Winter Texan? Aren't they all that in winter in Texas? Nope, Winter Texans are those people who move from homes elsewhere to Texas for the Winter. Some will say why would anyone go to Texas for the Winter. Look at the ice storms in Dallas - Fort Worth. Look at how Amarillo gets so cold and socked in with snow. The big secret, in more ways than one is South Texas. South of Houston, South of San Antonio. Some think they have to go to the Valley, the Rio Grande to be warm but places farther north like my Rockport, just a few miles north of Corpus Christi, remain mostly balmy all winter long.

Large numbers of Northerners move to Texas for up to six months every winter. They come from all over. My friends are mostly mid-American, but we have people from Hawaii (kind of a mystery) and Alaska, lots of Canadians but the Heartland from Ohio to Colorado supply most of the people who come to live a leisurely, laid back life style among others who have reached a mature level of life but still want socializing and recreation.

Texans can be proud. Unlike some places, Texans call us
Winter Texans, not Snowbirds which can be derogatory at times. Texans treat us like we are the real thing and with good reason, we bring money they would not otherwise see. I will have to get a count of Winter Texans but that is difficult because the number climbs upwards each year. I would guess several million are included in those who swell the size of places like Rockport (approx 10,000 to maybe 35,000) for much of the Winter. The valley has become a large metropolitan complex. From Brownsville west to Mission it is becoming like any large city. Traffic, congestion and growing and maintaining pains. Construction is a constant.

Many of us live in rather secluded and out of the way parks. Ours, the Circle W RV Ranch, is even gated. Others go to the valley and live shoulder to shoulder. So, what is the big draw beside warmer weather? For some it is Mexico. There is a steady stream of cheaper prescription drugs and not so cheap liquor coming from Mexico. For some seniors it can be said that the Mexican drugs not only provide them with life sustaining medications, they also provide them at affordable prices which allow for the annual trek.

Although prices of real estate and all commodities are rising just like everywhere, south Texas living can be much cheaper than up north. Less heating costs, plentiful foodstuffs from local farmers as well as from Mexico. A year round spot for an RV where the owners only occupy six months or less can be less than $1500/year. Electric and propane are high but we learn to conserve. Most of us are over 65. We party, dance, and socialize big time but at low cost. A beer and some cheese goes a long way toward making Happy Hour happy.

I could go on and on about the benefits and glories of a Winter in South Texas but I am running out of steam here. I will add articles as the audience desires. Thanks for reading this. Come visit some time.