Cassis is a moderately-sized commune centered around a harbor flanked by limestone cliffs on the Mediterranean Sea. It is in the middle of the Calanques National Park and a popular stop for tourists. Restaurants, shops, condos and hotels, colorful small boats, and beautiful beaches ring the crescent shaped harbor. The largest open space in Cassis is the pétanque court. A place where players, spectators, and gelato-toting visitors gather. A community space where a traditional French activity occurs daily. Also, the most obvious place for me to be with my camera. The bulky camera was an evident giveaway. A handsome, casually (but well) dressed, middle-aged man approached and asked in a thick southern (US) accent where I was from. After some pleasant conversation, the ex-pat lawyer from Alabama offered a somewhat sarcastic, but equally revealing, confession. “Pétanque has ruined my life”. He came to southern France for business and some sailing and became hooked on the game as four years passed. He now lives above a restaurant with a commanding view of the harbor and pétanque court. Village life was the real draw; pétanque is symbolic of that lifestyle. Social interactions with family and friends are given high priority, a slower pace with time for reflection, celebration of simple pleasures, some rules and hierarchy, but with built in flexibility, and ties to heritage and tradition are all part of village living. His parting words. “This is a magical place”.