Moving from Texas
In 1998, I moved from the small town of Texas I grew up in to The large Phoenix Metro area in Arizona. When I moved it was to go to school with the idea that at some point i'd move back. When that would be, however, wasn't something I'd thought about.
The small town in Texas had just one of some large chain stores, restaurants, and such. One Wal-Mart, one McDonald's, One Burger King, One JCPenney, One Dairy Queen, One KFC, One Popeyes, One Church's Chicken, One H-E-B Grocery, One Movie Theater with 3 screens inside the One Mall, One High School, One Sonic, One Peter Piper Pizza, ... and score! Two Pizza Huts of which one was in the mall. You get the idea right? A small town with just enough, perhaps it qualified as a small city, as I've now traveled and seen towns that have just one stop light with little to no large chain anything, the exception sometime a regional grocer or a McDonald's or such. Through the years the town has grown, and now there's a few more national and regional stores. Not quite enough to be a large city, but well on its way. When I think back now, perhaps it was actually a small city, but moving from it to the large Phoenix Metro area makes it seem like a small town to me. Would I ever move back?
In the Interim
After a couple of years I had my Associates Degree, an Associate of Arts in Visual Communications. Yup Graphic Design! Instead of continuing to the "normal" path for a Bachelors, I changed schools and due to that had to start over. At the new school I completed an Associate of Arts in Multimedia and went on to work on the Bachelor's, however I started to question whether that was truly the path for me. I liked what I'd learned, however not enough to and didn't continue.
In the interim of attempting to figure out what I truly wanted to do, I kept working at a place I enjoyed enough to continue, even if not fully satisfied. I participated, volunteered, and took part in many satisfying events. Heck, because of this the company I worked at has rewarded me twice with trips. In 2008 to Memphis, TN
(Why Did he Go To Memphis?) where I learned about and toured St. Judes Children's Research Hospital and Target House. The second time was to New York City, where I attended the Family Equality Council's 2018
Night at The Pier event.
Is it Time to Move
Although I've enjoyed my time in Arizona, it was around 2016 when I started really thinking, prepping even (account with a local bank and a website for a possible business or organization
Amalgam Creative Arts), of moving back to Texas in the next several years. I wouldn't move back to the same small city but rather to San Antonio or Austin. Cities that are large enough to enjoy what I'v come to like about the large city living yet closer to family. Austin is/was really my preferred choice. Although I've learned you don't need a degree if you are passionate enough and take the time to learn on your own, I thought maybe there I'd even go back to revisit completing a Bachelor's Degree, even if it means starting over.
The year was 2017, and t
he small city I'm from held their first Pride Parade. I flew out to visit during that time and really made me decide that I'd like to move back to be able to at some point help them and/or other organizations grow or expand their reach. Maybe even starting one myself or a store of some kind. After all I've had some experience when I was the
De-Staging Lead for the 2013 Phoenix Pride Parade and the Route Manager for it in
2014,
2015, and
2016. After this I led my companies participation in the Phoenix Parade itself in
2017, 2018, and 2019.
December 2019,
my mother passed away. Even though my mother visited me once or twice a year and similarly I would visit periodically, in the back of my mind I always thought I'd be in Texas to be there much more often. Thankful that I was able to be there during her last moments.
Moving back to Texas
As I write this with the dates, it makes me realize that maybe I should have moved in the later part of 2018 or beginning of 2019 because I stopped enjoying the work I was doing in 2016 but stuck with it. It gave me the ability to grow and learn. Then, an opportunity came up in 2019 to do something different. I took it and now I very much enjoy again what I'm doing at the company I work at, even if it is from home during this time.
The time is getting closer for me to move back to Texas. My current non-planned time line is within 2-5 years, leaning on the sooner instead or later, however what isn't clear to me is if it'll be Austin, San Antonio, or my small city that has grown to be a bigger small city.
What I Would Like, to Move
A few days ago I made a list of what the small city I am from has and what it would need for me to really consider moving to it rather than to a large "nearby" city, Austin. The list included many different stores, grocery stores, restaurants, etc., however when I look back at it, the first one thing that the city needs is an alternate grocery store. With the exception of the small town stores, the only major store is the Texas only grocery store H-E-B. Yes there is a Wal-Mart and has groceries, however I choose to shop there as little as possible. A Kroger or a Safeway/Albertson's, or a Target, or WinCo Foods, or other grocer would really be ideal.
The List: A Wishful Thinking
Before I throw away the list I made, to
eliminate the clutter, consisting of stores that exist in the small city I'm from and stores I'd like to see open, here is the list.
Existing: H-E-B, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, JCPenney, Ross, Kohl's, GNC, Autozone, O'really, Discount Tire, KFC, Bush's Chicken, Church's Chicken, Popeye's, Log John Silver, Chick-Fil-A, Mc Donald's Burger King, Panda Express, Wendy's, Dairy Queen, Whataburger, Wingstop, Taco Bell, Peter Piper Pizza, Pizza Hut, Luby's, IHOP, Chilli's, Fuddruckers, Huddle House, Sonic, BBVA, Subway, Papa Johns. I might have missed some?
Wishful Thinking: Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Smart & Final, Big Lots, Target WinCo, Costco, Dutch Bro's, Chipotle, Panera, Olive Garden, CPK, Waffle House, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr, Party City, 99 Cent Only Stores, Harkins or AMC Theaters, Alamo Drafthouse, Del Taco, Denny's, Red Lobster, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Kroger, Albertson's/Safeway, Whole Foods, BofA, Well's Fargo, Chase, Dillard's, Macy's,Walgreens, Cane's, Goodwill, additionally I've never seen an Asian nor Indian Market, Pagan/Wicca Store, Candle specific store. There's plenty that I'm sure I've missed.
Soon, this list may not be accurate as many stores may not make it through the current pandemic.
Another type of business/organization that would benefit the city would be an LGBT Center, an organization similar to
Treasures 4 Teachers, and a permanent food bank. Although the
South Texas Food Bank has been expanding reach to include this small city with their mobile food pantry, a permanent large food bank is really needed. In addition, it'd be fantastic if there was something like
Borderlands Produce Rescue as well.
See you soon Texas!
