Basalt, Emma and El Jebel: Mid-valley marvelous

Is it just a dream to be able to case a fly into a Gold Medal trout river from your deck?

How about strolling from your home into downtown and having everyone in every store know your name - not to mention your shoe size or the way you want your drink mixed?

Be aware that it's all reality if you live in the midvalley.

You'll find that the annual ringing in of Christmas in Basalt and the lighting of the Peace Tree in the park is just as real. Here, Santa comes with live reindeer and hot chocolate is shared around the community bonfire.

There's the dream of living in the Roaring Fork Valley in a loft apartment that might make you think you are in Soho - except for that 13,000-foot mountain towers just outside the window.

Or, how about this dream? The one where you live on a genuine, working ranch, with horses that respond when you whisper to them "Home."

Whisper it, and you won't need another word.