Farewell to H-town

 We left Houston in a bit of a rush, almost unceremoniously — considering that we had lived in the city for nearly 50 years, in several different neighborhoods, through a good assortment of careers. 

Our exit was based on several factors, primarily on compounding exhaustion with ever-intensifying weather, including both summer temperatures and topical storms. For us, there was simply mounting evidence that Houston was a young person’s town, requiring an abundance of bravado, resilience, money, and driving skills — all of which, at age 71, we were experiencing in diminishing supply.  

We weren’t looking for a smaller town, but a more civilized (predictable?) one, although Houston’s lack of formality had been part of what attracted us in the first place. Even in1976 (the year of our arrival) and the decades that followed, Houston was the Wild West — a barely controlled mess of a city, held together with smart people and baling wire.

I loved rough-around-the-edges Houston from the get-go. And now that this era has come to a close, I find myself surprisingly grateful for the life I’ve lived there. It truly is a unique city, surrounded by an the simultaneously lovable and deplorable state of Texas. Navigating this terrain has been my great challenge and honor. I will always be a fan.

After 48 years, I leave Houston as a grateful citizen. Here’s what I want to thank Houston for:

• For the smorgasbord of people that is part of everyday life there —  all the languages, cultures, ideas, cuisines, identities and fashion choices that comprise what journalists say looks like “the future of America.” As an ex-Mormon from monolithic Utah, I found this heterogeneity simply thrilling — at work, in my neighborhood, in my friendships.
• For the opportunities, not just to work, but to actually create the life you wanted. There were so many jobs when I arrived in Houston that even an English major could get hired. And there were so many schemers and dreamers, no one batted an eye if you spun off on your own. Unlike many places, there were precious few barriers in terms of birthright, class, society, education. In Houston, you were free to try anything. 
• For the architecture, which provided something to admire and gawk at in 625 square miles of prairie. Especially back in the day, developers let name brand architects go wild, producing some of the most iconic buildings of the late 20th Century. These urban marvels were fascinating to watch under construction, and they remain beautiful to see.
• For the throbbing heartbeat of Art of every genre, from mainstream productions in gilded theaters to smalltime open-mic creations performed at the foot of dank stairways. So much talent, always available, on display, clearly supported! Gorgeous, progressive, edgy museums, thriving, and working hard at being inclusive. Where else on the planet can you see a major concert on a Saturday night — after parking for free on the street? All there for the taking.
• For the professional sports teams, of every variety, with all their ups and downs, wins and losses, and dramatic narratives over the years. Great teams, great personalities, great story lines that kept us all engaged and Houston-proud over the years. Thanks for the memories!
• For the recent awakening that has produced world class green spaces like Allen Parkway, Memorial Park, and Discovery Green, not to mention the upgrades to bike trails, east end parks, and the Houston Zoo. It’s almost like we woke up to the natural beauty of this part of the world. It’s like no place else. I’m sorry to leave it.
• Most of all, I want to thank Houston for its energy. This is a city that has always done its best to be an interesting place to live. A town founded on swagger, it attracted people whose survival skills included basic optimism and substantial grit. I met people here who had big ideas and who encouraged me to let my guard down and stop trying to be a particular kind of person, understand who I was and what I was trying to do. I guess they gave me freedom.

I know Houston is not for everyone, but for nearly five decades, as we both grew up and found ourselves, it was perfect for me. 

Thanks for everything, Houston.  Enjoyed the show. 

We've gone from "weekenders" to "full timers" in La Grange, TX — at least until we figure something else out. This will be interesting. . . .