My wife and I just returned from our 10 year anniversary in Big Sur, California. One thing that struck me about the area is the strong sense of place it holds. 

Now, if you've ever been out there it's probably pretty easy to have a strong sense of place when the natural surroundings are stunning. Nevertheless, the embrace of the area's natural endowments, the terroir in the food and drink, the architecture, literature, and way of life there...

Simultaneously, I wondered why not Indiana (or wherever you happen to be)? We don't have dramatic shorelines, but we have our own natural endowments, colors, terroir, etc. The experience spurred a lot of questions for me:

• What's the role of nature in creating a sense of place? 

• What are the components of a strong sense of place?

• What makes a place feel alive? 

• How might we, individually, begin to cultivate a sense of place?