Thanks for the thoughtful input. I really appreciate the responses! 
My father's family is one of the oldest families in the Lakes Region, dating back to the mid/late-1600's (sir name is Ellis). My dad had a construction business and built quite a few cabins and houses in the area. He was also an incorporator for LRGH in the 1950's and a selectman in Laconia. Although he had moved to Maine to marry my mom (and that's where I grew up), we still spent a lot of time in this area. I remember when the area where the outlet mall in Tilton was nothing - just cow pastures and trees. I remember when down town Laconia was more accessible (I can't stand the one-way streets in there now!)
I've only lived in the Lakes Region for 7 years now - six of those year in Alton. I knew I'd always end up here somehow - like the way you know you've met the right man or the right melon in the supermarket.
It was just an easy decision to make.
For those of you who have posted already, I agree that it's sad to see that the McMansions are popping up in the place where a quaint cottage stood the day before or that a new strip mall is going in where a wonderful old farm used to be. But some of the conveniences - like more healthcare facilities - are just a "gotta have". As I understand it, Huggins Hospital is putting in a clinic in Alton, near Hannaford. I'm glad for the new jobs in the area and the much needed relief it will bring the local ER/Walk-In Clinics of LRGH and HH and Frisbee Memorial - especially in the summer when those services get maxed out at peak times like during Motorcycle Week.
Somehow the town planners and those responsible for making the decisions for the town will need to figure a way to allow the changes to happen appropriately.
Take for example the cell tower issue here in Alton... I sympathize with the people who don't want to look out their window and see that thing sticking up in their view - I don't blame them one bit - but on the other hand, I hate not being able to use a cell phone in my own home town because there's no coverage in my area (I can't get an iPhone because of this!) There's got to be a happy medium somewhere...
And this brings me back to how we, as a rapidly growing town/county, decide on moving forward with our "wish list" and our "needs list" as the infrastructure of the area gets stretched and yet we try to cling to what we love about the area... it seems a paradox, doesn't it?
