12: The Myths and Realities of Resource Depletion

Langley, where I live, is known as the ‘Village by the Sea’. It is located on Whidbey Island, Washington, just a short ferry ride from the bustling Seattle-Everett corridor. But the contrast could not be greater. Tranquil and bucolic, Langley is four miles off the main highway. The community is an eclectic mix of artists and intellectuals, telecommuters linked to the Puget Sound IT hub, production workers from Boeing, artisan farmers, winemakers and coffee roasters, and the service personnel that support the seasonal tourist business. With a population of only 1,100 and a surrounding South Whidbey community that numbers less than 15,000, Langley manages to support a year-round live theatre, an orchestra, several chamber ensembles and a vast array of other cultural endeavours. Its politics can be summarised as extremely liberal.