I arrive in Austin

with an idea in my brain.

 

It’s time to stop driving from town to town. Time to stop and get to know one place. Austin is that place for me. Why?

 

It’s warm, the economy is good so if I need to work there is a good chance of me finding it here, it has a large young population, and it is a fairly liberal town which means lots of weird fun things happening.

 

I’ve been here for almost a week now. I have wandered, walked, hiked, talked, and lost myself here.

 

There is an odd mix of overstated wealth:

 

And goofy counter culture:

 

Of course, the artsy bits of town get some very interesting graffiti, which I love:

 

But everywhere I look there is something to see. I walk around the capitol area:

 

I see churches and construction:

 

 

I walk by food trucks, which are super trendy here and far outside of my budget:

 

I meander through the university campus, and enjoy the sculptury bits that I find:

 

 

I meander along the river, and see the skyline of a city:

 

It is a dog friendly town, so we spend hours each day in the different dog parks. The dog runs loose, meets everybody, calms down a bit. I think he is realizing that there is a routine building here. I think I am too.

 

It’s a bit lonesome yet, walking alone with camera to eye. People are friendly, conversations come easy, but part of me holds back. I’m looking for a place to be alone, and I”m not finding it. Everywhere I go there are other people, the sounds of the city, evidence of man. A far departure from the serenity and solitude of Big Bend last week. It is hard, but that is why I do it.

 

I went to the local ballroom dance this past weekend. It was fun, but there was nobody my age there. Still, it was nice to dance.  I’ve joined a gym, more for the shower that it affords me than the weights. I’ve found a few refuge coffee shops where I can find a little slice of quiet.

 

For now I just walk around and try to figure out what I am looking for here: