New to the 'Burg?
As the new year gets going and we find our way back into the rhythms of work and life we thought it'd be good to kick off our year of reflections with a bit of lighter fare. Title work is inherently about people finding a home so, for people that arrive fresh in “The ‘Burg,” we thought a few tips from a local might ease the entry.
*Disclaimer: Free advice is good but, you do get what you pay for!
Rules for surviving and thriving in a real small town - according to Select Title Fredericksburg.
Be nice to your restaurant server, you never know when you'll see him again (probably at HEB or at the Homecoming Game)
Learn names. Your days of remembering a name till the end of the conversation stayed in Houston or whatever big city you came from are over. You WILL see these people again.
If you want to meet people, go to local sporting events (as in really local). That means from High School football all the way to the more obscure Schuetzenfest.
If you don't like someone, be careful who you tell. If you really don't want it told, don't tell anyone. You want to live in a small town and be known? Careful what you ask for!
The Germans were here first, so if that is not your heritage, enjoy the schnitzel but be respectful of everyone else who has been here for generations, not just a few years.
If you buy a ranch, don't cut down all the trees. It takes a minute to make a tree shorter, it takes a lot longer to make it taller. Generations have left them alone before you got here. Give it a decade or two before you decide which one to take down.
Be a good neighbor to the people who live close to you. You'll see them around everywhere (like at HEB). These are the people you'll rely on, especially if you live out of town, the police won’t get there in 5 minutes..
Support businesses you appreciate and starve the ones you don't. If you're going to be a fan of an institution, be a fan! Go there as often as you can. The best local politics happen by voting with the feet and the wallet.
At first glance, there are fewer clubs to join than in other places, so you have to scavenger hunt for people to do stuff with. People don't live in Fredericksburg for work as we've lamented elsewhere, they live here because of the things work sustains and allows them to do. People love to "hobby" here. Don't talk about your career at parties. Talk about what brings you joy. You're sure to find some kindred spirits. That's the small-town vibe.
HEB is the center of the universe here! Curbside is great, but we all need to see people. Make a trip to the grocery with the PURPOSE of stopping to chat with folks! Besides, you should never do MEAT curbside, you need to see it and watch them pack it!!! Don’t trust them to give you the fresh stuff on the curb. If you're nice to the meat guy, you'll get good cuts (say hi to him when you see him at sporting events!)
Send us your favorite “Small Town Rule” and we’ll list the best on our next blog writing.