10 years ago today, I landed in the small college town of Austin TX.
05/05/2004
I had decided to leave my hometown of Connecticut; I had spent 6 months looking for a new place to live. I traveled to different cities, got the newspapers delivered and searched the statistics on housing, jobs and cost of living. This was before the wide spread use of the internet and you had to do the research at the library.
Wilmington Delaware, Ashville North Carolina, Nashville Tennessee, Seattle Washington, Atlanta Georgia, Baltimore Maryland and Austin Texas. Austin Texas won out, it had job growth, a low cost of living, a bunch of colleges and a music scene.
It was 10 years ago this morning that I piloted the little silver Chevy Spectrum into the center of Austin. I had stopped to see some friends along the way here. I took the Auto Train from Washington DC and got off in Winter Park Florida. I had detoured through Florida to see my Grandparents. I came into Austin from Highway 290. I had spent the previous night in Houston with my brothers’ college buddy and was wishing that Austin was different from Houston. I kept looking at the brochure the Chamber of Commerce sent me, they said there were hills and trees in Austin. Houston was flat, industrial and truthfully an ugly city. I cried along the way thinking I had made a huge mistake. Up from the coast, nervous and excited I gradually glided up the highway heading to my new home. As I got closer to the city, trees started to appear, the hills began to roll.
I hadn’t visited Austin before I packed up all my belongings. I didn’t have the time or the funds to do it. It was the great adventure. I had told myself, I had to give it at least one year before I could go back to New England. I had some of the immediate stuff in the car with me: a coffee pot, a pan, a pot, a couple of plates and dishes. I had my sleeping bag and my stuffed dog blueberry. I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have a place to live and I didn’t know a single person. The moving van had all the big stuff, my bed, clothing and kitchen equipment. I had them picked up the week before; they were sitting on a shipping dock, waiting to be addressed.
My friend John did some business in Austin and he arranged a trip so he could be in Austin when I arrived. I met up with John that first morning, we were staying at the same hotel. I had an appointment with Becky, the apartment locator, later that afternoon. It was all new, fresh and exciting. John went off to his business meetings and I went off and looked at apartments. I didn’t know the neighborhoods but I had my maps and newspapers. I had the number of the crime statistics lady at the Police department. It took me just a few days to find a place, a one bedroom apartment in South Austin. The apartment was quadruple the size of the place I had in Connecticut and the rent was less. That was a good sign. I got a lease signed, John and I spent the evenings exploring the night life of Austin. John soon departed for his home and I got settled into my new life. The moving van arrived a week after I got my place and I started to look for work. I landed a job right away, the city was expanding and they were in desperate need of workers.
What has happened in 10 years?
I learned about tornados and flash flooding
I got my first traffic ticket my 3rd day in TX.
I have changed jobs a few times.
I still do work in the music industry.
I learned about SXSW.
I got stood up by a cowboy for a date, his bull got out of the pen.
I have had my heart broken a few times and broken a few hearts.
I have made wonderful friends.
I do volunteer work in the city.
I belong to a couple of boards and commissions.
I bought a house, I remodeled that house.
I got a dog, my best buddy.
I have traveled a bunch.
I have made great friends.
The city of Austin has doubled in size.
I now say y’all with out hesitating.
I eat chips and Salsa with breakfast.
I am sure I am leaving a bunch of things off this list but my life has changed a lot in 10 years. I am glad I made the decision to leave New England. I am happy in Austin. I got what I was looking for: a nice simple life, not a lot of stress and I am genuinely happy.
What does the next 10 years hold? Who knows but I am sure it will be an adventure.
