via <a href="http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120325/ARTS04/120324021/Creative-Communities-Mad-River-Valley?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE">The Burlington Free Press</a>

The Potters have lived in the Mad River Valley for more than 40 years, moving there out of college and winging it. They went on to start creative businesses, raise three children and build a constantly “morphing” house and collection of shop buildings.

“There was something magical about this place,” Peggy Potter, 61, said. “You came and stayed.”

The valley, with its expansive landscape and roving resort crowds, struck the couple as a place where you could build an interesting life and make it stick.

“Half of the neighbors are artists; that helps a lot,” Sparky Potter said. “There was a critical mass beginning already. People of all types are attracted to resort towns. Each one of us found motivation to stay here. There were builders and architects and craftsmen of all sorts. People like to be around other people who have similar motivations.”