The island is also blessed by a 5,000-acre state park and about 20 fewer inches of rain each year than neighboring Seattle. The green of the trees, the blue of the water. Anyone living there also has access to the Orcas community. It's a small town, heavy on the artisan side. Plays and arts classes run regularly.
Speakers come in from the big cities to talk of their books.
There's an active garden club and ample tennis and golf facilities. People watch birds and hike through wilderness and boat. But at the end of it all, there's a horrendous line at the ferry. Even the locals line up for at least 90 minutes on the weekend. According to Renee Mus, most people skip the islands completely.