Steve and Judy's Travels!

 

It has a reputation.  It might be a little independent.  Maybe a little difficult sometimes?  Texas is basically America, but turned up to eleven, right?

 

Covid crisis?  No problem.  For a while, localities all made up their own rules, but then our governor stepped in, opened up the state, and made it illegal for any local government to institute a mask mandate.  He said Texans didn’t need mandates; they knew what to do and could make their own decisions about responsible behavior.  He got a lot of flack for that, but know something funny?  Our experience in Texas?  For all the places we go, every store has a sign that says please wear a mask.  Inside every store there is almost universal distancing and masking.  Restaurants are still limiting their seating.  The big tables are gone.  Half the chairs are put away.  Mask wearing to get in and out.  Small groups at tables in the open.  Airy.  In our experience, since our Governor overrode every local mandate, businesses and behaviors haven’t changed!

 

 

 

Pizza night with Miguel and Casey.

 

 

 

 

We saw our favorite orthopedic surgeon today for the final follow-up on Judy’s new knee.  He was impressed with his work.  The knee is great.  Full function restored.  No pain.

 

Now we don’t get any more visits with him though, darn it.  No need to come back and chat; not for the knee anyway, and no other surgeries on the horizon.  Not a bad problem to be left with.  We’ll take it.

 

Judy and I have had both shots.  We’re told that, having both shots, we’re highly unlikely to catch a serious case of covid, and that we’re highly unlikely to pass a case of covid along to someone else.  We’re cleared to gather in small groups, indoors, with other vaccinated people, without masks.  Otherwise, we should continue to distance and mask.

 

So I’m wondering, if we’re not going to catch covid, and we’re not likely to pass it along, why do we still need to distance and mask?  My preliminary conclusion is that we’re not at risk, and aren’t putting others at risk, but should continue to model behavior until the covid crisis is over for everyone else as well.  From all appearances, it’s not obvious to strangers that Judy and I have both been fully vaccinated.  If we walk around with no masks hugging people, we might inspire others to do the same, even if it’s not so safe for them.  No problem.  We can continue doing what we’ve been doing for the last year.  As a CPA whose reputation relies on being independent, I’m well familiar with the concept that we need not only to be independent in fact, but just as importantly, appear independent as well.  How it looks, appearance, matters.  I wonder if I’m on the right track.

 

 

April Migration Trip Map

 

The camping is a long paved lot.

 

But for a camp right at the beach it’s pretty good.  Location.  Location.  Location.

 

With a view of the dunes.

 

Being this close, of course that means:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there are still bird pictures to send out.

 

Cattle egret.

 

American Golden Plover.

 

 

Ruddy Turnstone.

 

Mister Yellow-headed Blackbird.

 

 

 

And a mighty fine looking house on the water.