Dear Austin, TX,

As your hats say, and your t-shirts say, and your billboards even say, You were definitely weird. But, I hate to call you weird because you were just being you, too. And, no one likes to be judged for being themselves.

When we first arrived, I noticed your glitz and glam and colored murals first. Vibrancy and vitality and the hustle and bustle of young people everywhere; Walking, biking, riding scooters, jogging – all things in motion. You would have been my ideal place to live ten or so years ago. I would have worshiped you and bowed down to you. I would have really felt like I made it back then if I was living in your city. I would have secretly thought, “I’m so cool now. So much cooler than you and you. I have arrived.”

But, now I’m 36 and I tend to like things a bit slower, and a bit more green, and a bit more quiet. It’s not beyond me that sure enough I’m getting older.

I couldn’t help but feel like everyone was staring all the dang time in your city. I thought it was just me being paranoid because I’ve been there before. But, in some ways I wasn’t as paranoid as I believed I might be…

We went to one of your many very cool bike shops – I wanted something to secure my phone to my bicycle. We were met with judgement based on our body sizes. Up and down stares and a ridiculous number of questions before the dude would even allow us to enter his shop. Not cool, Austin, not cool. And, it was just one judgy dude of all the dudes and dudettes who live in the city, but I hope that one dude remembers that EVERYbody and ANYbody can ride a bicycle if they wish to. I hope he remembers my words the next time he questions someone else coming into his shop that might look a little different on the outside. Because inside we all just want to jump on our bikes and have fun!

We spent a lot of time in our camping lot – an overflow of RV’s, trailers and school buses that could not fit into the RV Park, Pecan Grove, next door. Thanks for having space for us, though! It was a quiet lot with a few trees and easy access to the hustle and bustle at the end of our driveway. Also, a great spot for Adam to try out his new toy – a mini bike he bought in San Antonio! He rode really fast in circles, and even hauled our poop around a time or two, too.

We want you to know that not all of our trip was judgy and uncool, though. We found quieter pockets of fun that felt more in-line with our energy and vibes. We found tons of vegan eats – so many we couldn’t have possibly tried them all! We saw thousands of bats come out to play at dusk. We enjoyed your mild weather, steamy humid weather, and torrential rainfall. We appreciated the kid working at your Starbucks. He told us all about your 100+ degree summers. We appreciated the guy at your REI – he looked kind of like a hobbit and gave us some tips for securing multiple water bottles onto a bicycle (without staring us up and down first). And, we loved your dog shop, where the owner’s dog came up to us with a bag of treats and big brown eyes, just begging for us to open the bag for him.

I look back now with appreciation, Austin. I don’t have the same motives to be cool anymore like I did in my early 20’s, but I still appreciate you and the cool atmosphere you provide for people of all ages and races and cultures. As Adam would say, “You do you.” And, I’ll keep doing me.

In truce and awe and a weird sense of acceptance,

Kristin