Where and in what exactly do I want to live? Yes, I’m staying in New Braunfels. But after spending time around Creekside, I knew that area was a no-go for me. Too much going on. Traffic was horrible. I don’t have kids in school anymore, so I didn’t need to be near one or deal with school traffic. The noise was too much, too. Between the cars, the ambulances racing by, and police sirens blaring more often than not… well, that was enough for me. Did I mention the people? Yes, I’m a people person, but that was taking it a bit too far. Whatever happened to the personal space rule? Anyway, you see where I’m going with this?
We found a Realtor. First thing I told him was: “I do not want a new build.” The way they make things nowadays it’s just not the same quality. Plus, I wanted something with character. Not all stark-white, cookie-cutter style. So what did he start showing me right off the bat? You guessed it, new builds. In brand new subdivisions.
I stayed flexible and agreed to look, but I had my heart set. Right away, I noticed those neighborhoods hardly had any trees. Why are the houses so close to one another? I don’t want to be an arm’s length away from my neighbor. Remember… the personal space rule. What if I don’t want to get out of my pajamas to check the mailbox, or I just want to sit outside for coffee? Now remember — I was born during a time when you do not walk out of the house without lipstick!
Did I mention there were people everywhere? Since I wasn’t getting anywhere with this Realtor who insisted I “needed everything brand new,” I decided to find another one. Now this was more like it. I could feel it right away…home. We were riding up 46, and I thought, this is a bit of a drive from family, but there wasn’t nearly as much traffic. (Keep in mind, this was almost seven years ago.)
We pulled off the road, and the sign read T Bar M. I saw trees; that’s a good sign! It was tucked away from the main road, and I noticed something else: it was getting quieter. Was that a deer? And no one was trying to hit it? We pulled up, and immediately, I loved the stone. I thought, cottage style! Yes, there were flights of stairs, but who cares? It was cute. (We’ll discuss those stairs again later — LOL). We stepped inside, and I was in love. The kitchen was the right size, but I don’t cook anyway. The floors were brick. The cabinetry, just my color. And yes, a stainless-steel sink!
Light poured in through the windows. It was open, airy, and inviting. There was space for a living room and dining room, two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and beautiful hardwood floors. No carpet. But this… this was what did it. The biggest, most beautiful rock fireplace you’ve ever seen! The mantel was a rich, warm wood.
We turned on the sconces, and I said, “I’ll take it.”
