Dreaming of living in the hill country (Amarillo, Brownwood: for sale, lease)

[scottyc]

Hi. Have you thought about Kerrville. Not too big, but big enough to have all the amenities. Right on the river, and a short drive to San Antonio if you want to go there. Hope you find what you are looking for.

[TexasNick]

Originally Posted by scottyc

Hi. Have you thought about Kerrville. Not too big, but big enough to have all the amenities. Right on the river, and a short drive to San Antonio if you want to go there. Hope you find what you are looking for.

I have! I have not fully explored it yet, I only saw it on the way to Harper. There are so many places to see in the Hill Country, but it takes gas money and black coffee. The coffee part is easy, but not the full tank of gas. Hopefully I can hit Kerrville soon. Thanks.

[tailcutter]

You are truly blessed to be able to go out and look for your land. I have been trying to find acreage for 4 years now. I been searching using the internet and e-mailing realtors. No luck so far. The realtors tell me the land is too expensive for me, to stay where I’m at. I have been hearing that for years, I refuse to give up. I know there is land out there for me. I have interest in any small, isolated land. I love the slower pace life, where people are friendly and wave as you drive by. I feel that small towns have retained their moral value. I believe that’s why I feel comfortable and safe when I visit. I love it. I also have a heart gut urgency to keep looking for land. Something inside is telling me not to listen to those people and keep trying. It is hard, especially when you want it so bad, it hurts. Anyway, I’m glad you started your blog. I have started to wonder if land is reachable for a single parent. It seems like the wealthy have it all and the lower income people have to stay stuck in the city. How sad is that!!!!!! Keep on truckin and looking. I’m waiting to here about Mason. Land out there is expensive as well. I have been e-mailing the realtors out there as well.
God Bless,
Michelle K

[Marlow]

I promise I'm not posting this to be controversial or to start an argument about the merits of any particular town. But I keep seeing these posts where people are wanting so strongly to move to a small town somewhere and feel like it's some sort of oasis of good people and good values. I lived in Kerrville for several years and because of my job had to travel to many of the little surrounding towns. Yes, I met good people and yes, there are good families and people doing their best to lead good moral lives.

But let me assure you, in these small towns there is no shortage of alcoholism, drug use (heroin, crack, methamphetamines), spousal abuse, child abuse, child sexual abuse, adultery, racism, poverty or violent crime. Nor did I find the people in them to be any friendlier than they are anywhere else. Now, my job brought me into contact with people involved in these types of situations and depending on where you live and what you do for a living, you might not see the behavior on a daily basis. But I lived in a picturesque little neighborhood not far from the town square and there was a drug dealer living across the street from me and a guy who later turned out to be a murderer used to hang out and sit on the front porch there. One of my married church-going neighbors propositioned me and the other set of neighbors used to have knock-down-drag-out fights in the front yard.

Mayberry doesn't exist and probably never existed, except for on television. There may very well be benefits to living in a small town, but you're no more likely to find moral people there than you are anywhere else.

Again, I didn't post this to start an argument of any kind. That was just my experience of living in a small town in the Texas Hill Country.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by Marlow

I promise I'm not posting this to be controversial or to start an argument about the merits of any particular town. But I keep seeing these posts where people are wanting so strongly to move to a small town somewhere and feel like it's some sort of oasis of good people and good values. I lived in Kerrville for several years and because of my job had to travel to many of the little surrounding towns. Yes, I met good people and yes, there are good families and people doing their best to lead good moral lives.

But let me assure you, in these small towns there is no shortage of alcoholism, drug use (heroin, crack, methamphetamines), spousal abuse, child abuse, child sexual abuse, adultery, racism, poverty or violent crime. Nor did I find the people in them to be any friendlier than they are anywhere else. Now, my job brought me into contact with people involved in these types of situations and depending on where you live and what you do for a living, you might not see the behavior on a daily basis. But I lived in a picturesque little neighborhood not far from the town square and there was a drug dealer living across the street from me and a guy who later turned out to be a murderer used to hang out and sit on the front porch there. One of my married church-going neighbors propositioned me and the other set of neighbors used to have knock-down-drag-out fights in the front yard.

Mayberry doesn't exist and probably never existed, except for on television. There may very well be benefits to living in a small town, but you're no more likely to find moral people there than you are anywhere else.

Again, I didn't post this to start an argument of any kind. That was just my experience of living in a small town in the Texas Hill Country.

This will sound silly to some, but Kerrville is way too populated and busy for me. I checked the crime statistics several months ago, and they leave a lot to be desired, just as you stated.

I agree that probably really small towns have the share of problems as well. One thing is for sure, I'd never live in a town, large or small, but some place way out of the city/town limits. Where I am now, I live five miles outside of town. If I move again, it will be further away.

[neddy]

If you are looking at land in remote areas you need to be careful is yall are thinking you are always going to have cell service. My place is right is in Kendall county (Sisterdale) about a mile outside of that small town and we get no cell signal whatso ever and thats standing on one of the Hills. Sateliites fine, cells no! I would hardley call 1500 a mega ranch!

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by neddy

If you are looking at land in remote areas you need to be careful is yall are thinking you are always going to have cell service. My place is right is in Kendall county (Sisterdale) about a mile outside of that small town and we get no cell signal whatso ever and thats standing on one of the Hills. Sateliites fine, cells no! I would hardley call 1500 a mega ranch!

That wouldn't be a problem for me as I dislike cell phones and never use one. I also dislike satellites and don't need one of them either. They are not a necessity as far as I'm concerned and I prefer to do without.

[TexasNick]

Just did 300 miles today from Junction and up to Harper and back to San Antonio. Wonderful. I'll post an update soon.

Btw, there IS land going for 1,500/acre west of Kerrville. That's the cheapest I've seen so far. Tons of skittle colors on the roads (aka non-Texas license plates). California is taking over!

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by TexasNick

Just did 300 miles today from Junction and up to Harper and back to San Antonio. Wonderful. I'll post an update soon.

Btw, there IS land going for 1,500/acre west of Kerrville. That's the cheapest I've seen so far. Tons of skittle colors on the roads (aka non-Texas license plates). California is taking over!

I love that photo.

Yesterday I started reading the book you mentioned a while back. I find it very interesting and informative. Now I must get off of City Data and get busy planning my hope for the Hill Country.

[TexasNick]

Originally Posted by KewGee

I love that photo.

Yesterday I started reading the book you mentioned a while back. I find it very interesting and informative. Now I must get off of City Data and get busy planning my hope for the Hill Country.

Glad you found it! It's kind of rare for some reason. Let me know what you think when you finish it. He makes it sound so easy