WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023 - AUSTIN TEXAS

 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2023- AUSTIN TEXAS

Last week was Texas Independence Day, Monday was Alamo Day (and I highlighted San Antonio), and yesterday I looked at Houston.  Today, I’m looking at Austin Texas.

Austin is the eleventh most significant city in the United States.  Number 10 nationally is San Jose, California, and Austin is closing in on that.  Three cities in Texas make the top ten (Houston at #4, San Antonio at #7, and Dallas at #9 … then Austin as #11).

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Austin is the capital city of Texas.  I don’t live in Austin, but in a suburban community - Georgetown TX. 

So, what do I like about Austin?  That is a little hard since I don’t live in Austin.  

There is (almost) no snow or ice.  I lived all my life before moving to Texas in northern states - Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, and Connecticut. I have done my share of shoveling!!!

The summers are hot - ugh - but the winters are mild - hurray!!!  You can kid me by asking “How many days are over 100 in the summer”, and I’ll ask “How cold was it” or “How much snow did you get?” Two weeks ago, I turned off my furnace.  I’ll switch it over to air conditioning a few times this winter.

There are SO MANY things going on - almost none of which I attend (SxSW music festival, UT athletics, Austin Symphony, kayaking on Lake Austin, movies, parties). I “need” to keep busy, or I might get depressed.  My activities are generally in my north suburb of Georgetown.

It is NOT a flat city.  Dallas is mostly flat, and Houston is flat. Geographically Austin is on the edge of the Texas Hill Country.  If you go west of Austin - there will be hills and interesting geography.  If you go east of Austin, you get flat land.  While I’m not an expert on the “Hill Country”, it has rolling hills (not mountains) and interesting features.

It isn’t perfect.  The airport is at least 45 minutes away.  Downtown can be 30 miles or 3 hours.  My doctor is in downtown Austin.  

My daughter and granddaughters are here - although I haven’t seen them for 4.5 years.  But, someday.

I get time to reflect, meditate, write, and exercise.

In Georgetown, there are very nice hiking trails.  I like that!!!

I play in an orchestra, I play in a German polka band (that is also a big band), I play granny basketball, and I play social bridge.  I work part-time and enjoy and am learning from that.  

After working three years at the University of Texas, I follow UT sports (aka “Longhorns”).  

If I was recommending visiting Austin, I’d suggest Pennybacker bridge, the UT campus, Texas State Capitol, Lake Austin, Mount Bonnell, and a billion restaurants.  TexMex is awesome to eat.  I used to eat more barbecue, but I have cut back on that.

From my apartment, I can walk to the grocery store, large box store (Target), dentist, post office, senior center, and San Gabriel River trails.  

There is an awesome library.  The downtown has a very traditional square and has interesting things (including Market Days the second Saturday of each month).  

Happiness is an attitude.  “Bloom where you are planted”.  I’m happy.  I like being here.  

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, MARCH 8, 2023