Could we consider moving to Texas? Really?

Well, yes, we believe we actually could live happily in Fredericksburg, Texas.  Shocker.

First of all, the people there are incredibly friendly and polite.  Obviously plenty of exceptions, but in general compared to California there's a different vibe in that part of Texas - more open and welcoming when you shop or eat out or have a casual conversation.  It's nice.

Lots of good restaurants, a couple of them top quality.  A charming Main Street, with great shops and bars and wine tasting rooms.  Many of the houses and shops are faced with the pretty cream-colored limestone found in that part of Texas.



There are wonderful churches and an impressive library.  The wine culture there is a big plus.  I've mentioned previously the magnificent Museum of the Pacific War.  We loved the looks of the big park on Main Street, especially in its holiday mode.  I wouldn't call Fredericksburg beautiful but it's quite attractive  On the other hand, the surrounding hill country landscape, while lush by Texas standards, isn't close to northern California in natural beauty.  Real estate prices were somewhere around half what they are in Santa Cruz.  This is not a college town, but the exciting cities of Austin and San Antonio are within driving distance.

We'll put Fredericksburg on the list of candidates.  But the search continues.

I did have one issue with Fredericksburg.  My primary care doctor in Scotts Valley called in a prescription for generic Celebrex, which I take for back pain, to the Walgreen pharmacy there.  When I went to pick them up, I was told that it would cost me $600.  I was surprised because it is ordinarily a lot less at the Costco in Santa Cruz.  I fled from the store and phoned the Costco nearest to us, in San Antonio, and got a better price - $41.  $600 vs $41 for the same medication order - hmm, that's a tough decision.  So when we left Fredericksburg and headed to our next RV park in Corpus Christi, Texas, we stopped off at the San Antonio Costco and picked up my pills there.  Boys and girls, let that be a lesson to you.  Trust your pharmacist but check his prices.