Plans Have Changed: Staying in Rockport

Only one more sunrise from our wonderful little waterfront cottage in Fulton Beach.

I can't believe it's been 7 weeks since I last posted. We've done a lot of living and have made some significant changes in our plans since then.

As we were working out logistics for our big trip around the western U.S. this summer, Curt and I both gradually came to realize that we weren't ready to leave Rockport-Fulton just yet. We feel like we're just getting to know this new coastal environment and are feeling more like settling down for a bit rather than pulling up stakes and leaving so quickly. We're making friends and are beginning to feel like a part of the local community. 

One of the benefits of our situation (Curt retired and me working part-time) is flexibility! We realized that we can take our big trip another year. Summer of 2016, or even later. Whenever we feel like it, really.

First order of business was to find a more permanent place to live here, since our cottage lease is up May 1. We looked at some possible houses to buy, but nothing seemed just right. As we thought about it more, we concluded that at this point, we're happy not to be homeowners...it adds to our flexibility. So we contacted Key Alllegro Realty, the property management company that rented us this cottage, and asked what they might have available for long-term rentals. We established several criteria: available for a one-year lease or longer, unfurnished (we're ready to have our own belongings around us again), big enough to house our things, yet within our price range, room to park our vehicles, bicycles, motorcycle & scooter, and preferably on the water (though we knew that last wish was a long shot with our price range). We received a 3-page list of properties, and as we looked it over, really only one house seemed to fit it all (including being on the water!). When we looked at the house, we could immediately see ourselves living in it! So we signed right away. 

This is the front. It's an island-style home on Key Allegro. The tiny back yard sits right on the water. The house you see under the carport is on the other side of the canal. We figure that going up and down the stairs several times a day will keep us in shape!

Here it is from the back. I love the sunset reflected in the windows!

And here are some views from that upper balcony on the back:

It's definitely a higher density area than most of the places we've lived...out on the edge of the wilderness in Idaho and Montana. But at this point in life, we're all about new experiences!

We've been packing for several days. And now we're in full moving mode. Today we make the 4-hour drive to Kerrville (with truck, minivan, and utility trailer) to organize things in our storage units for the move. Tomorrow we meet our favorite movers...Carlos, Beto, and Ricardo from Riverhill Movers. (They've moved us so many times that they've become really good friends. Nobody know our stuff better than Carlos and his crew!) We'll load the moving truck and our vehicles and drive back to Rockport tomorrow evening. We'll treat Carlos and his crew to dinner at Alice Faye's Restaurant and to a night at our great little beach cottage. Then Wednesday morning we'll start moving everything into the new house. Yep, everything has to go up those stairs! That afternoon or evening the guys will head back home to Kerrville, and Curt and I have Thursday to get the last of our things out of the cottage. So really, the process will take most of the week. But we feel ready for the challenge, and we're excited about our new place!

Here's Key Allegro from the Rockport Beach Road. Did I mention that we'll be living around the corner from George Strait??? (A slight difference in property values, but same neighborhood!)

There's lots more to write about, but it will have to wait. I've been awake most of the night, just thinking about all the changes and logistics. So I'm going to try to catch a few winks before making the drive to Kerrville. Next time you hear from us will probably be in our new place. We'll miss the morning view and watching all the action on Fulton Beach, but, understandably, the owners of the cottage would like to have a little time here. 

So on we go to the next adventure: once again, we're On the Loose!