![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Rearrangement after moving chairs to 424: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Memories of living in Austin• November 20-21, 2018 - August 29, 2024 Sunset from balcony Eating on balcony Walking Brooklyn along the river Pfluger pedestrian bridge Public Library: lunches, writing Zilker Park Day trip with Donna: Kerrville, Johnson City Lunches with Tom’s Drive to Kerrville, Jim & Johnny Waco Silos, museums Wildflower Center Descriptions of furniture, accessories, and artwork. ![]() ![]() November 2018 - October 2021 ![]() October 2022 - January 2023 ![]() Febuary 2023 - Febuary 2024 Different plans with shorter hallways and more living space: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Improvements ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Seaholm Residences logo ![]() Left: Seaholm, Middle: Poland Abortion Rights, Singapore People's Action Party, British Union of Fascists. Right: Fascist symbol rotated 180º ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Name card mounted in the mailbox, extended font (left) looks regular when seen from the side looking into the mailbox (right). ![]() ![]() ![]() Above: Text message and infomap sent to nabors who asked to borrow a parking place. Below: 2nd St sidewalk improvements. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: Seaholm Residences/2nd Street District, Austin 30 floors, 280 units Square feet: 558 interior, 52 Observation Deck Previous/First owner: August 15, 2016 - November 21, 2018 ![]() Former student: Jim, we are surprised you're still here (in OK). We thought you'd have moved by now. Friday-Monday November 2-5, Austin: "I wanna buy a house." Saturday 3, am: walk to Public Library, see 222 West Ave (Ooh, that could be cool); pm: tour East Austin Sunday 4, pm: tour East Austin (what about a condo?), downtown, 222 West condos, sunset on 15th floor Monday 5, 8:40a: return to 19 & 29th: view of Zilker Park, river, hills; "This is it. I can't find any negatives." Tuesday, 6: submit offer, counteroffers Wensday, 7, 11:44a: offer accepted Wensday, 21, 10:00a: Closing Nov 29 - Dec 2, 2018: Move in, unload car, unpack, IKEA, assemble furniture, settle ![]() Wensday 10-16, Edmond: Gathered documents, Completed applications Monday 10-21, Austin: Vehicle inspection; Voter registration; Title/registration; Mounted plates October - November: Got new Passport Thursday December 12, Austin: Received Voter Card, Submitted Driver's License ![]() Monday 1-27, Austin: Temporary tag extension Friday May 8, Austin: Vehicle inspection; Applied Car title/registration; Got & mounted plates ![]() ![]() ![]() Move clothes, dishes, stuff to Edmond; charity picks up furniture: August 26-29 ![]() January 23: Brooklyn dies, Drive Austin, decide to sell July 2: Clean, prep apt for showings July 2: MLS listing is active: Zillow, Seaholm bulletin August 26-29: Move clothes, dishes, stuff to Edmond; charity picks up furniture ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() • Couldn’t leave Brooklyn alone in the apt • Covid limited visits • Old age - enjoying travel less, can’t take long walks anymore, the drive is more tiring now • Simplify my life; want to consolidate into one residence • More money available • Prefer not to bring a dog to Austin • Feel more alone in Austin ![]() Living in downtown Austin Texas Early introductions to Austin Texas were learning about state capitols and the fight for independence from Mexico: the Alamo, San Jacinto, and the seat of the new government in Washington-on-the-Brazos and then Austin. In 1966, my mother drove the two of us to Monterey Mexico. We stopped in Austin to look around the campus (I was a sophomore in high school). A sniper had shot people from the UT Tower only 3 weeks earlier. My next time to see Austin was August 4-8, 1968 when I went to Freshman Orientation at UT. I stayed in Kinsolving Dorm and had time to explore the campus. A few weeks later, mid-September, my parents drove me and some of my stuff to Prather Hall dorm so I could move in. I lived in Austin most of the year for the next 6 years, Fall 1968-Spring 1974, and a few months in the fall of 1979. I lived 2 years in campus dorms - Prather and Jester (then the largest dorm in the country with 3,000 beds), over 2 years in the fraternity house, an apartment off Riverside Drive, and a rental house on Ridglea Drive. Later, I would go back to visit friends and enjoy the city. I once read, "Every Texan has 2 hometowns - their own and Austin." Texans from all over the state seem to feel Austin is home. After I sold the apartment in NYC and I was itching to move back to Texas (I never relinquished my Texan citizenship during the 30+ years in Oklahoma). I had my realtor fraternity brother friend show me some naberhoods in Austin. My criteria was a pedestrian environment; walking distance to stores, coffee shops, and restraunts. A place that was unique to the Austin Experience. Well, those areas were, of course, also the most in-demand and, therefore, the most expensive. Priced out of my desired range. I later turned my attention to Denton, "The Affordable Austin." I made offers on 2 houses within walking distance to the Denton Courthouse Square. A concept that I considered while in NYC was to downsize from the 1-bedroom to a Studio. I really didn't need 2 rooms for visits to the city. I also considered selling the NY Apt and buying a Studio apt in Los Angeles and live there for a few years to experience Southern California (and go to Disneyland multiple times). So, years later, 2018, while looking at houses in Denton and East Austin, I realized I didn't want a second house with 2 lawns to mow, and 2 houses to maintain. Buying a house in an older naberhood would also 'require' extensive remodeling - I had just finished remodeling the Edmond kitchen and didn't want to deal with that again for a long while. In late fall of 2018, I had some free time from Orientation Advisor Reunion events. While walking to the new Austin Library, I saw these condo towers and noticed one on the west - I looked up and told myself, I could enjoy living there. ![]() ![]() So, I looked at condos in Downtown Austin. The next day, Tom, the realtor, took me up to view 3 of them. Each was nice, but it had gottewn dark so we agreed to meet the next morning to check the views in the daylight. That morning, when I walked out on the balcony of the one on the 29th floor, I said, "This is it". “I can’t think of any negatives.” Tom, “You were looking for the Austin Experience - you found it.” ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() It is a Studio, or, as I call it - a GHR - a Glorified Hotel Room. It is in a pedestrian area: Trader Joe’s, pet store, coffee house, 2nd Street, and parks, trails, and the lake. Before I could commit, I told the realtor that I needed to get out of Austin and process the future on the drive back to Oklahoma (6 hours in the car). Within 2 hours into the drive to Fort Worth, I realized, "This feels so right." "This is something I want to do." I never felt nervous, any regret, or hesitation. It was confirmed. I plan to experience Austin, San Antonio, and the Hill Country for 4 or 5 years, then maybe consider something else. Concept: Focus on the view, the height, and the brightness from the west. Minimal, classic, straight line furniture - few knickknacks and geegaws. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Seaholm Residences • SeeHome • C-Home Complex: Merit Coffee, True Food restraunt, Trader Joe's, Healthy Pet, Malibu Poke, Nektar juice bar, Baked Bear ice cream. https://www.jamesrobertwatson.com/condo2908.html ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |