Seasons change and so do I...

If you said, "From the song 'No Time' by the Canadian band Guess Who, 1969," you get 150 bonus points.  If you said, "Cray, from 2019"... get off my lawn ya damn kids!

We went out for breakfast this morning.  Yes, Pier 19.  We had to wait for a few minutes to get seated.  We are solidly into Winter Texan Season.  A restaurant owner we were talking with on Saturday told us that February last year was his best month, thanks to the Winter Texans.  I get that - they are an economic force.

For those who don't know, we were Winter Texans for years before we sold everything up north and became official Texas residents.  This is a great place to escape the cold and snow, with the sub-tropical climate.

I recall hearing a few locals gripe about the Winter Texans this time of year.  Yes, it makes for more traffic.  The restaurants are definitely busier.  Most business owners are thankful for these winter visitors.  They also volunteer for things, like cleaning up the beach, and helping at the local animal shelter.

Where I really noticed it, though, was going into Walmart after our late breakfast... lots of older folks (yes, I know: kettle), carts parked in mid-aisle at a diagonal, hugs when they see familiar faces, hearing, "This isn't where our Walmart at home puts this stuff," and slow moving cars in the parking lot.

Walmart is a great barometer for the seasons: old folks stocking up on groceries and pharmaceuticals - Winter Texan season.  Teen and early 20 somethings with a cart full of beer and two bags of chips - spring break.  Screaming kids, stuff being looked at and dropped, all manner of beach stuff - summer.  And our two favorite mellow times - late spring and fall; we have the beach, the water, the restaurants, and Walmart and HEB to ourselves.

With each change of seasons, you adapt to different shopping and traffic schedules.  Anybody for an Early Bird Special for supper?  ;-)