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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 12, 1994                   TAG: 9404140014
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WIN-WIN

Growth can be slow or fast, controlled or not. In the case of plants, artificially induced, lush, quick growth often results in susceptibility to disease and pest problems, or other inherent weakness such as brittle stems that break easily in a storm. Growth is a characteristic of weeds as well as redwoods.

Likewise, quality of life differs for different people. A friend of mine decided that she will never again live anywhere that doesn't have a ``Banana Republic'' store within 20 miles. The closest ``Banana Republic'' I know of is in Tysons Corner in Northern Virginia. Many people like my friend believe a high standard of living means being close to stores and having lots of money to spend there. That's OK for them.

I found living in Northern Virginia just short of hell. Quality of life, to me, is:

nBeing able to see the stars that are obscured by the lights of the city (if you don't remember, take a drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway one clear evening).

nListening to peepers and bird calls without competition from rolling wheels or air conditioners.

nNot requiring an air conditioner.

nGoing to town, parking the car (with no parking meter), and getting all my errands done, on foot, in about half an hour.

nSeeing the same faces in the stores I frequent.

nNot having to wait in line, whether at the grocery store or in traffic.

nBeing able to take a walk in the woods without driving.

Can't we have both? I think we can, but only if the people who like the busy-ness will move toward town and quit trying to bring it to them, and if politicians and developers will respect what little there is that remains uncluttered. At least for now there is room for all of us.

|VICKI DUNAWAY |WILLIS