RE: How much do you love the town you live in?
July 6, 2016 at 5:27 pm
(This post was last modified: July 6, 2016 at 5:28 pm by Thumpalumpacus.)
I live in Spicewood, Texas, about 30 miles outside Austin. I live here partly by choice and partly by circumstance; the 08 recession killed my career as a low/middle manager for a Fortune 500 company. The ensuing lengthy unemployment sucked out my 401k and nest -egg, so i had to hit the reset button. I stayed with my mom while I got back on my feet, working up to 70 hours a week at the crap jobs that are on offer here. Now I'm back down to a reasonable 50 hours weekly and while not secure for the future like I'd like to be, it's a damned sight better than it was.
I like it here. The people are friendly. Stereotype notwithstanding, they are religious but not mouthy about it, and don't begrudge me my open atheism. The education level here is low, not many have attended college, and they're not cosmopolitan by a long shot. But the folks here aren't stupid. If I had to pick a word, I'd say they're canny -- don't bring bullshit, it will be sniffed out.
I live a ways out in the countryside, which is beautiful, rolling hills sheathed in various types of oak, juniper ash, mesquite, and along the waterways, towering bald cypress which are simply majestic. Our wildlife sees many species of birds, being under a migratory route. Mammals run from cougars as apex predators and coyotes to deer, possum, jackrabbits, and raccoons, as well as the omnipresent armadillo. And buzzards -- lots of buzzards. Living out in the hills, it's not uncommon for me to pull into my driveway and scare off a whitetail deer or three ... and once I had a bald eagle perching on my mesquite tree. Roadrunners keep the plentiful snakes in check.
It's not my favorite place I've ever lived, but it's goddamned good, and I'm happy with where I am.
I like it here. The people are friendly. Stereotype notwithstanding, they are religious but not mouthy about it, and don't begrudge me my open atheism. The education level here is low, not many have attended college, and they're not cosmopolitan by a long shot. But the folks here aren't stupid. If I had to pick a word, I'd say they're canny -- don't bring bullshit, it will be sniffed out.
I live a ways out in the countryside, which is beautiful, rolling hills sheathed in various types of oak, juniper ash, mesquite, and along the waterways, towering bald cypress which are simply majestic. Our wildlife sees many species of birds, being under a migratory route. Mammals run from cougars as apex predators and coyotes to deer, possum, jackrabbits, and raccoons, as well as the omnipresent armadillo. And buzzards -- lots of buzzards. Living out in the hills, it's not uncommon for me to pull into my driveway and scare off a whitetail deer or three ... and once I had a bald eagle perching on my mesquite tree. Roadrunners keep the plentiful snakes in check.
It's not my favorite place I've ever lived, but it's goddamned good, and I'm happy with where I am.
