
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 13, 1990                   TAG: 9005090086
SECTION: DISCOVER THE NEW RIVER VALLEY                    PAGE: DIS/NRV6   EDITION: NEW RIVER 
SOURCE: JUDITH SCHWAB SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: FLOYD                                LENGTH: Medium

COUPLE FAVORS FRIENDLY FLOYD

Virginia and Don Nathan came to the New River Valley so she could finish her horticulture degree at Virginia Tech. Seven years later, degree completed, they've started a family and settled into Floyd County where they're building a house.

"We enjoy driving down the road and having strangers wave at us," Don said.

Now, with the recent birth of their son Ian, Don is on "a home-building sabbatical - it's difficult to run the table saw in your living room," he said.

Shortly after moving to Floyd, the Nathans discovered the alternative community in that area. Don described it as "people who are trying to live a simpler life - many people from the hippie generation, grown older."

The Nathans describe themselves as a bridge between the alternative culture and the mainstream.

"We're at home, working at Tech or being at a new moon gathering," Don said.

The Nathans are strongly attracted to the beauty of the area and the friendliness of the people.

"We could spend the rest of our lives looking for a place as nice as this," said Don.

Virginia agrees.

"The natural beauty of the place is too valuable to sell off," she said of the 180 acres they own. Even if they decided to leave the area, she explained, they'd keep the land for their children.

This family enjoys watching wildlife.

"The possums and skunks eat the cat food," Virginia said without rancor. "I saw a great blue heron in my creek this morning - that was nice."

by CNB