Seeking Salvation in Texas
A Light of Hope Shines Through
Hello! Hi! Aloha!
I am chilling here back in Dallas after a few days exploring my new favorite town, San Marcos. I hesitate to even write that, for I definitely don’t want to be blowing up this utter gem of a spot, but alas, I am here to speak my truth! And gosh darn it, I love San Marcos!
San Marcos is a rad little college town sitting between Austin and San Antonio. Their catch-phrase is “Keep San Marcos Beautiful,” put forth by a local initiative in 2009 to educate and engage residents and visitors to take responsibility for improving the community environment. Woof, talk about the stuff my dreams are made of.
There is a stunningly clear river running right smack dab through the middle of the town and college, filled with playful families and young adults on stand-up paddle boards with waterfalls, places to jump in, swim, fish, and explore. It’s home to seven endangered species, and the people actively work to respect and care for them.
As we glided around the small town with happy-hour margaritas sloshing in our bellies and eyes glinting with an abundance of curiosity and joy, we noticed statues of mermaids throughout, towering over us, emanating strength and power. Turns out San Marcos is the official Mermaid Capital of Texas! The mermaid motif has been the protector of San Marcos' natural resources for decades. The map of mermaid murals and statues throughout the town are there to remind us that nature and civilization are, in fact, one and the same ecosystem.
It’s a gorgeous place with a vibrant history and local folks who care enough about their water that they even passed a proposition in 2015 that ceased adding fluoride to it! Did you even know a place with clean tap water in the USA existed anymore?! I am utterly thrilled. I had sort of seized up on the idea of having children in this world with tainted… everything… but I seem to be finding people who actually care about the real shit and are doing something about it. My eyes water at the hope.
We are here to see if San Marcos is somewhere we’d like to relocate to, and lemme tell ya, all signs are pointing to yes.
To test out the self-beautification potential in the town, I set up a full-body wax at a local joint. I haven’t shaved in a year, so I figured why not use the opportunity to meet more people here and see more of the ins and outs of this place? Rita from Rita’s Parlor hails from northern India and makes her own wax out of just sugar and lemon. Al natural! She was so kind, it was so painful, and she was so patient with my screaming and squirming. During our time together, she mentioned her sister was in Canada. When I asked if she plans on visiting while her college clientele is away for Summer break, she casually mentioned that she hasn’t in some time because she isn’t vaccinated and the rules in Canada are tricky. She will next year, though, when she can plan ahead a bit more.
The subtlety of this point of conversation was enormous for me. Nowhere in LA is anyone allowed to work if they are not fully “vaccinated” or being tested once a week with a religious/medical exemption, and even that is very rare and looked down on. The people are still vying for laws that would prevent contractors who don’t interact with anyone from being able to legally make money, while running their own show, to go without the jab. Not only was this woman running her own business able to work freely without it, but she felt safe enough to disclose her status, casually, to a stranger. We moved on, and the tone was so friendly and non-political; it sent shivers of shock and bliss down through to my screaming hair follicles as they were ripped from my also non-jabbed body.
Rita’s was not the only idyllic biz I got to know in San Marcos. The town is diverse in population and chock-full of small, local businesses! With no mall to speak of, nearly no fast-food joints, and every kind of restaurant and boutique I could think of, the town sure came off as a haven of community support for entrepreneurs. The cafés were cute and plentiful, marketed local wares, and were very supportive of the lgbtq+! We caught rainbow flags and gay hoorays left and right (pun intended). We even went to a “Rockin’ Out for Reproductive Rights” fundraiser show with a way kick-ass band called Windowshop.
It was a glorious few days, and Austin is a bit too bustling of a city for me. So, our rental applications for San Marcos have begun!
Huzzah!
Merpiggies too!
I am curious about your relocation to Texas. I have spent some time there back in the early 70's Around Waco, El Paso, Dallas/Ft. Worth and then later vacation in Gaveston. Lately Texas seems to have gotten far right. I am wondering at the change in social environment from Cali to Texas. I suppose it is different in San Marcos and Austin than in other Texas towns. I suppose the fact that Texas doesn't have state income tax is a plus. It is one of the pluses of living in Florida. But I don't think I could handle Texas' political atmosphere. Athough my Florida is not far behind.