I walked exterior with my morning espresso. The scent of mountain laurel wrapped round me like a blanket that comforted me on this second. I’m dwelling and couldn’t be happier. There’s a way of accomplishment that overcomes me as I take a look at my little plot of land that I personal. I labored onerous for it and other than the entire odds stacked in opposition to our era proudly owning a house, we have been in a position to set up roots in my hometown. It feels wonderful, and I really feel gratitude in moments like these.
My household moved again dwelling to San Antonio from Austin in the summertime of 2019. We’re a reasonably younger household with a preschooler, and residing in San Antonio was our aim. We have been in the hunt for an inexpensive housing market that Austin will merely by no means provide and wished extra alternatives to attend household gatherings. We wished our son to create the identical reminiscences I had as a toddler, resembling working round with my cousins at my grandparents’ home every time that warranted a barbecue with a serving to of my grandmother’s selfmade Mexican rice. We dreamed of having the ability to present him Christmas lights on the River Stroll, cheer on the floats throughout Fiesta and experience the identical rides that I rode as a toddler at Kiddie Park.
We initially selected to hire an condominium at The Compound on Broadway earlier than buying a house. This was the proper location to entry the paths to Lions Subject and Brackenridge Park, the Pearl, the San Antonio Zoo, the DoSeum, Kiddie Park and the Witte Museum. We had the entire cultural establishments for households inside strolling distance, however as soon as the pandemic hit, we knew it was time to begin looking for our eternally dwelling. Our condominium that we as soon as noticed as a portal to the center of the town felt like a tiny residing house surrounded by companies and playgrounds that have been briefly roped off and shut down. All of my son’s day by day adventures and studying alternatives got here to a sudden halt, and his world was decreased to 2 patios overlooking the Brackenridge Golf Course. We would have liked a yard, and my son wanted house to develop and stability throughout unsure instances.
Looking for a house at first of the pandemic was distinctive to say the least. Earlier than coming into every dwelling, we needed to comply with fill out a brand new COVID-19 certification kind (sure, these have been a factor!). The market was booming and homes have been going quick. The cliché of “all the things occurs for a cause” hummed repeatedly in our minds as we had a number of failed provides on properties. As redundant because the cliché could also be, it rang true as we discovered our excellent home.
We discovered an older dwelling constructed within the Sixties that has the appeal most just lately up to date properties do. We stayed in District 1, but it looks like a totally completely different metropolis. The neighborhood is an excellent combine of latest households with youngsters across the similar age as my son and older residents who’ve kids who’re my age. It’s quiet and everyone seems to be pleasant. The primary time we took our son into his new yard, his eyes lit up and he instantly took possession of his new area. We knew we made the appropriate determination.
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Kai Kuwamura, 4, demonstrates how he nibbles on numerous lettuce leaves rising in a hydroponic farm within the yard. Credit score: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report -
The Kuwamura household planted two pear timber. Kai, their 4-year-old son named this tree Dandelion. Credit score: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report -
Kai Kuwamura, 4, flies throughout a zipper line tied between two timber within the yard. Credit score: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report -
Kari Kuwamura, her spouse Krysten Kuwamura and their son Kai Kuwamura, 4, pick a candy deal with at Miss Chickpeas Bakeshop. Credit score: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report -
Kai Kuwamura, 4, snacks on a vegan chocolate scone at Miss Chickpeas Bakeshop. Credit score: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report -
Krysten Kuwamura, her spouse Kari Kuwamura and their son Kai Kuwamura, 4, moved from Broadway to Greenbriar Colonial Hills in the course of the pandemic to go for extra space to create their very own enjoyable proper at dwelling. Credit score: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report
Should you’re something like our household, native meals is our love language. Sitting on the entrance nook of our neighborhood is Goros, the place I had my first style of sushi as a youngster. I bear in mind it having an inexpensive blissful hour, and I might rave about that place to all of my mates as if I had discovered a secret institution. I took my spouse on one among our first dates to Goros, and we sat on the bar whereas the chef made us particular “off the menu” dishes to pattern whereas we sipped sake and Sapporo. Additional down the highway is El Taco De Jalisco. I do know this can be a delicate topic right here, however these are a few of the greatest tacos on the town. The girl on the drive-thru at all times has a smile on her face and she or he at all times makes positive your bag consists of the free sopapillas that include your meal. You’ll be able to at all times odor the cinnamon and sugar on the way in which dwelling. On the far aspect of our neighborhood is Miss Chickpea’s Bakeshop. I like to recommend attempting their pupusas with plantain chips. They’ve a small exterior seating space the place my son and I’ll attempt to identify every automobile passing by on Callaghan Highway whereas we take pleasure in lunch.
Among the best conveniences of the Greenbriar neighborhood is that it’s central to all the things. We’re a brief drive away from Hardberger Park and a 15-minute drive again to our previous stomping grounds on Broadway. If I may enhance one facet of our neighborhood, it will be the walkability and bikeability of this space. As an advocate of sidewalks, trails and bike lanes, it’s generally an odd irony to return dwelling to a neighborhood with no sidewalks, bike lanes or trails inside strolling distance. I hope to someday see improved infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.
However the tradeoff is truthful in my eyes. No one ever says, “House is the place the sidewalks are.” My house is constructed with reminiscences and new traditions created by my fantastic household. I really like having the ability to pull down the film display screen, arrange a tent, make s’mores and have film nights. I benefit from the shade of mature timber and the birds that come to go to. And solely my household will ever know what my son named the 2 pear timber we planted collectively in our yard. That is my dwelling; that is the place I reside.
