Every time we head south of here, I know what’s going to happen. We’re going to cross a couple of beautiful rivers and we’re going to want to buy a place on one of the rivers. It happens every single time we travel through that area.
Yesterday . . same thing happened. Only this time, we almost lost our grip on reality. First, we left home pretty early and had planned to be back home pretty early. I didn’t even take my cell phone with me and Vince never carries his. We stopped for breakfast at a little place and were looking through a real estate booklet while waiting for our food (which never did arrive and we finally left without breakfast) but one little cabin on the water caught our attention.
When we got to where we were going to eat crawfish, there was a sheriff’s deputy by where we parked and we started talking to him and I asked him if he had a cell phone I could use. Vince couldn’t believe I did it but he said sure and handed me his phone. I called the realtor and we made an appointment to see the place.
Crystal Clear River
At this area, the river is about 4′ deep, rather low but it hasn’t gone completely dry. The water is so crystal clear. Fish were jumping. Vince was drooling!
Bluebonnet on the Beach
The beach is sandy but needs to be cleaned up. Weeds and twigs have grown up in the area. There were several clumps of bluebonnets growing in the sand.
Vince & Judy
Here we were in front of a big pecan tree. There were several mesquite trees, as well as some wild persimmons on the property.
A Little Cabin
The little cabin was as cute as it could be but it was tiny! There was also a very good well on this property, as well as a camper cover type shelter with RV hookups.
The realtor had another place she wanted us to see. There was no cabin on it and there was no sandy beach. This land had no improvements at all but it was pretty.
Second Place
For years, I’ve said I would not have a second home, even a vacation home, ever again. We don’t think either of these places was right for us because the first place had no restrictions at all and there was the junkiest place ever right next to it. The second place does have restrictions and there’s a retired attorney living down the road and I think he makes it his duty to police the restrictions to the letter of the law but several times the realtor said “Well, if you get to be friends with him . . ” which made me believe that if you’re his friend, you can do more than if you’re not his friend. Sounds like it could be like having the red tag man living 3 doors down and that’s not something we want either.
We’re working on a deal now that might work out for us to buy 10 acres that isn’t right on the river but is walking distance to the river.
Third Piece
You cross this little bridge, which is really nothing more than a concrete slab covering the water — no sides, no rails . . one car can pass at a time and I could see myself having a real hard time with that.
We’ll see. If I had to guess, I’d say we’ll forget about it til the next time we are passing through and Vince gets the bug to have a place on the river. It surely is pretty but it would mean we would probably not get any more chickens once these are gone . . and that wouldn’t make me very happy.
Donna says
Judy, We have had a second home on the river for about 20 years. When we bought it there was lots of work to do and we enjoyed fixing it up. As we’ve gotten older it seems there’s more work to do than rest and relax . When we do get to go to the second home all we do is work. Just giving you something to think about. As hard as you work do you really want a second place to work at. Why not just dig a pond on your 40 acres and enjoy it………not a big pond but a little one to enjoy.
Judy Laquidara says
In an area as dry as our area, unless it’s a spring fed pond, it’s never going to hold any water. The river is crystal clear and we would never have a pond that’s clear, plus on the 45 acres, we need to have cows to keep our ag exemption and that means the cows would stay in a pond, if we had one.
We’ve had two places twice before and I know what you mean — it’s all work and no play it seems. The only way we’ll probably do it is if we can find a place where we might want to end up retiring and selling this place and I would be real surprised if that happens.
Gwen says
Texas rivers are so pretty and can certainly make you lose you head! It is always fun to look. Going home can certainly change the picture. Have fun!
Karen Langseth says
There is nothing wrong with having a place to escape to…the small cabin looks wonderful. Ours is something real simple that requires no extra work….just park the car and put our feet up on the deck.
JudyL says
There would be cooking to do and with no grocery stores close, it would mean planning means and bringing food from here. It would mean 2 extra toilets to clean, about a dozen extra windows to clean, more dusting to do . . no matter how I look at it, there’s going to be more work for me, not to mention another acre of grass for Vince to cut. There’s no way I can see that we can own a place and not create some amount of extra work for ourselves.
Ranch Wife says
Growing up, we had a little house on the Blanco River in Wimberley. Spent many a summer tubing down that river and my entire childhood is filled with memories of Wimberley. Would probably be living there if there was enough land…and money… to make a living ranching.The only problem was that it wasn’t on a dirt road. LOL
Susan says
I’m thinking if you did something, you’d have buyer’s remorse later. Best to close your eyes and not look at river property. =) Not Vince, of course. He’s driving!
Crystal D-G in WA says
All 3 places are so pretty. Texas either is more green than I thought or it’s still early in the year and the green hasn’t withered away in the heat yet. Either would be pretty along a river. And how cute are you two?!
Rose says
I’m not familiar with Texas, so just wondering what would the chances of flooding be when living so close to a river … a once in a lifetime event … if ever?
It does sound lovely 🙂
Linda Smith says
In an answer to Rose, yes, the Texas Hill Country does flood. It is very important to check out the flood plain, etc. It hasn’t flooded in many years and it is beautiful and very peaceful. At times, they have had flash floods and have had to rescue people from the tree tops. If you are considering purchasing property there, just check it out very carefully. I think it is the most beautiful area of Texas.
Sara in AL says
Uh, here’s another consideration. River=snakes. Lots of snakes. Especially cottonmouths. When we lived in Texas, my Dad wanted to go fishing. We went one weekend. He caught 3 fish, I caught a cottonmouth. I was 12 or 13. We saw dozens the whole weekend. We never went fishing again. LOL
Donna F says
What a beautiful area. Seriously, that picture of you & Vince should be framed! It’s a really great picture.
Karin says
havning a place on the river isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. We live right by the river – and it FLOODS. Our first house was ruined by flood, our second house is on an 8′ daylight basement. It’s flooded 5′ deep in that basement before. I’d do some lots of research on flooding before I ever got something along the river again……..
Linda Steller says
I’ve always dreamed of living by the water. Ocean, river, pond, anything, as long as I could hear the water and absorb those negative ions! So peaceful.