There and Back Again: Our Return to Austin

Most of you already know by now, but for those of you who don’t, our little family moved back to Austin at the end of January. After a really rough year, we talked, prayed, and sought counsel about what would be best for our little family long term. Overall, we really missed Texas. Although we lived back in Southern California for nearly a year, Austin is where we still felt rooted. Austin is where we began our marriage and family and while that season most definitely was not rainbows and butterflies, there was still a deep sweetness to it. We’ve had many people wonder why we would move back so I thought it would be fun to share twenty of the reasons why we moved back to Austin and why we love it here!

1. We LOVE our little church with a big heart and missed it dearly
2. Lower Cost of Living (We are saving $300/month in rent and $180/month in gas! Also, houses are practically free.)
3. No State Income Tax – You get to keep more of your hard-earned money
4. My husband has normal hours – (when he finally landed a permanent job in 2017, he was starting his shifts between midnight and 4 in the morning and we didn’t find out his hours until the day prior)
5. My husband has a shorter commute – (he’s home in 35 minutes which is a big deal, especially coming from Southern California)
6. Great Coffee – (I mentioned some of our favorites in this post)
7. Great food – We are about 15 minutes away from Torchy’s Tacos, Hop Doddy, and Stiles Switch, and very soon, we will have our very own Little Big Burger! We’re in food heaven if you ask me!
8. Nearness to Ikea – Because we have priorities.
9. Nearness to the Domain – Do we ever shop here? Heck no, (we’re not made of that kind of money) but, we LOVE the ambiance of Whole Foods so you can often find us browsing around and enjoying the hot food options.
10. Nearness to BioLife – My sweet husband already works full time but donates plasma here twice weekly so we can have some “fun money.” By working an extra 2 hours a week, he brings in an extra $280/month and there are often bonuses on top of that!
11. Nearness to Magnolia Market – If you’ve been following this blog for a bit, you know I just LOVE all things Magnolia. With her love for details, Joanna Gaines is a lady after my own heart and it’s so fun to watch how everything she touches turns to gold.
12. I was able to quit my job – While we were in California I had the privilege of working on the administrative team at our church. I was so thankful for the opportunity but often found myself conflicted between wanting to give my full attention to my daughter and my full attention to my work. I’m thankful that I no longer have to make that decision and by God’s grace, I’ve been able to make a little bit of money through this blog!
13. Thrift Books Affiliate – Thrift Books is one of my favorite booksellers and they have a wonderful affiliate program but it is not available in California. Once we moved to Texas, I was able to sign up! Basically, any time you shop through my Thrift Books links on this blog, I will make a small commission!
14. Central Library – I already LOVE the Austin Public Library because you can check out up to fifty items at a time and borrow them for 3 weeks. My husband and I have loved checking out movies, books for Addie, ebooks, and audiobooks! The Central Library has 5 levels inside and contains a cafe and rooftop garden. The Children’s section is great because there are lots of books and toys for young kids to play with. There’s even an outdoor area with beautiful views of downtown Austin. 
15. Emphasis on the Arts – One little known fact about me is that halfway through college, I almost change my major to Art! I had only taken one art course but I fell in love with the subject. We appreciate that Austin has multiple art museums and that there are even opportunities to enjoy the art of music through free events such as Blues on the Green and Concerts in the Park.
16. It’s Green – By green, I’m referring to color (although if you’ve been in Austin for 5 minutes, I’m sure you’ve noticed there is a huge emphasis on environmental stewardship). Southern California has its own distinct beauty but there is nothing like living somewhere that stays green all year long!
17. Hole in the Bible Belt – Austin is known as the hole in the Bible belt and if you’ve spent time here, especially downtown, you know this to be true. For some folks, it’s shocking to see sin on display so publicly. While it does sadden me, I think it simultaneously makes my heart thankful for the opportunities to share about Christ here and for how the Lord is already at work using us to do so.
18. Old People – There’s just something different about older folk here in the South, a distinct cuteness if you will. Once we crossed the border from New Mexico into Texas and stopped at a rest stop, we were so excited when an old truck driver with hardly any teeth came and talked to us after he saw us running around with Addie. Derek asked him about his semi-truck and how he was able to back it in only to have the man tell him, “Oh, there ain’t nothin’ to it.” It totally made me think of Mater from the movie Cars. Derek and I both thought the old man was simply adorable. It’s also a thing in the South for old ladies to walk up to you in the store (or anywhere in public really) and want to touch your baby/talk to your baby/ask about your baby. I’m not sure why it’s okay here, but it is and it’s (mostly) cute.
19. Southern Hospitality – Unlike Southern California, people here generally know their neighbors and are generally very friendly. At first, I thought it was super weird when I would check out at the store and the cashier would take their sweet time asking me questions about my life. Now though, I’m quite used to it and mostly enjoy it.
20. Opportunities to Opt Outside – Previously, we were only aware of hiking trails downtown but we’ve recently become familiar with Wells Branch (I love the trail around the pond – I think it’s one of North Austin’s best kept secrets!), Gracy Woods Trail and Lake Pflugerville.

These are just a few of the reasons we love living in Austin! The list grows as we continue to explore and we are so thankful for this sweet season.