Home > Summer in the City > Archives > 2008 > July > 12 > Entry
Why Waco?
I’m asked this question all the time. Usually followed by a look of pity or disgust. To be quite honest, with no offense to Austin or the folks that live there, (some of whom I adore and love) Waco is more of a home to me than I think Austin ever was.
Make no mistake about it, Austin is GREAT! I love the water in the middle of the city, tons of outdoor festivals, bike lanes on all inner city roads, green everything and so on. However, what Austin lacks is a feeling of belonging. A sense of community. The warmth of home.
I moved here last October needing a change of pace. I had come to a point in my life where the “fast lane” wasn’t working for me anymore. (Had it ever?) I choose Waco for a number of reasons, of which I won’t go into now, but mostly because of the time it takes to drive from the northern most point of Waco to the southern most part. If I could shave 2 hours off my drive time each day…well, just think of the possibilities!!!
At first I fancied even myself a bit loony, but now, when people ask, WHY WACO? I hold my head up and honestly answer…”This is home!” In writing this blog I’ve learned so much more about our great town. Cameron Park, the bridges, all the usual amenities, a water park, (reasonably priced, I might add) the lake, Baylor, the circle and more importantly I actually see the people I love around town without having to plan it. I love this place!!!
Tell me what you love about Waco. What can I add to my blog to spark more interest in Waco? Who is great that I’ve just got to meet? Let me know, I want to know!!
God bless our summer!!!
Comments
By Lorie
July 14, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
I use to say when I was younger, “I can’t wait to leave here.” But As I grew older I don’t think I ever want to leave. Waco is my home. Its a perfect size for me. It just grows on you.
By Jason Attas
July 16, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
Great to see you bloggin’ on the Trib, Summer! You always made me smile and laugh with your shameless up-selling tactics at the Olive Brach and I’m sure you’ll continue to do the same at “Chips”.
People that really know Waco, all share your same sentiments. Waco’s great! For those of us who grew up here, we all said we couldn’t wait to leave. And some of us did! But many, if not most of us, have come back for good.
The drum I beat the loudest is that Baylor kids think the only thing Waco has to offer is Baylor campus, Valley Mills Dr, and I-35. On the weekends they shoot up and down I-35 to Dallas and Austin, or down Hwy 6 to College Station, or on to Houston. They think there’s nothing to do in this town, and so do a lot of the natives.
The kind of people who say there’s nothing to do in this town are the same kind of people who would still be waiting for their FEMA checks after Katrina. They want everything given to them for free and don’t want to put the slightest effort into making anything happen for themselves.
For the rest of us, there are countless outdoor activities, fantastic museums, great restaurants, a wonderful zoo, beautiful parks, and our centralized location means that you ARE able to drive a few hours in any direction and be in large metropolitan areas or in the middle of nowhere if you want to.
Waco’s great! The word is getting out, and people are taking note. It’s not just the old-money, Waco blue-bloods that are buying and selling the same old buildings they’ve passed around for years. Downtown, in particular, is seeing a whole new cadre of property owners and investors who are buying property with retail shops, condos, restaurants, galleries, and clubs in mind.
Stay tuned! It’s going to be great, but more importantly, it already is!
By Don
July 21, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
I remember arriving in Waco in 1994 as a BU student and stating to myself that I would never want to live here. Now, as a 31 year old father of two I could definitely seem myself moving back. And why not? Great collegiate sports, affordable housing, a blossoming downtown and good schools (if you know where to look). Does it have its warts? Yes. Of course. But name me a city that doesn’t.
By Fred
July 30, 2008 3:19 AM | Link to this
Why Waco? Why NOT Waco? Waco is infested with street crime and CRACK. Waco has one of the weakest Police Departments (short-handed Waco PD) to go along with the HIGH CRIME. Waco has one of the highest (per capita) poverty levels in the State of Texas (dirt-low wages and unemployment). The Waco schools (WISD) are among the worst of the worst (according to TEA and TAKS results). Waco’s waterways are polluted (Dairy Farm cow poop). Did I mention the taste of Waco’s water? And then there’s Waco’s lovely history: black man being lynched (by the entire town), Waco’s Branch Davidian children’s slaughter, Baylor’s Basketball Murder, cat being tortured and killed by Baylor Baseball players, and Preacher being “fried alive” in front of entire Waco Church (is God trying to tell us something)?