale.
Also, Asheville is changing swiftly—even in my somewhat short tenure here, I can see that. It’s interesting to explore how those changes affect the city and its residents for better or worse. Exploring the ever evolving Asheville—including becoming more familiar with all it’s idiosyncrasies, juxtapositions, and contradictions—has been very interesting…and very eye opening.
So, for now, Asheville Explorer will remain intact. My aim for 2024 (which I hit in 2023!) is to post at least once a week and, through this blog, explore and dissect what about this area keeps me staying, especially now that I work remotely and could technically live anywhere. I think I still have somewhat of an outsider’s perspective, which I think serves the purposes of this blog…although…and I’m sort of loathe to admit this I do find myself occasionally slipping up and using “ya’ll” from time to time. I guess parts of the south have started seeping in.
AshevilleExplorer 