Flying to every U.S. state and Canadian province we’ve seen so many beautiful vistas and met so many wonderful people. But it’s been surprising to me not just how different our experiences are in each place, but how there’s a distinct “feel” to each region. After departing Galveston we flew along the barrier islands toward New Orleans, and it gave us a richer feeling for the lifestyle that the phenomenon named New Orleans emerges from.
0139 Life Line
The life along the seemingly endless line of sand between the open Gulf and miles of wetlands is a relaxed yet precarious one.
0176 Water Line
From the air it’s clear how close these homes are, not just to water’s edge, but to the high water line. A little storm surge, climate change, or even heavy rain can make a home into a small island. Yet the attraction is so strong that even after disaster strikes they rebuild. Often trying new methods of withstanding the water.
0178 New Design
Many of the newer homes are based on a steel frame that might survive most storms, and able to tolerate a rush of water that will sweep away everything on the ground floor. A man once told me the quality he most aspires to achieve. “I want to be permeable, so that life can flow around and through me.” This sort of ease and flexibility seems to me a key element in the lifestyle of the Gulf Coast region. It was infusing our hearts as we approached the Big Easy.
0234 To New Orleans
John & Anne Wiley 
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