Living in Coastal Texas - Where I Want to Be

Texas.  People ask why choose a hot. humid place to live your life?  There are many reasons, but I need to back up a few, er..many years.

Danny and I lived in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado; the foot of Pikes Peak. Both our families moved to CS from the Midwest within a year of each other, though, we never met back then.  My dad was headed to California, stopped to visit a cousin in CS, loved it, got a job and sent for us. I was in second grade at the time, grew up there, married there, had kids in CO, buried my parents, worked, lived and loved in a beautiful place. I loved being outdoors - sledding in the winter and playing softball in the warmer times. I loved hiking and being in the mountains and still can smell the clean mountain air when I think about it. The wonderful memories I have are priceless and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

About 25 years ago, independent of each other, Danny and I started feeling restless.  We were ready for a change.  Over time we started talking about it.  Danny was about to finish his B.A. and at that time careers in his field were limited.  PCs were just beginning to be used in business and he had a ground floor opportunity to advance, but it couldn't happen in CS.  The cost of living was high and the pay was low.  It was time to look around. We were also sick of shoveling snow!

Our friends had moved from Houston to CS, then back to Houston and asked us to visit.  We came here and fell in love with the differences from all we knew in CS. I remember Danny asking if this is someplace I could live.  About that time, Danny had started sending out resumes all over the country.  The only positive responses he received were from Houston and Seattle, mostly Houston.  Funny thing, since we had just visited.

You know what happened next.  We moved from the land of snow, Pikes Peak, pine trees, hills and dry air to a place of rare snow, Gulf of Mexico, still pine trees and much other "new" flora, flatlands and humidity.

Now for the why I choose this place to live.  To have the choice to live anywhere; why not a cruise ship (a close second), Hawaii, San Francisco (a city I very much like), Sweden (my heritage)?  Why this little spot in Harris County Texas?

After 20 years in this area, this is home.  We raised our kids here. Our grandkids are all within an 8 hour drive. With the exception of this year's drought, I like the heat most of the time.  We love the flora and fauna and still are amazed by it all. The cost of living is relatively low; the pay better than most places.  We are a little over an hour away from the Gulf Coast and cruise ships.  I love the water more than the mountains.

That's the long answer to "why".  The short answer: This is where God planted us.  From responses to resumes sent to the way things have worked out over the years this is the obvious answer.  Some would say it was coincidence, but I disagree.  I don't believe there is such a thing. I could tell you event after event, but that would make this post into a book with many chapters.  I believe our move to TX and all things related to it were orchestrated by my God who knew where we needed to be to live life to the fullest. For his purpose we were planted here.  I don't always know what that purpose is, but I can see, time after time, reasons for us being right here at this time.  So, for now, this little part, this little area of NW Houston is where I want to live.  Can it change?  It could.  This life has been an adventure and I have no doubt that will continue as long as I am breathing.  Hmmm, a cruise ship?