If you could live in any kind of community, surrounded by any kind of landscape, living as part of any kind of neighborhood, what would it be like?

This is the question that Norma Butterfield and her husband David, who is president of the Trust for Sustainable Development, asked themselves as they were searching for a place to retire a few years ago.

Their answers to that question shaped our vision for The Villages of Loreto Bay:

The setting would be beautiful and inspiring. It would place us in an exotic, emerging country rich in history, authenticity and vibrant culture. Yet, it would also provide us with all the comforts of home: clean water, excellent medical care, modern infrastructure and safe streets.

From the start, it would be planned for humans rather than for automobiles. If we could do without cars, residents would be surrounded by quiet, narrow streets instead of noise and pollution, wide stretches of asphalt and architecture dominated by garages. Walking to the village center, to the beach, or anywhere, would be a daily pleasure.

A mix of housing types and prices would lead to a more diverse community of interesting people from all over the world. Beautifully appealing, human-scale architecture would be a wonderful expression of beauty and functionality. Landscaping appropriate to the habitat would be used to enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding wilderness.

Finally, it would be a place where wellness-centered lives could thrive and where we could continue to learn. Where a day of golf or fishing or kayaking or whale watching would end with a visit to a museum or gallery. Where artistic, cultural and intellectual pleasures are a seamless part of the life of the community, and where fitness, health and vitality were a part of everyday living.

Norma and David wanted a warm, dry climate, on the ocean, but Southern California was too busy. They sought a close-knit community, but not a town as hectic as Los Cabos. While working on a project in La Paz, David happened across Loreto. Norma flew down that weekend and two short years later, The Villages of Loreto Bay are taking shape.