Just outside Bozeman, Montana…about 100 years ago

When we were in our 20s, Jennifer and I lived in Bozeman, Montana for a while.

What?

Long story…we moved there sight unseen…we loved it, but moved back to start a family. We wanted the kids to know their family (and we missed the ocean!)…but all that’s another story.

Back in the late 1980s, an anthology of stories about Montana was published entitled The Last Best Place: A Montana Anthology.

It was edited by William Kittredge and Annick Smith. Kittredge came up with the title, and as he said of the expression, “It immediately took on a life of its own.”

The phrase always makes me think of Big Sky Country, but it also has this feel of wonderful, but fleeting places that might just disappear forever if we’re not careful. Last week’s hurricane, Arthur, made me think about how a single storm can change our coastline.

It also made me hope that one of North Carolina’s last best places is still with us post-Arthur.

Looking north toward Beaufort from Sand Dollar Island

That last best place is a little island near Beaufort, North Carolina. It’s called Sand Dollar Island, and island is really an overstatement. [Read more…]