Today we drove Alex to the airport and San Antonio and bid her goodbye. The week flew by so quickly! We enjoyed her visit and miss her already.
Alexis then stopped by North Star Mall to put her name on a waiting list for the iPhone 4G. Yes, she is that geek. While she was there, she visited with our friend Mari who was up to her eyeballs on a busy Saturday at the Build-a-Bear. I was out in the truck with my ankle swollen after yesterday’s march across the sands at Port Aransas, so I missed chatting with her. I look forward to getting to see everyone this coming week as we finally arrive in SA.
Afterwards, we drove up IH35 north to New Braunfels, an historically German settlement that has become, in essence, a suburb of San Antonio. It still capitalizes on its cultural heritage with shops selling German trinkets, German restaurants, and German-themed waterparks and resorts. We stopped by New Braunfels Smokehouse which, while not strictly German, does sell quite a bit of German sausage and candies. We go for the jerky. It’s the best anywhere!
We thought about going to the movies but decided against it. Both of us were just really tired and wanted to go home and nap. I suspect I was a little dehydrated after a day under the hot sun at the beach, and Alexis was likely just exhausted after working all week. So go home and nap we did. I’ve been such a slug this evening, having accomplished nothing in particular. I suppose I need to start getting things ready for tomorrow’s short hop from Gonzales County to the Southside of San Antonio, but I find it difficult to get motivated this evening.
Tomorrow is my family reunion (family on my father’s side) in Gonzales. The plan right now is to run into Gonzales for an hour or so and make an appearance at the American Legion Hall and then head back to the RV park, help Lex get hitched up, and then roll on to SA. We’ll probably spend the rest of the afternoon getting settled in, but hope by evening we will be ready to go hang out with some of our friends. I mis them all so much!
Earlier today I had one of those “I want to stay in Texas!” moments. It’d be so easy; after all, except for my car, we’re already completely moved! Alas, I have a good job that I can’t afford and don’t want to abandon, and Lex has her family who she doesn’t want to abandon, either. Oh, well. I suppose I’ll have to work a on a long-term plan for getting us back here eventually. The first part of the plan involves getting our car, truck, and camper paid off so that we have some flexibility and can consider buying a small site-built home for living in during the school year and purchasing a little Class B Motorhome for traveling on the holidays and during the summer.
Don’t get me wrong; I really like RV living, but as long as we plan to make Maryland our homebase (which is for the foreseeable future since Lex wants to be there as her parents age), RVing fulltime isn’t a terribly economical option if, in fact, we only plan to spend 2-3 months a year on the road.
Tags: food, Gonzales, New Braunfels, rving, San Antonio, Travel
I think you should buy one of the Tiny Texas Houses as your permanent homestead in Maryland (can just haul it there on a trailer!). Then, you are actually living in a piece of local Texas yumminess.
Years from now, you can actually relocate it again, wherever you may land.
If I did NOT point out TTH while you were here, I apologize a million times over. You can still check them out while in San Antone. They are AMAZING!
http://www.tinytexashouses.com/
Right up at 80 and I-10 (just turn right on the south side access road).
*Christine was not paid for this endorsement – she just happens to think that Brad Kittel is uber fantastico*
As a matter of fact, I did go there last week. I read about them a year or so ago when we first embarked on the whole RVing thing. I’ve been waiting to get back home so I could go by. So glad I did! I just loved the places. Trust me, I’ve already thought about getting one of them. It’ll take a lot of saving for that. Maybe one day…
Oh, and thank you so much for a lovely stay. We both enjoyed our time at Hillshade, and you and your family are a big part of why we did. Hopefully we’ll see you the next time we get back to Texas.